MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The struggle icon Nicklo Pedro (54) lost his final battle last weekend when he succumbed to cancer at his home in Mossel Bay on Saturday 8 May. 

In a statement released by the ANC of the Western Cape this week, Pedro is dubbed the people’s soldier and described as one of the brightest flowers of the revolution ensuring a free and democratic South Africa.

He was recruited by Umkhonto we Sizwe while studying law at the University of the Western Cape. After fleeing from the security police, he was arrested near the Lesotho border in 1987 and taken back to Cape Town where he suffered at the hands of the notorious Wo Jeffrey Benzien, whose torture techniques are legendary.

Pedro was one of the 15 Umkhonto we Sizwe soldiers who were tried in the Cape Town Supreme Court in 1988. The trial lasted for 65 days.

Finally on December 14, 1988, Pedro was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment, with a further 10 years that were suspended for five years.

He served his sentence on Robben Island and was released in May 1991.

Remembered

Family and friends this week gathered at the Pedro home in D’Almeida to remember the man they fondly call “the Mandela of Mossel Bay”.

According to a cousin and former class mate, Melita Brinkhuis Pedro was already a fiery activist for political change as a learner at High School Sao Bras Secondary, Mossel Bay.
His last surviving brother, Roderick Pedro, explains that due to their parents’ strong community involvement, Nicklo from an early age were exposed to the injustices in the South African community.

"This became a driving force in my brother’s life and political career." Their mother, Sister Dora Pedro was the founder of SANTA in Mossel Bay and along with their father, but especially so, supported her son’s views and aspirations throughout his life.

Lenise Hendricks former teacher of Pedro at Sao Bras and lifelong friend, often during his high school years engaged with this parents. She confirms that they were well aware of their son’s ideals and stood by him throughout his trial and imprisonment, in spite of facing alienation from their community.

"Nicklo up until his death, always offered me the most sound advice and council, especially on legal matters." She too lauded him from this great intellect and wisdom.

The late Nicklo Pedro with his wife, Jacqueline.

Serving
Following his release from prison, Pedro was called to join the South African National Defence Force. In 1995, he was requested to return home to take his place as a municipal councillor in the first ANC run municipality. Here he served with Michael Carelse, who became the first non-white mayor of Mossel Bay.

Carelse said that councillors who served at the time are often overlooked for their important role in shaping the Mossel Bay of today.

“We were young and inexperienced in terms of creating a Mossel Bay different to the one we grew up in, but left our legacy."

Carelse said that he along with Pedro and others came up with the Vision 2030 concept, by which tourism was earmarked as a future economic drawcard to Mossel Bay.

Wayne Jordaan, who served as secretary at the Lesley Crotz branch of the ANC in Mossel Bay alongside Nicklo Pedro, said that his fallen comrade served until he breathed his last. One of the last committee meetings were hosted at the Pedro home two weeks before his death. 

This, Jordaan says, is testimony to Pedro’s serving nature. “Community always came first. He would go without in order for others to have.” Pedro actively joined campaigns against gender-based violence, the assistance of rehabilitated drug addicts and hunger relief in the community, especially during Covid-19.

Jordaan also added, that despite enduring tremendous torture at the hands of his captors, Pedro ever nurtured hatred, but had a gift for reconciliation.

His wife of just over three years, Jacqueline adds that Pedro taught her the true meaning of humanity. They shared a shared a very special love and he cared for him at home, despite being advised to place him in palliative care.

Arrangements are in the process of giving Pedro an official funeral, fitting of his service to the people of South African. He will be buried in Mossel Bay on May 22.

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