by Alan Paton
Well, Jan Christiaan, thank you again for your great service to our people. Is there any chance that you might come again one day to Weltevreden? That would be a joy to me. Mind you, I am not lonely. It is ten years since Koos died, and the farm keeps me busy. And all night I read and read. When my time comes to die I shall have read nearly all the books in the world, except the modern ones of course, most of which are rubbish.
I send affectionate greetings to you, Jan Christiaan, and to Martha Fortuin also.
Trina de Lange
Dear Judge
I did not think I would write a second letter to you so soon. I wept to read the story of your visit to Bochabela. So many things drive all our people apart that it gives one joy when some of them are brought together.
You know of course that it was my son’s belief that only separateness would bring us peace. That was his father’s belief also. Their beliefs did not bring me any happiness because I had to conceal my own. But the sad truth is that their beliefs did not bring them happiness either.
I thank you again, judge. I suppose that in the midst of all our troubles it is only a small thing. But it is a big thing for me.
Yours respectfully
Alida Fischer
. . . I am telling you something very confidential, my dear aunt. Mrs. Fischer has asked me to make my home with her. She has offered me the part of the house that was occupied by her son, and she says I can be as private as I wish. She says I do not need to have all my meals with her; we shall come to some arrangement.
Then she said something which I could see was painful for her to say. She told me that her son’s bathroom was to be turned into a boxroom, and that the boxroom would be made into a bathroom, and that it would be connected with what would be my bedroom.
Now I must tell you something very difficult. The Minister won’t like the idea at all. He hates the name of Fischer, and if I go to live there he is quite capable of taking it as an affront. What is more, the post vacated by the late Dr. Fischer has not yet been filled. The Minister has never suggested that I might get the post, but he has more than once spoken of his dependence on me. The post of course is not filled by the Minister but by the Public Service Commission. However, the Commission would pay attention to a suggestion from the Minister. So you will see that I am in a difficult position. I am sure that I would be very comfortable at Mrs. Fischer’s, but that might well mean the end of my promotion.
I admire you, dear aunt, for starting a clinic at Ethembeni. But it is my duty to sound a note of warning. This man Emmanuel Nene, of whom you have such a high opinion, is under constant scrutiny by the Security Police. They suspect that behind that captivating smile of his he is a subversive character, and they have considered banning him under the Suppression of Communism Act. He is the organising secretary of the Natal African Landowners Association, and is inciting landowners in the blackspots to resist the lawful expropriation of their land. But worse than that, he has recently been appointed Natal Organiser for the Liberal Party. I think you should consider your course of action very carefully.
Emmanuel Nene is certainly organising the landowners in the blackspots to resist expropriation, and this is certainly called incitement by many white people. But if white farmers ever had cause to resist expropriation, that would be regarded as a legitimate activity. Emmanuel is followed everywhere by the Security Police, and this causes much anxiety among members of the Liberal Party, who would be desolated if he were banned under the Suppression of Communism Act.
His energy seems inexhaustible. He has given up part of his house to serve as a clinic, and Mrs. Katrina de Lange, one of the leading farmers of the district, brings out an African nurse from Newcastle twice a week. Her neighbours regard the venture as unusual, and make little jokes about it, but one does not oppose Mrs. de Lange very openly, because she has been one of the staunchest members of the National Party for many years.
Emmanuel Nene has given himself yet another task, and that is to make the Mansfields’ departure to Australia as painless as possible.
– You judge yourself too harshly, Robert. You remember I said you were going to get wounded, but I didn’t know how badly. We don’t judge you. Now what about Prem? Did you see her before she went to New York?
– Yes, I did, Emmanuel. But I couldn’t bring her here. I was afraid that our daughter Felicity would start screaming. But more than that. I couldn’t have taken her into the room where — you know — where she was shot.
– How did you get on with Prem?
– You know Prem, Emmanuel. She was as natural as a girl could be. But I don’t think I could ever have brought her into this room again, even though the man is dead.
– Yes, I understand that. And you have heard that the operation went well?
– Yes, I’ve heard it. Eddie says his surgeon friend is a genius and he seems to be.
– Now, Robert, there is one more thing. There are two people you haven’t seen.
– I know.
– And you can’t go without seeing them. You stood by them all the time you were in Newcastle. They feel your going very much. But what would they feel if you went without seeing them?
– I know, Emmanuel. I am ashamed of it. I must try to make it clear to you. If it had been ourselves, I think Naomi and I could have taken it. But first Prem, and then Felicity.
– You needn’t explain. Now listen, Robert. I’m going back to Ethembeni tomorrow. Then the next day if you can, you come to my house at Ethembeni, and I’ll take you to see Wilberforce and Elizabeth.
– I’ll do it. You’re a wonderful chap, Emmanuel.
Emmanuel gave his captivating smile.
– That’s what my wife used to say, Robert, when we were first married. But lately she doesn’t say it so often. Especially since I organised the Landowners Association, and since Philip made me into an organiser.
– Why, doesn’t she want you to do these things?
– Of course she wants me to. But she doesn’t like me always being away from home, where she can’t see what I am doing.
– Well, Nhlapo, let me tell you, you and Elizabeth did it well.
– You think so?
– Yes, I think so. When I brought Robert to see you, I could tell that he was nervous to meet you. But you comforted him.
– Do you know what I think, Emmanuel? There are times when it is easier to be black than white.
– You are right. On this particular occasion it is so. Here is a white man who stands against these laws, and except for a few other white people he stands by himself. And look what other white people do to him. But when you and I stand against the laws, everybody is with us. No one tries to kill us.
They were both silent till Emmanuel spoke again.
– I’m sorry, Nhlapo. I’d forgotten about the assegai. Tell me, did you ever find anything?
– Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not to this day can I think who would want to kill me. Now listen, Emmanuel, I have a big thing to tell you.
– I’m listening.
– I am going to join the Landowners Association.
– Well, well, I am listening.
– You think I shouldn’t?
– I would never think such a thing. I know you couldn’t join the party. But I always hoped you would join NALA.
– You never asked me.
– No, I didn’t ask you. You are a Government servant. You would make the Government angry. They would put this Sergeant Magwaza onto you. He would watch you, and stop your car on the road and search it for weapons, and talk to your teachers, and even your pupils, and he would search your house. But the Government could do worse than that. They could warn you to resign from NALA, and if you did not, they could ban you from all public life. Just suppose. Nhlapo, that they said you could not enter any educational institution. That would be the end of your job, and what would you do then? How could I ask you to join NALA?
– Elizabeth and I talked about it. We knew I couldn’t join y
our party. But I am a landowner, and why should I not defend my land? Is a Government servant not entitled to defend his land? We decided that if I did not defend my land I would cease to be a man. We decided that ceasing to be a man was the worst thing that could happen to me, much worse even than being banned. We are a defeated race but not so defeated as that.
– Nhlapo, I like that language.
Emmanuel Nene’s eyes were shining with joy, and he was full of excitement.
– But I am going to look after you, Nhlapo. You are older than I am, but I will not allow you to become prominent in NALA. Otherwise your fate, well, that is, if you are going to have a fate, will come sooner. That Sergeant Magwaza will break you if he can. Sometimes I wake in the night and ask myself how a black man can trap black men for a white Government. I have asked him that too. He looks at me with hate. If he could kill me, he would kill me. He hates me because I don’t hate him, because I smile at him, because I ask him how he can trap his own brothers. You know I am a religious man, Nhlapo, but I ask myself how God can make such a man.
– You must not do that, Emmanuel. You must not think that when you do wrong, it is God that makes you do it. A man with your name! Emmanuel, God with us! It won’t do.
– Well, well, you have thrashed me with your tongue. You are an older man and I respect you. But I shall not allow you to become prominent in NALA. Therefore do not be ambitious.
Robert, this is the last letter you’ll get from me. You’re going, and I’m going too, but not to Australia. I’m going Upstairs. The doctor says it will be from three to six months. The big pain hasn’t started yet, but I know where it is going to be.
I’m not afraid of dying, Robert, but I’m not keen to go Upstairs. Even my mother told me that there you have to mix with the black nation. That’s not exactly my idea of heaven. My mother always told me to make the most of it here because there’s no white leadership with justice Upstairs. But I don’t give up hope altogether. I remember those words, ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions.’ That might mean no mixing.
I’m sorry to leave you, Robert. I’ve enjoyed our correspondence. I’m sorry never to have met you, but I’m not very keen on men. If I had listened to my mother, I’d never have married. It was a big failure. For one thing he had only one thought in his mind, and that was sex. I divorced him but my mother didn’t want to take me back, so I’ve lived my life on my own, reading, and listening to the radio, and writing letters. And watching life from my window, ha! ha!
I’m not sorry for what I wrote to you, Robert. You wasted your time trying to bring together what God put asunder, as long ago as the Tower of Babel. He came down to confound their language so that they would not understand one another’s speech. You went against that, didn’t you? And look what you got.
Well, I’m not writing any more. It didn’t help anyway. But I wish you luck in Australia, digger. I don’t want to take any hate Upstairs.
I’ve got a nice surprise for you, Robert. I’ll sign myself
Humble White Christian Woman
PS. I’m only sorry for one thing. What I wrote about you and your daughter. I shouldn’t have done it. But sometimes it seemed as though the Devil got into me.
PART SIX
* * *
Into the Golden Age
. . . Pretoria of course is in mourning, but underneath is a feeling of excitement and expectancy. The Lion of the North has gone and no one can say he was a great Prime Minister. He had great force of character, but Dr. Hendrik has both that and great force of intellect. He knows just where he and the country are going, and if anyone can take us safely into the future it will be he.
Of course it is not cut and dried. My own Minister will be a candidate for the premiership, and at least one other. But as soon as the choice is made, I shall write to you again. You know of course that in my view there is no other leader but Dr. Hendrik. I am not given to hero worship, but there is no doubt in my mind but that he is made in the heroic mould. I believe his will is totally unshakable. I believe he will not bow to world opinion, but will do what he thinks is right and practicable. He is said to have an unyielding personality, implacable in fact, but I think this is merely the way in which his enemies regard his indomitability.
My Minister has not discussed the succession with me. It would not be proper for him to do so, and I am glad that this is so. What would I do if he were to ask me outright who was my candidate for the premiership? It would be an impossible situation for me. I would have to decide in the twinkling of an eye, so to speak, whether to lie and demean myself, or to tell the truth and offend him. A nasty choice, my dear aunt.
You will of course have read that ex-Chief Lutuli was assaulted here in Pretoria when he was addressing an all-white study group. A group of young white men stormed the platform, and assaulted the chairman, also the secretary, who unfortunately was a woman, and got Lutuli on the floor and kicked him. The chairman and others tried to protect Lutuli, but not until he had received several blows, including one to his jaw. A spokesman for the young men declared that they considered it grossly improper for a black man to address a white gathering, especially in Pretoria, the historic capital of Afrikanerdom, and the seat of a Government which had time and time again declared that it totally disapproved of such gatherings. When the police arrived the assailants were arrested, the chairman apologised profusely to Lutuli, and Lutuli continued his address. He said later that he cherished no rancour, and that the meeting gave him great encouragement for the future. It gave him much hope that Afrikaners were beginning to question the policies of Dr. Hendrik and Mr. de Wet Nel.
Well, it was unfortunate, but I do not think the study group should have arranged such a meeting. The time is not ripe for this sort of thing, and Pretoria is certainly not ripe for it. I don’t know how De Wet Nel got into the Cabinet. During last session he issued an instruction that all white officials in his Department of Bantu Affairs, when visiting black institutions, should greet black officials and others, not by shaking hands, but by putting their hands together and raising them, almost in an attitude of prayer or supplication, and saying, ‘Molo, molo.’ Well, I happened to be at the airport in Cape Town on the day after Parliament had risen. The place was full of M.P.s going to their constituencies, and it must have happened three or four times that, as a new arrival approached a table where other M.P.s were sitting, they would greet him and he them by raising their hands in supplication, and saying, ‘Molo, molo.’ Then they would all burst into ribald laughter. What Mr. de Wet Nel would have thought of it, I don’t know. He takes himself very seriously, and will say very piously that he is a Minister because it is the will of God that he should be one. It helps one to understand the meaning of the saying that the ways of Providence are inscrutable. Do you remember, my dear aunt, out of your great knowledge, that that is what the eminent lawyer F. E. Smith said to the judge who asked him, ‘Do you know, Mr. Smith, why I have been elevated to this position?’
DR. HENDRIK ELECTED BY CAUCUS
SUMMONED TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE
ACCEPTS THE PREMIERSHIP
Dr. Hendrik was this morning elected leader of the National Party by the party caucus. He succeeds the late Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom, who died on Sunday. Dr. Hendrik was elected unanimously, after two other Ministers withdrew their candidatures. Immediately the result was known, Dr. Hendrik was summoned to Government House, and asked by the Governor-General to lead the Government. He accepted, and will announce his Cabinet this afternoon.
Dr. Hendrik’s appointment has been greeted with tremendous enthusiasm by the intellectuals of the party and of Afrikanerdom generally. His acceptance by the rank and file will take a little longer, but will certainly be total. Ordinary members of Parliament stand in awe of him, and not one of them would dare to debate with the new Prime Minister.
Quite apart from these considerations, Afrikanerdom will welcome Dr. Hendrik as the Afrikaner most fitted to lead the country in the difficult years that lie a
head. Foreign hostility to the policies of separate development has grown steadily fiercer over the last ten years. Afrikaner Nationalists believe that they have in Dr. Hendrik a man who has the ability, first to stand up to the United Nations, and second to convince the world at large that the policies of separate development are pragmatic and just.
Warm tributes were paid by the caucus to the late Prime Minister. He was also known for his courage and forthrightness, but it is widely recognised among Nationalists that his qualities of heart far outweighed those of his head.
White opposition comment is guarded. So is the comment of the black press. But underlying such comments is a deep note of pessimism. Both white and black non-Nationalists distrust the new Prime Minister’s self-certitude and inflexibility, and both groups expect a deterioration in white-black relations, but will for the moment adopt a policy of wait-and-see.
ADDRESS TO THE NATION
The policy of separate development is designed for happiness, security, and the stability provided by their home language and administration, for the Bantu as well as the whites.
The different nations from which we are descended have each had a golden age, a period in which they reigned supreme among the other nations in world history. We here in South Africa have not yet had our golden age. We are as yet but the builders of a nation. But our nation will also be led to a zenith and in that climax of that golden age we shall also be of great significance to the world, still greater than now. We are already a nation, small in numbers, but yet great in our deeds . . . We have been planted here, we believe, with a destiny — destiny not for the sake of the selfishness of a nation, but for the sake of the service of a nation to the world of which it forms a part, and the service of a nation to the Deity in which it believes . . .
I have earnestly asked myself whether the advocates of total unity of the different races can bring justice and fairness to everybody. I am absolutely convinced that integration in a country like South Africa cannot possibly succeed . . . I am seeking justice for all the groups and not justice for only one group at the cost of the other three.
