[2] The Ntsebeza brothers first rose to prominence in the anti-apartheid movement, particularly through their role in founding a political study group to examine alternatives to apartheid.

[2] In 1976, several members of the study group, including Matthew Goniwe and both Ntsebeza brothers, were arrested by the South African Police and charged with violating the Suppression of Communism Act, 1950.

[2] The trial took place under authorities in the Transkei, the newly independent bantustan that governed Cala, and the brothers were sentenced to four years' imprisonment.

[2] While in prison, Ntsebeza enrolled in a correspondence course through the University of South Africa,[1] and at the end of 1980 he obtained his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and political science.

[4] After receiving his PhD in 2002, Ntsebeza was the acting director of the Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies at the University of the Western Cape.

Ntsebeza argued that contemporary traditional leadership institutions, as recognised by the post-apartheid South African government, were modelled on apartheid-era tribal authorities and were largely anti-democratic.