Samuel Chibane was born in Pretoria and became involved with the PAC as a student at Wilberforce Institute in Evaton, near Sharpeville.
In 1963 he was arrested for arson, but the evidence was inconclusive and all charges were dropped.
In 1963 Chibane was also charged with inciting Africans to attack government installations, stealing bombs from a government arsenal and sabotage.
He was convicted and sentenced to life, which he was to serve on Robben Island.