Koos Segola Business Solutions

ion of the former, the struggle now focuses on the latter. Koos Segola Business Solutions is so named in recognition of that endeavor. For the realization of economic freedom, we believe Organizations (employers of large part of the communities) have to understand the basics underlying performance, business strategy, Change & Project management, Communication Strategy, Public Relations and all other non-financial elements. Once these building blocks are in place, new and repeat customers would be a common feature and as a result, profits would go high. Employees salaries and wages would be competitive and ultimately their living standard would improve. This would add meaning to Economic Freedom. We felt this would be a fitting tribute to that great man, Halliday Koos Raitsane Segola. Enjoy! LIFE OF HKR SEGOLA
• DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH
I was born on 4th September, 1931 in Molepolole, Botswana, being the second of nine children in the family. At quite an early age, my sister who is the first born and I moved with our parents, to Crown Mines, Johannesburg in South Africa.

• EDUCATION
I started my primary education at the Fordsburg Methodist School, Joburg staying in Crown mines where my father was working. I completed my primary education in 1947. Beginning of the school term in 1948, I enrolled at ST. Peters Secondary school in Rosettenville, Johannesburg as a border. It was at St. Peters at my political education started. I completed my secondary education in 1952. Having completed secondary education, my wish was to proceed to Tertiary in Fort Hare. I had no funds so I had to look for a job. The late Father Trevor Huddleston secured a job for me at the South African Electrical Workers Association. I worked there for two years as a filling clerk. During this period I made sizeable contacts with the liberation movement under the banner of ANC.

• FORT HARE
In 1955 I enrolled at the Fort Hare University College, in Alice, Eastern Cape. The years at Fort Hare were great, the ANC Youth League was hot and uncompromising. I worked under the leadership of Govan Mbeki who was in Port Elizabeth. I left Fort Hare in 1959.

• MACCOSA HOUSE
During the years 1959-1960 we had set up a committee (encouraged by the late Walter Sisulu) to mobilise youth and students to actively set up anti-apartheid groups in schools and other places where they gather. The response was good and ASA (African Students Association) was formed. Some of the committee members were the present President Thabo Mbeki, Sindiso Mfenyana, Mike Ngubeni, H.K. Segola and a few others. During this period we actively participated in activities of the Congress Alliance.

• THE 1961 EXODUS
Beginning of 1961, nine ex-Fort Hare students who were destined to travel to the Soviet Union for studies, met leader Nelson Mandela for briefing. The students involved were:-
Sindiso Mfenyana
Koos Segola
Zola Ngcakane
Fanele Mbali
Mandla Tshabalala
Sizakele Sigxashe
Monwabisi Jara (late)
Tumi Phakedi
Anthony Mongalo

After completing our university studies, Koos Segola, Zola Ngcakane, Fanele Mbali, Mandla Tshabalala, Tumi Phakedi, underwent military training in the Soviet Union, afterwards we left for Tanzania to join other combatants of Umkhonto we Sizwe.

• MOROGORO AND KONGWA – TANZANIA
We arrived in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania and proceeded straightaway to Morogoro headquarters of the movement. We stayed at the Morogoro Camp awaiting deployment. We were finally moved to the Kongwa camp where MK combatants were. In Kongwa we were addressed and briefed by stalward, Comrade Mabhida, the national Commissar. Our combat life had now started. I was appointed Deputy Camp Commissar to work with Cde Mpanza, the then camp commissar in Kongwa. Kongwa was interesting, all the Southern African Liberation Organisations were there, their different camps being alongside each other. I was later moved back to Morogoro to work in late Pres. Tambo’s office.

• LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
Headquarters of ANC moved to Lusaka, Zambia. I continued to work in O.R. Tambo’s office as a military secretary, and also being in charge of the President’s security. During this period I had close contacts with comrades Duma Nokwe then Secretary General and Thomas Nkobi – Treasurer General. As the struggle in exile progressed it became necessary to extend operations of our security and intelligence departments to include the branch of anti-corruption operations. Consequently I was assigned the task of setting up and heading such a department. With the help of Cde Alfred Nzo, we set up the department.

• BOTSWANA
Because of my birth status I was able to secure a Botswana passport. I discussed this with O.R. Tambo and he felt it was necessary to set up office in Botswana. I therefore moved to Botswana to settle and scout around for an office. The organisation bought a house in Bontleng, Gaborone. Meantime negotiations were completed with Botswana Government for ANC to set up office in Gaborone. Comrade Isaac Makopo was posted to Botswana as ANC Representative.

• Botswana Government Services
I had completed studies in the Soviet Union in Economics. I applied for employment in the Botswana Government Service. In 1973 I was employed in the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning as a Finance Officer until 1984.

• 14 June 1985 Botswana Raids
I survived the June 14 raid by the South African apartheid forces as I had just moved to a new house in Tshimotharo. Our neighbour of the then house, Blah, informed me that the boers had moved around my house shouting my name, but because I had moved in less than a week they did not know my new location, they failed to get me. Consequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Botswana Intelligence Services advised me to leave the country for security reasons. I left quietly and returned to Zambia. I was later joined by my family. Back in Zambia I resumed my underground operations. I worked with Comrade Joe Nhlanhla in the office of security. After the collapse of Robben Island, Nelson Mandela undertook an African tour, beginning in Lusaka. I was a member of the delegation in charge of security operations. When we were all back in exile, I decided to take my family back to Botswana where I was born.