This Day in History: September 23, 1970
James Mpanza, a political activist and founder of the Sofasonke Party in Orlando Township, Soweto, passed away at his Orlando East home in Soweto. He was given a rousing civic funeral service and was buried at the Doornkop Cemetery. Mpanza died in 1970, but his organisation, the Sofasonke Party, still exists. In the Soweto UBC election of 1971, it took over half of the council seats, while it also took part in the 2004 elections.