Ben Turok: an exiled democrat

Abstract

Struggle stalwart and self-styled 'organic intellectual' Benjamin 'Ben' Turok valued ethics above self-interest, and he also valued integrity and morality above blind loyalty. He endured banning, imprisonment and exile for his anti-apartheid activism, and he was not afraid to stand up to his own party as an ANC member of Parliament (MP). He worked hard to successfully avoid the 'hypocrisy and opportunism' that he believed were inherent in politics.