Alcott Skei Gwentshe was born in 1920 in Tsomo in the Transkei. A shopkeeper in Duncan Village, he played a key role in the establishment of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in East London in 1948. He helped to make East London one of the most powerful centres of protest during the Defiance Campaign.
He later became chairperson of the ANC in East London and the leader of the Cape ANCYL. During this time, he was under the watch of the security police. Gwentshe was banned under the Suppression of Communism Act and was banished from Duncan Village. He was arrested in Mafeking for disobeying the banishing order and was represented by Joe Slovo in court.
He was allowed to return to Tsomo in 1960 but his banishment was only officially lifted in 1964. He died 27 October 1966.