Albert Thomas

Albert Thomas (1932?-2006) was a Cape Town based community activist and theatre director.

He met and married Gladys Adams when she was 18, and they subsequently had two children, Adrian Thomas and Tanja Thomas. The family settled in Simonstown, but were later evicted in terms of the notorious Group Areas Act and moved to the “raw”, unfinished township of Ocean View. This experience led to Gladys starting to write about the issues, and both of them became engaged in community activism and cultural matters in Ocean View. In 1983 they founded

He joined the staff of the University of Cape Town in January 1984 and retired at the end of 1993, where he ran the Student Advice Office during the difficult 1980s and pre-1990 days. Many a struggling student was helped by Thomas to find their feet, get funding, find accommodation, or sort out a study permit (as was required at the time under the Extension of University Education Act, 1959).

He continued to be engaged in community affairs until his death earlier this year at the age of 74. He leaves his widow, the poet and community artist, Gladys Thomas. Long experience of community activism in Ocean View had honed Thomas's determination and ability to find a solution to challenging problems.

He was at the university from January 1984 and retired at the end of 1993.

https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2006-05-15-uct-remembers-two-colleagues