Simon Petros Matseke, prominent in African social and political life, dies in Pretoria

Peter Matseke was born in 1878 in Pretoria. When the Anglo-Boer War broke out, he was drafted as driver for Boer Commandos. Through that experience, he learnt to speak Dutch as well as a number of African dialects, which assisted him in his work as a court interpreter. Matseke became prominent in the social affairs of black South Africans after joining the Pretoria Location Advisory Board (PLAB) in 1928. He opposed the inadequate policing in the locations and also challenged the increase of rent. Matseke also championed the appointment of black nurses to clinics in the location and fought for the rights of black people to brew beer in their homes. Matseke served on the National Executive of the African National Congress (ANC) and was also listed as the Deputy Speaker and Organizer in the 1930s. He was a member of the Transvaal African Congress (TAC) and eventually succeeded S.M. Makgatho as president. In his role in the TAC, he presided over a conference that led to the founding of the African Mineworkers' Union (AMWU) in 1941, which was also instrumental in the organization of the mine workers strike of 1946. As a devout Christian, Matseke was active in the Lutheran Church, but later joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) in which he serves as chairman of the AMEC schools. On 13 December 1941, Peter Matseke passed away in Pretoria. He was mourned by his wife and five children.