Harry Gwala; A Leader of African National Congress

Harry Gwala, 74, a militant leader of the African National Congress who fought doggedly against the rival Zulus. Considered an ANC warlord by his foes, Gwala was the ANC leader in the KwaZulu-Natal region, where fighting between the ANC and the Zulu-nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party has claimed an estimated 10,000 lives. Scorned by the increasingly conciliatory South African Communist Party and the ANC, Gwala was suspended for six months last year by the party for criticizing colleagues and was passed over for provincial leader by the ANC. He trained as a teacher, worked as a union organizer and became active in politics in his 20s. Imprisoned on Robben Island, where President Nelson Mandela was held for 27 years, Gwala served eight years for sabotage and 11 for furthering the aims of the ANC. He was freed in 1988 because of poor health. He had recently held a seat in his provincial legislature. On Tuesday in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, of heart failure.