Born 12 February 1920 in Makoza District near Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape Died 20 February 2005
Following school, Mhlaba, fondly known as “Oom Ray” in later life, began his career at a laundry in Port Elizabeth from where he was introduced into the world of politics through the European Laundry Workers Union. He became a member of the South African Communist Party in 1943, a member of the ANC in 1944 and chairman of the Port Elizabeth branch of the ANC between 1947 and 1953.
After the banning of the ANC, Mhlaba joined other exiles in military training in China and on return, he commanded the Umkhonto we Sizwe till the Rivonia Trial.
Sentenced to life imprisonment at the Rivonia Trial, Mhlaba served time at both Robben Island and Pollsmoor Prison and on his release in 1989, he was elected to the ANC national executive and the South African Communist Party central committee. He became national chairperson of the SACP in 1995.
In 1994, Mhlaba became the Premier of the Eastern Cape and helped to establish the house of traditional leaders, before releasing a book of his memoirs and being awarded the ANC’s highest honour.
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