Frank Chikane was born to James and Erenia Chikane on 3 January 1951 in Johannesburg. Chikane attended Orlando High School in Soweto where matriculated before registering at the University of the North (Turfloop) in 1972.He became politically aware while he was a student being influenced by largely by the Black Consciousness ideology. Thus, he became involved in the activities of the South African Student Organisation (SASO) at university. His political activism led to his repeated detention which in turn disrupted his education forcing him to leave the university in 1974. Chikane later continued his education obtaining a Master of Arts degree from Harvard University and a Master of Theology from the University of Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal).

In 1979, Chikane completed his training as a pastor at the Apostolic Faith Mission. He was subsequently defrocked in 1981 due to his political involvement. After the end of apartheid, he was re-instated, as a pastor.

Chikane was detained and released intermittently on various occasions between January 1977 and 1985. In the 1980s, Chikane became involved with the United Democratic Front (UDF) becoming the vice president of the Transvaal region from 1983 to 1985. Subsequently, he was arrested, charged and tried for treason in February 1985. The charges were later dropped.

In 1983 Chikane served as the Director at the Institute of Contextual Theology a position held until 1987. Then inJuly 1987 he was he was elected General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC). The police then went to harass the SACC as their offices were raided the same year that he was appointed. In 1989 the security police attempted to assassinate Chikane by placing underwear impregnated with a powerful nerve toxin in his suitcase while he was travelling.

In the 1990s, Chikane remained involved with the SACC, and had the task of carrying the organisation through the period of change. He attempted to draw the more conservative churches back in the SACC, and directed the church through the 1994 election. He focused on changing the image on the SACC from a political movement to one that can play a role in mediation.

In 1994, Chikane began work as the Director General in the office of the Deputy President, Thabo Mbeki, and remained there until June 1999. In December 1997, he was elected to the NEC of the African National Congress (ANC). Chikane became the Director General in the office of the President, in June 1999 until 2009.

In 2007, five former security officials in South Africa's apartheid regime received suspended prison sentences for plotting to kill Chikane. Former Police Minister Adriaan Vlok and his police chief Johan van der Merwe received suspended 10-year sentences. The others received suspended five-year sentences. Under a plea bargain, all five admitted trying to kill Chikane in 1989. Chikane said he did not want to see the men go to prison. Vlok sought forgiveness from Chikane in 2006 by washing his feet as an act of seeking Christian forgiveness.

In 2009, media reports stated that he was nominated by Congress of the People (COPE) members in the Gauteng area to be on their election list.  Chikane who was then Director General in the Presidency said that refused to take up a position in COPE.

In 2010, Chikane returned to the Ministry of the Apostolic Faith Mission church.

Other positions held by Chikane include

• Senior Research Fellow, Department of Religious Studies, University of Cape Town, (1995 - 2009)
• Honorary President, Nebo Youth Congress, (1987 - 2010)
• Director - Institute of Contextual Theology (1983 - 1987)
• Chairman - Forum of Director-Generals in SA (FOSAD)
• Chair - International Council of the Apostolic Faith Mission
• Swedish Diakonia Peace Prize for Outstanding Theology Contribution for Justice and Peace in SA - Institute for Contextual Theology
• Honoured by African-American Institute at its Annual Awards Dinner - African-American Institute
• Peace and Freedom Prize - Swedish Labour Movement
• DTh (hc) - Rijkuniversiteit, Groningen, Netherlands

References

• Chikane, Frank, from O’ Malley, [online] Available at www.nelsonmandela.org [Accessed 22 August 2011]
•  Frank Chikane from Who’s Who Southern Africa, [online] Available at www.whoswhosa.co.za  [Accessed on 17 August 2011]
•  BBC, (2007), Apartheid murder plotters guilty from the BBC, Available at news.bbc.co.uk  [Accessed on 17 August 2011]
•  Political Bureau, (2010) Chikane in ANC's line of fire from Independent Online, [online] Available at www.iol.co.za [Accessed on 17 August 2011]
•  SAPA, (2009), Chikane says no to Cope post,  from the  Mail & Guardian  [online] Available at www.mg.co.za [Accessed on 17 August 2011]
•  SAPA, (2010),  Frank Chikane pastor again from News 24. [online] Available at www.news24.com Accessed on 17 August 2011 Additional reading
  • Chikane, F, (1988), No Life of My Own, (Braamfontein), pp.62-64 

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