Let Not The Sun Set On You

221x142mm, 192 pages, Hardback
ISBN: 978-1917045-08-7
Price: £25.00
Available: December 2024

available for pre-order:

Let Not The Sun Set On You

LET NOT THE SUN SET ON YOU
From Activist to Accomplished Diplomat
By Kingsley Mamabolo

The remarkable story of an African freedom fighter, from activist training to do his bit to rid the continent of its tyrannies, through to leading diplomat tirelessly negotiating peace at the highest levels.

Growing up in Soweto, Kingsley Mamabolo had a childhood exposed to the tribal rivalries, hardships and violence endemic to the South African townships from an early age. Angry at the systematic discrimination and marginalisation of a apartheid and eager to do his bit for the liberation of his homeland, in 1976 he joined the groundswell of new recruits who flooded the training camps of the African National Congress (ANC).

Smuggled into Swaziland (now Eswatini), and then onto Mozambique, he arrived for instruction in Angola, and later the German Democratic Republic. Kingsley embarked on what was to be an illustrious career within the ranks of the liberators, albeit in exile.
His political journey began in 1978, and lead him to hold posts in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Cuba, until democratic elections in South Africa at last allowed him to return to his country of birth. His story is richly entwined with the history of the continent and the struggle for freedom from political and economic, oppression. This deeply personal account shares the contributions made by one man towards the quest for a free and democratic South Africa – a quest he is still tirelessly pursuing to this day, seeking to ensure insure that the sun never sets on the Africa of his dreams.

"Kingsley Mamabolo’s incredible journey is absolutely riveting. From being ond of the leaders the Tladi Youth Club to representing South Africa at the United Nations...Kingsley gives us an insider's view of South Africa's struggle for freedom from a deeply patriotic perspective. At the same time, there is no attempt to falsely romanticize or gloss over the challenges and mistakes that inevitably took place.
…
His story is one of endurance, of overcoming, and of triumph for him as an individual and for all of us as a nation, a people. It is also a challenge for us, a reminder that what he and so many went through, and were ready to die for, was freedom and dignity for all."

from the foreword by
Fr Michael Lapsley SSM
President - Healing of Memories Global Network

“Ambassador Mamabolo’s right life story of activism, armed struggle and diplomacy is compelling and well worth telling. He throws light not just on the historyo f liberation struggle in South Africa but on the origins of current conflicts in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa.
A must read for anyone concerned to understand the sources of conflict in Africa and the imperative of practical steps in conflict resolution and peace making.”

The Rt Hon Lord Boateng
former UK High Commissioner to South Africa and President of the UK’s All Party Parliamentary Group for Africa.

"Kingsley Mamabolo … answered the call to fight for the liberation of our country and traversed a number of frontiers in the struggle for our freedom which he captures vividly. He later rose to a further call to serve as a diplomat and as an international public servant. This book is a must read for current and future generations."

Jabu Moleketi and Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi
Comrades and friends from similar trenches

“From anti-apartheid freedom fighter in the African bush to top international diplomat and peace negotiator: a remarkable story....”

Peter Hain
Former anti-apartheid campaigner and British Cabinet Minister brought up in South Africa

“This is a glowing testimony of how young talent was spotted and nurtured to greatness.”

Welile Nhlapo
First ambassador of Democratic South Africa to
the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)

About the Author
Kingsley Mamabolo is South Africa’s High Commissioner to the UK. It is a role he combines with being Joint Special Representative for Darfur and Head of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

His distinguished diplomatic career has seen him serve as Deputy Joint Special Representative for UNAMID and roles representing his homeland, South Africa, as Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Chair of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China. He has served as High Commissioner to Nigeria and as Special Envoy to the Great Lakes where he played a central role in the peace processes in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was also High Commissioner to Zimbabwe and to the African Union where he led reconciliation efforts in post-war Sierra Leone.

Mr. Mamabolo is a graduate of the University of Pretoria with a master's degree in public administration and also holdsa diploma in journalism from Harare Polytechnic College.

Table of Contents
About the Author § Acknowledgements § Foreword § Introduction § Chapter 1 - A Journey To The Unknown § Chapter 2 - Out of South Africa: Our Exile Begins § Chapter 3 - Angola: Life in A Military Camp § Chapter 4 - Military Training In The German Democratic Republic § Chapter 5 - Return To Angola: ‘Aluta Continua’ § Chapter 6 - Defiance Within The Ranks § Chapter 7 - Dar es Salaam: My First Diplomatic Mission § Chapter 8 - Education: The Ultimate Gift Towards Freedom § Chapter 9 - The Americans Rather Late Courtship of the ANC § Chapter 10 - The First Contact with Family in Eleven Years § Chapter 11 - Moscow 1980- 1982 § Chapter 12 - Back on African Soil: Zambia and Zimbabwe § Chapter 13 - Home Bittersweet Home § Chapter 14 - Olibambe Lingashoni § Chapter 15 - Narratives from SOWETO § Chapter 16 - Repressive Minority White Rule And African Resistance § Chapter 17 - High Commissioner To The Republic of Zimbabwe § Chapter 18 - Ethiopia - The Birth Of The AU § Chapter 19 - Special Assignments Across Africa § Chapter 20 - My Tour of Duty As High Commissioner to Nigeria § Chapter 21 - Permanent Representative To The United Nations § Chapter 22 - Sudan § Epilogue § H.E. High Commissioner to the UK & Northern Ireland