EXTRACTS . . .
AUGUST 31, 1970, to his wife, Winnie: “Above all, I long for Amasi [fermented milk] — the food for which I loved to sharpen my teeth and to stretch out my tummy, the diet that I really enjoyed, that went straight into my blood and into my heart, and that produced perfect contentment . . . You remember how we carried a calabash on our way back from Mbongweni.”
APRIL 28, 1974, from his daughter Zindzi:
“One day there was an article of your speech and there was also a picture of you. Many girls were saying that they want to meet my handsome ‘brother’ (referring to you). They thought that you were a boy of about eighteen. They nearly fainted when I told them who you really were.” SEPTEMBER 1 1974, to Winnie: “Since 66 the cell has been beautified and softened by the picture of the girls which you sent in place of the ’66 Xmas card. I may, however, keep only three photos at a time, and when those of the girls arrived in ’72 I had to hand in the family photo . . . Reluctantly I had to surrender even this one when the wedding photos came. That is why I miss you so much.”
FEBRUARY 24 1975, from Winnie in the Kroonstad women’s prison:
“I didn’t know that your feelings about hearing from me constitute a security risk always. Your letter is cut where it begins — nothing means as much as hearing from you — the first paragraph of page two is cut off too. Since I have to revise these strops of paper to fall asleep, it’s a lovely brain exercise to keep imagining what you could have written.
“My longing for you is unbearable now, I need you more than ever before after this experience. Whenever I prepare my humble bed, the sisal mat, I imagine you doing the same.” APRIL 1 1975, to his daughter Zenani: “I believe that TV sets will soon be on sale in South Africa and I take it for granted that mum will be keen to buy one. It would be correct for her to do so since TV has become one of the most effective means of spreading knowledge. But one has to be extremely careful in choosing and buying one from a trader . . . The Bureau of Standards in Pretoria, I am told, distributes useful info to the public as a guide in selecting a set.” JULY 1 1975, to Zindzi: “There is absolutely nothing wrong in women playing soccer and I’d encourage you do to so by all means. Only the other day I saw reports of an international match when a women’s soccer team from France played an English side in Britain . . . you may already be a fan of one or other of the more well-known teams there, say, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates or Swallows.
“At the same time you should fully accept that you are a lady and therefore develop yourself as one and not lose interest in other women and their activities.” JANUARY 1 1976, to Winnie: “I've received the remains of your letters of 20/11 and 24/11, but I don’t know what you wanted to say as they were exceedingly disfigured and unreadable, especially the last one. It took me about 10 minutes to straighten it out for reading purposes. That type of letter makes every line and word that survives very precious . . .
“During the last 13 years I’ve collected a fortune of 203 letters . . . ’75 brought me a total of 43 letters, three birthday cards and three Easter cards. Out of these, 16 letters and a birthday card were from you; one letter and a birthday card were from each of the girls . . .”
SEPTEMBER 1 1976, to Zindzi. The news that Winnie has been imprisoned again has reached him:
“With mum away the fires and lights that used to burn our home so beautifully must have died away and fused and the warmth and brightness that filled the house disappeared.
“Always semi-orphans, you now find yourselves completely without a mum and a dad, without the affectionate hugs and kisses you got when you returned from school.”