Edward Sonnyboy Bhengu

Born: 08 November 1934
Died: 26 December 2010
Updated: 21 Jul 2026

Summary

Founder member of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), political detainee

Edward Sonnyboy Bhengu was born on 8 November 1934 in Sophiatown to Gladys Toti in the Italian household of the Mattera family. He was the first born son of Pasquale “Grovaa” Mattera, and the eldest brother of Don Mattera, also of Sophiatown. Bhengu then moved to George Goch (Eastern Native Township) to live with his maternal grandfather Sgt Bhengu.

How we know this

01Mattera, D., (2010), 'PAC stalwart Edward Bhengu honoured', from the Sowetanlive, 31 December, [online] Available at www.sowetanlive.co.za [Accessed 19 July 3013]
02Staff Reporter, (2010), ' PAC founder member dies', from the Mail and Guardian, 31 December, [online] Available at: https://mg.co.za, [Accessed 19 July 3013]

Last updated · 21 Jul 2026

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, July 19). Edward Sonnyboy Bhengu. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ve/ref/B-0096198

South African History Online (2013) 'Edward Sonnyboy Bhengu', South African History Online, 19 July. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ve/ref/B-0096198 (Accessed: 27 July 2026).

South African History Online, Edward Sonnyboy Bhengu [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ve/ref/B-0096198, (accessed 27 July 2026).

"Edward Sonnyboy Bhengu." South African History Online, 19 July 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ve/ref/B-0096198. Accessed 27 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Edward Sonnyboy Bhengu." South African History Online. July 19, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ve/ref/B-0096198.