Rugby, Resistance and Politics

Buntu Swisa has written a vivid biography of Dan Qeqe, the legendary sportsman, powerbroker and pioneer of black rugby and the liberation of sport. His book examines the complex and questionable relationships that Qeqe had with the enemies of non-racial sport, which cemented his power base. Siwisa tells the story of Qeqe’s life and times and at the same time has written a social and political biography of Port Elizabeth—a people’s history of Port Elizabeth. As much as Qeqe was a local legend, his achievements had national repercussions and, indeed, continue to this day.

Print editions not for sale in Sub Saharan Africa.