by Madikizela-Mandela, Winnie; Kathrada, Ahmed; Kathrada, Ahmed
Incidentally last Saturday I received a sweet letter from my eldest daughter, Maki, who is doing J.C. at the Orlando High School. She had been keen on science but the death of her eldest brother, Thembi, to whom she looked for financial support, has clearly affected her plans. She now informs me that she is no longer keen to be a scientist because funds will not be available for this purpose. When I left home in April ’61 we had made arrangements for the education of all the children and things went very well until the end of 1967. Even after that date, Zami, with all her formidable difficulties, just managed to keep things fairly even. But now that she is away things seem to be going into pieces. You may mention this aspect to my friends as well.
I never like to allow my thoughts to dwell much on Zeni and Zindzi. It was hard enough for them that I should be away from home. It should even be more so now that Zami has followed. I cannot be sure that this disruption of our family life may not have seriously affected them. I wrote to them in June and July but I learn that neither letter reached. I hear very little about them and this increases my anxiety and concern. But I am always consoled by the fact that you, Khathi, Marsh, Niki and many of our friends are there to give them all the warm love and affection that they need. If there is one thing that contributed to Zami’s deteriorating health, it is precisely the plight of the children at the present moment, to whom she is deeply attached. But you will be happy to know that she counts you amongst those who will spare no efforts in making the children forget that they are orphans.
I hear from her now and again and it is a pleasure for me to be able to tell you that in spite of her indifferent health, she is in a grand mood. What a girl! She was brave enough to drag me to the altar, but I never once suspected that her courage would take her so far. I feel very humble indeed when I compare my own insignificant efforts with the heavy sacrifices she is making. My only worry is to know how C.K.171 and Niki have taken the whole thing. Radebe, it was a real pleasure for me to receive your moving letter exactly 12 months ago, and to hear something about abazala172 and Granny. It’s amazing how fast children go [sic]. I found it difficult to believe that Khathi was going to varsity. As a matter of fact I had planned to write to her and hear something about Fort Hare, but Kgatho’s case compelled me to write to you instead. Love and fondest regards to all.
Sincerely,
Madiba
LETTER FROM WINNIE MANDELA
TO HER SISTER-IN-LAW TELLIE MTIRARA
3/12/69
My dear Nkosazana,
I must say I have been quite unhappy since I saw you when you visited me. I was shocked to see you just a shadow of your old self and looking so rundown. A week thereafter I was allowed to read a portion of a letter from my husband in which he stated how disturbed he was over the letter you wrote to him complaining bitterly about certain family matters. I looked forward to seeing you in court as you had promised and I thought I might have got an opportunity of discussing some of these family problems with my sisters and yourself. I would have made special representations to be allowed to see you too.
I would like you to visit me as soon as you can. I wrote the letter you told Kgatho to tell me about although it was just a note authorising a member of my family to collect my clothes. I needed a few changing clothes from the light crimpelene summer wear and shoes, the pair I have is the one I brought along with me in May and it’s getting quite worn out. I have had to borrow slippers from one of my friends and have promised to buy her a pair. Secondly I would like to send back some of the winter clothes. I did not even have something to hold my stockings with, and even the stockings were also given to me by another friend. I find this terribly embarrassing, to be so stranded when at least I’ve got clothes I’ve worked hard for with your assistance. We were cut off that [time] before we had discussed anything sensible.
Please make it a point to call soon. Thanks a million for the visit you arranged for Kgatho. I was thrilled to see my boy. He is a real man now and he spoke like an adult. I must discuss him with you too, his schooling next year and it’s already so late in the year. I would like to say so much to you, about all what you have done for your brother and I, not to say anything about the children. Your holiday falls this month and I wondered whether you could fit in a visit to the girls. I understand you made them wonderful provisions after my detention when they returned to school. I had always known that in you they have more than an aunt.
How is sis’Thoko? I was told you see her very frequently, by my sister. I do hope as a Christian she has taken the bitter tragedy well. Do tell her how much I appreciate the sacred gesture of letting Kgatho take his responsibility.
I look forward to seeing you soon. Where is Nomaphelo?173 Greet Mfundo and tell her I dreamt she does not scrub the floors on Fridays! Do eat a little more than you do. Love to my boy.
Fondest regards,
Nobandla
LETTER FROM NELSON MANDELA
TO WINNIE MANDELA
January 1, 1970
Sent 20.1.70
Dade Wethu,
A novel by Langenhoven, Skaduwees van Nasaret (Shadows of Nazareth), depicts the trial of Christ by Pontius Pilate when Israel was a Roman dependency and when Pilate was its military governor. I read the novel in 1964 and now speak purely from memory. Yet though the incident described in the book occurred about 2000 years ago, the story contains a moral whose truth is universal and which is as fresh and meaningful today as it was at the height of the Roman Empire. After the trial Pilate writes to a friend in Rome to whom he makes remarkable confessions. Briefly this is the story as told by him, and for convenience I have put it in the first person:
As governor of a Roman province I have tried many cases involving all types of rebels. But this trial of Christ I shall never forget. One day a huge crowd of Jewish priests and followers, literally shivering with rage and excitement assembled just outside my palace and demanded that I crucify Christ for claiming to be king of the Jews, at the same time pointing to a man whose arms and feet were heavily chained. I looked at the prisoner and our eyes met. In the midst of all the excitement and noise he remained perfectly calm, quiet and confident as if he had millions of people on his side. I told the priests that the prisoner had broken Jewish and not Roman law and that they were the rightful people to try him. But in spite of my explanation they stubbornly persisted in demanding his crucifixion. I immediately realised their dilemma. Christ had become a mighty force in the land and the masses of the people were fully behind him. In this situation the priests felt powerless and did not want to take the responsibility of sentencing and condemning him. The only solution was to induce imperial Rome to do what they were powerless to do.
At festival time it has always been the practice to release some prisoner and as the festival was now due I suggested that this prisoner be set free. But instead the priests asked that Barabas, a notorious prisoner, be released and that Christ be executed. At this stage I went into court and ordered the prisoner to be brought in. My wife and that of other Roman officials occupied the bay reserved for distinguished guests. As the prisoner walked in my wife and her companions instinctively got up as a mark of respect for Christ but soon realised that this man was a Jew and prisoner whereupon they resumed their seats. For the first time in my experience I faced a man whose eyes appeared to see right through me, whereas I was unable to fathom him. Written across his face was a gleam of love and hope; but at the same time he bore the expression of one who was deeply pained by the folly and suffering of mankind as a whole. He gazed upwards and his eyes seemed to pierce through the roof and to see right beyond the stars. It became clear that authority was not in me as a judge, but was down below in the dock where the prisoner was.
My wife passed me a note in which she informed me that the previous night she had dreamt that I had sentenced an innocent man whose only crime was that of messiah to his people. ‘There before you Pilate is the man of my dream; let justice be done.’ I knew that what my wife said was quite true, b
ut my duty demanded that I should sentence this man irrespective of his innocence. I put the note in my pocket and proceeded with the case. I informed the prisoner what the charge was against him and asked him to indicate whether or not he was guilty. Several times he completely ignored me and it was clear he considered the proceedings an utter fuss, as I had already made up my mind on the question of sentence. I repeated the question and assured him that I had authority to save his life. The prisoner’s gleam dissolved into a smile and for the first time he spoke. He admitted that he was [a] king and with that single and simple answer he totally destroyed me. I had expected that he would deny the charge as all prisoners do, and his admission brought things to a head.
You know, dear friend, that when a Roman judge tries a case in Rome, he is guided simply by the charge, the law and the evidence before the court, and his decision will be determined solely by these factors. But here in the provinces far away from Rome we are at war. A man who is in the field of battle is interested only in results; in victory and not in justice, and the judge is himself on trial. So it was, that even though I knew that this man was innocent, my duty demanded that I give him the death sentence and so I did. The last time I saw him, he was struggling towards Calvary amidst jeers, insults and blows, under the crushing weight of the heavy cross on which he was to die. I have decided to write you this personal letter because I believe that this confession to a friend will at least salve my uneasy conscience.
This in brief is the story of the trial of Jesus and comment is unnecessary, save to say that Langenhoven wrote this story in the twenties to arouse the political consciousness of his people in a South Africa where and at a time when, in spite of formal independence his people enjoyed, the organs of government including the judiciary were monopolised by Englishmen.
To the Afrikaner this story may recall unpleasant experiences and open up old wounds, but it belongs to a phase that has passed. To you and I it raises issues of a contemporary nature. I hope you will find it significant and useful and trust it will bring you some measure of happiness.
Molokazana174 paid me a visit this Saturday. She is a charming girl and I was really pleased to see her. On 14.1.70 she will be in Johannesburg for the ‘Kulula’ ceremony. I am writing to Ntambozenqanawa175 to ask him and Jongintaba Mdingi176 to help in this task. Last month I wrote to her and to Vuyo Masondo, and gave our condolences on the death of her brother at Umtata.
May good luck be on your side.
Tons and tons of love, Mhlope, and a million kisses.
Devotedly,
Dalibunga
LETTER FROM WINNIE MANDELA
TO BRIGADIER AUCAMP177
15.1.70
Dear Sir,
I want to thank you for arranging for me to get my clothes which were given to the Security Branch by my sister-in-law Telia Mtirara in September 1969. I got these on 14.1.70.
I wish to make an application to have one of my teeth filled . . . I understand that I have to make such an application to you to see a dentist.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
[Signed] W Mandela
LETTER FROM JOEL CARLSON
TO THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS
20th January 1970
Dear Sir,
Re: Awaiting-trial prisoners held at the women’s section, Pretoria Central Prison, in the matter of the State versus Samson Ratshivande Ndou & 21 others
Futher difficulties have arisen with regard to the treatment of the five awaiting-trial women prisoners in the above matter. These prisoners are Mrs Winnie Mandela, Joyce Nomafa Sikhakhane, Rita Anita Ndzanga, Venus Thokozile Mngoma and Martha Dlamini.
1. I am instructed that on Friday, the 16th instant, Matron Jacobz [sic] removed and read and then impounded certain notes and instructions written by Mrs Mandela, which she wished to bring to my attention as the defence attorney. This was done before the women prisoners left the women’s gaol and were transported to the men’s gaol, where the consultations are held. As soon as the report was made to me, I telephoned Matron Jacobz from the men’s section of the prison, advised her of the nature of the report made, and asked her to hand over to me immediately the notes made. She refused to do this and said that she was referring the notes to Brigadier Aucamp and would then return the notes to Mrs Mandela on her return to the women’s section of the prison later that day. She said that these notes had been removed on the instructions of Brigadier Aucamp. The notes were not returned to Mrs Mandela and are still impounded and in the possession of the prison authorities. The seizure of these notes by Matron Jacobz was unlawful and I am instructed to call upon you to take the necessary action to ensure that the notes are returned to Mrs Mandela immediately.
2. In addition, I am advised by these women prisoners that Matron Jacobz has demanded that they surrender all their statements and memoranda for their defence to her in order that she read them and that she insists on this being done before the women are permissed to leave the women’s section of the prison for the purpose of consultation with their defence lawyers. Not only has Matron Jacobz read these prison notes in detail, but she has made comments on them to the women prisoners. This practice has apparently been adopted by the said matron in regard to the written instructions given by the women prisoners to the defence lawyers since the 15th December, 1969. At an early stage the question of the reading of the statements by prison staff was raised and strong objection was taken to the demand which had been made to read prisoners’ written instructions to their lawyer. I was subsequently assured that the prison authorities would not read or remove such documents from the prisoners, either in their presence or in their absence, and the women prisoners were then instructed by me to prepare written statements on certain issues. I have now learned that during my absence on holiday the undertaking given to me was not carried out, and that matron Jacobz has made a practice of reading these privileged documents in detail. If Matron Jacobz persists in this conduct, it will no longer be possible to ask the women prisoners to prepare written statements necessary for the preparation of the defence case, nor will it be possible to leave statements with them to read on their own.
3. The said women prisoners have advised me that in breach of the regulations, they have not been allowed exercise since the adjournment of the case in Court and that this applied throughout the week and over the weekends and holidays. This cannot be accepted and my clients must be permitted the exercise periods to which they are, in law, entitled.
In the circumstances, I have been instructed to request from you, as I hereby do, an assurance that there will be no repetition of the acts complained of.
Yours faithfully,
J Carlson
LETTER FROM JOEL CARLSON
TO THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS
20th January 1970
Dear Sirs,
Re: The State verus S.R. Ndou and 21 others – interview with Nelson Mandela – Robben Island Prison
I refer to the letter dated the 22nd December which was addressed to the box number of my Pretoria correspondent. The letter was received by my correspondent while I was on holiday in Cape Town and a copy of the letter was given to me after I had returned to Johannesburg.
I cannot accept your ruling that another attorney must be instructed to interview Mr Mandela. Apart from the fact that the ruling embodies discrimination against myself, it is wholly impracticable to instruct another attorney in view of the following considerations.
1. There are 22 accused for whom I am appearing.
2. The indictment alleges a conspiracy between the 22 accused and 7 co-conspirators, including Mr Mandela, involving activity for a period of over 1 and a half years.
3. The indictment and further particulars thereto covered 29 pages and alleged 21 allegations against each accused.
4. The State proposes to call a large number of witnesses and the trial, which has already gone on for some weeks, is expected to last several months.
5. I have already s
pent a considerable amount of time consulting the accused, and have also been present during the conduct of the trial and am accordingly fully acquainted with the nature of the defence and the full background thereto.
6. Some of the statements minuted are very long, and, together, the statements cover several hundreds of pages.
As a result of the consultations I have held, and my knowledge of the case, which I have acquired from studying the indictment, the further particulars and the preliminary statements, I will be able to discuss the relevant issues with Mr Mandela and establish whether or not he is able to give evidence or furnish me with information which will be of assistance to the persons whom I represent.
In the light of the aforegoing, it will be appreciated that it is impossible to instruct another attorney and that the refusal to allow me to consult with Mr Mandela is, in all the circumstances, wholly unreasonable and may result in grave prejudice to my clients. My clients see no reason why they should be prejudiced in this way and require me to undertake this task myself.
In the circumstances, I have been instructed to call upon you to reconsider your ruling and to grant permission for me to interview Mr Mandela. Should you persist in your refusal, I will be obliged to place these facts before the court and ask it to take appropriate action to ensure that my clients are not prejudiced.
Yours faithfully
J Carlson
LETTER FROM NELSON MANDELA
TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF ROBBEN ISLAND
January 29, 1970
Attention: Lt Nel.
Please investigate the following matters: