This Day in History: February 23, 1945
Additional Date: February 23, 1945
Allan Boesak, clergyman and politician, is born in Kakemas in South Africa. When other Black political leaders were arrested or in exile Boesak established himself as a spokesperson for Black South Africans against apartheid. During his involvement in politics Boesak occupied influential positions. In 1982 he became the President of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, which claimed to represent about 70 million Protestants worldwide. He was also a founding member of the United Democratic Front in 1983. In 1991 he was elected chairperson of African National Congress (ANC) in Western Cape. His meteroric rise was checked in 1985 when international funders investigated his misappropriation of money for which he was responsible for disbursing to children. In 1999 he was convicted of fraud and imprisoned. He was recently granted a Presidential pardon.