Today in Kimberley's History
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Dr Arthur Elias Letele born - 1916
Arthur Elias Letele was born on 2 October 1916 in Maseru, Lesotho. His father, Elias Letele, was a school inspector. His mother, Catherine, was of Xhosa decent. The Letele family immigrated to South Africa shortly after Arthur's birth and he grew up in Ladybrand in the Free State Province. Letele completed his secondary education at the Lovedale Institution in Alice in the Eastern Cape Province. Following this, he studied at the South African Native College, which later became Fort Hare University, and the University of the Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg.
Letele's involvement in politics began in 1944, when he joined the ANC Youth League (ANCYL). He qualified as a medical doctor in 1946 and began his career the following year in Lovedale.
In 1948 he move to Kimberley, where he immediately joined the local branch of the African National Congress (ANC). He was elected as treasurer for the branch. He also married Mary-Anne Nombulelo Grace Nkolombe on 12 July 1948 in Cape Town. She was 6 years younger than him and Xhosa by birth. They had four sons and one daughter.
Arthur Elias Letele was born on 2 October 1916 in Maseru, Lesotho. His father, Elias Letele, was a school inspector. His mother, Catherine, was of Xhosa decent. The Letele family immigrated to South Africa shortly after Arthur's birth and he grew up in Ladybrand in the Free State Province. Letele completed his secondary education at the Lovedale Institution in Alice in the Eastern Cape Province. Following this, he studied at the South African Native College, which later became Fort Hare University, and the University of the Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg.
Letele's involvement in politics began in 1944, when he joined the ANC Youth League (ANCYL). He qualified as a medical doctor in 1946 and began his career the following year in Lovedale.
In 1948 he move to Kimberley, where he immediately joined the local branch of the African National Congress (ANC). He was elected as treasurer for the branch. He also married Mary-Anne Nombulelo Grace Nkolombe on 12 July 1948 in Cape Town. She was 6 years younger than him and Xhosa by birth. They had four sons and one daughter.