Well-known political activist and academic, Dr. Neville Alexander is born

Updated: 22 Oct 2025

A well-known political activist and academic, Neville Edward Alexander was born on 22 October, 1936 in Cradock, Eastern Cape. He went on to complete three university degrees in History and German at the University of Cape Town. In 1962 he founded the Yu Chi Chan Club (YCCC) along with Dulcie September. The organization proposed the adoption of guerilla warfare in the struggle against apartheid. In 1962, after the YCCC was disbanded, he founded the National Liberation Front (NLF). The aim of the NLF was to unite South Africans for the common goal of overthrowing the apartheid state. In 1963, Alexander was arrested along with other members of the NLF and was imprisoned on Robben Island for 10 years. Upon his release, he did extensive work on language policy and planning in South Africa. He is the recipient of the Lingua Pax Prize for his contribution to the promotion of multilingualism in post-apartheid South Africa. Alexander passed away on 27 August 2012 in Cape Town.

How we know this

01Who's is who Dr. Neville Alexander, [online] Available at: whoswhosa.co.za [Accessed 12 October 2009]
02Magnien N. ‘Dr. Neville Edward Alexander’, from South African History Online, [online], available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 20 September 2012]

Last updated · 22 Oct 2025

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Well-known political activist and academic, Dr. Neville Alexander is born. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011567

South African History Online (2011) 'Well-known political activist and academic, Dr. Neville Alexander is born', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011567 (Accessed: 8 October 2026).

South African History Online, Well-known political activist and academic, Dr. Neville Alexander is born [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011567, (accessed 8 October 2026).

"Well-known political activist and academic, Dr. Neville Alexander is born." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011567. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Well-known political activist and academic, Dr. Neville Alexander is born." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011567.