In this extract from his memoir, My Own Liberator, former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke tells the story of how, after being imprisoned at the age of 15 and spending 10 years on Robben Island, he saw his dream girl become his wife.
NEARLY two years before my release, I took out a subscription to DRUM magazine. The covergirl of the first issue of DRUM that I received was a young woman from my hometown, Atteridgeville. The writeup explained that she was a student nurse at Baragwanath Hospital. Besides her stunning looks, she was in the media because of a drama piece she’d written and produced called The Pride of the Family. The piece lauded the life of a young student nurse who avoided the indiscretions of youth in favour of her training and future career as a health caregiver.
I wrote three carefully worded letters to the covergirl, Kabonina, and sent them off– a bit like hurling a stone into a deep pond. I received no reply to any of them. I gave up my amateur fishing session and forgot about the target of my attention.
As Kabonina entered the room, I looked again, but I still could not remember who she was. I wondered how she knew about the date of my release. There she was – neither one day earlier, nor one day later. She came despite the scary news of my banning order which, I was told, spread quickly across our township. The story went something like this: “Dikgang is out, but not quite out. He is still locked up in his home.”
Once I had made the connection, I also wondered why she would care to visit now when she had not bothered to reply to any of my letters. “I was so interested to write and yet so scared,” she explained in a soft, husky voice. “I received all three of your letters, but they had big red prison stamps all over the brown envelopes. I was truly afraid to write a letter to someone in prison.”
This story is from the 29 December 2016 edition of Drum English.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the 29 December 2016 edition of Drum English.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Homegrown Heroes
Drum speaks to two volunteers in the Covid-19 vaccine trial and the professor heading the team in Africa
The Big Clean Up
Whenever a Covid-19 case is confirmed at a shop, they call in the deep-cleaners. We find out exactly how they disinfect stores and supermarkets
I'm Back & Better!
Babes Wodumo shares what she’s been up to in lockdown – and there’s some new music on the horizon
Not An Easy Ride
Taxi commuters and industry players tell DRUM what’s driving them to defy lockdown rules
Mam' Mary Bows Out
Iconic actress Mary Twala is fondly remembered by friends and family for her humour and talent
‘They Lived For Each Other'
This Cape Town teen’s parents died from Covid-19 on the same day. Now she’s alone and battling the virus too
Stranger Than Fiction
For actor Mangaliso Ngema and his daughter Khosi Ngema, her role in Blood & Water was like watching their family’s real-life story unfold
I Was Raped By A Pastor
His accusations against a well-known man of the cloth turned an Eastern Cape man’s life into turmoil but now more victims have spoken out
My Fight With Life And Death
More Covid-19 patients, too few beds and staff, constant sanitising and personal fears – a Western Cape doctor shares her experience
I AM ENOUGH
Ten years after being set alight, Thembi Maphanga is living life to the fullest