Michael Kitso Dingake was born in 1928. He joined the ANC in 1952 and served in various capacities in ANC structures. Dingake went into hiding after the Rivonia arrests to lead the ANC underground.
Dingake slipped out of South Africa and became the external contact with the underground machinery in Johannesburg. He was indicted for membership of banned organizations (ANC and SACP) and for statutory sabotage. He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. Upon being released in 1981 he was repatriated to Botswana. Dingake participated in all the campaigns of his period from the Defiance Campaign (1952 -1953) to the Anti-pass Campaign which culminated in the burning of passes in 1960 after the Sharpeville massacre.
Dingake is a writer, has published My Fight Against Apartheid (1987), Apartheid, Questions and Answers (1989) and Politics of Confusion – BNF Saga 1984-1998 (2004). He is a recipient of the National Order.
"Comrade Mike was involved in some of the most important struggles of the 1950s as well as being one of the first to be sentenced for the activities of Umkhonto we Sizwe. His story needs to be known. It is a beautifully written work, which ought to be in the hands of every South African, young and old. It is important in this time of shameful xenophobia, to note that Mike is a citizen of Botswana. But he fought in our struggle, understanding that freedom is indivisible and belongs to all." Ahmed ‘Kathy’ Kathrada