ANC co-founder and journalist Pixley Seme dies

Date: 7 Jun 1951
Updated: 6 Jun 2021

Pixley ka Isaka Seme died in Johannesburg on 7 June 1951. He was a political activist, journalist, lawyer and a co-founder of the African National Congress (ANC). His funeral service was conducted by the bishop of Johannesburg, Ambrose Reeves, on 17 June. Tributes were made by, among others, Chief Albert Luthuli, A. B. Xuma, Z. K. Matthews and D. D. T. Jabavu, a representative of the Swazi monarch and the secretary of native affairs. When a tombstone was unveiled at his grave in 1984 Mangosuthu Buthelezi spoke. As a young man Buthelezi had written letters dictated by Seme when he was unable to write after losing an eye in an operation, Buthelezi's mother was Seme's first wife's half-sister. Seme's wife Harriet was a daughter of King Dinizulu of Zululand. He was survived by four sons and a daughter.

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How we know this

01Sonderling, N.E. (ed.) (1999). New Dictionary of South African Biography, v.2 , Pretoria: Vista.
02SAHO Pixley ka Isaka Seme [online] Available at: www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed on 4 June 2013]

Last updated · 6 Jun 2021

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). ANC co-founder and journalist Pixley Seme dies. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011762

South African History Online (2011) 'ANC co-founder and journalist Pixley Seme dies', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011762 (Accessed: 17 August 2026).

South African History Online, ANC co-founder and journalist Pixley Seme dies [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011762, (accessed 17 August 2026).

"ANC co-founder and journalist Pixley Seme dies." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011762. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "ANC co-founder and journalist Pixley Seme dies." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011762.