School leaver leads the people
JB Marks Road, formerly Chelmsford Road
As part of a series on the heroes honoured in eThekwini’s new street and building names, Cerina Rabilall profiles John Beaver Marks
ACTIVIST and trade unionist John Beaver Marks was born on 21 March 1903 in Ventersdorp in the then Western Transvaal. His father was a railway worker and his mother a midwife. Marks attended a country school and then went to a training college where he received a diploma in teaching.
In 1919 Marks participated student strike to protest against poor conditions. As a result was banned from school. He joined the African National Congress in 1928 and soon became its Transvaal branch president. In 1942 he was elected to the presidency of the Transvaal Council of non-European trade unions, and in the same year became the president of the African Mine Workers Union.
One of the leaders of the Defiance Campaign, in 1952 Marks was banned under the Suppression of Communism Act. He served a prison sentence for breaking the banning order. Despite his banning, Marks continued to be active, and helped to form the South African Congress of Trade Unions. He left South Africa in 1963 at the request of the National Executive.
Marks was struck down by a severe illness in 1971 while serving at the headquarters of the ANC External Mission in Tanzania. When he had recovered sufficiently to travel, he was sent to the Soviet Union. Thanks to intensive treatment and his own indomitable spirit, he rallied and seemed to be making good progress. He suffered a fatal heart attack and died on 1 August 1972.
RabilallC@durban.gov.za
Information source: http://www.sahistory.org.za