Give my love to the kids when you write to them. Did Dini receive his birthday card? I asked Benjie to send him a book and a birthday message on my behalf. God bless you, Child!
Love to Mama, Jabie & the kids.
Your loving husband,
Mangi
Robert Sobukwe
to Veronica Sobukwe,
6 March 1964 (Bc13)
Hello Darling,
Again I write before I have received a reply from you because, as I said before, it is a pleasure to do so.
Thank you for the R20 (Twenty Rands) and the interesting news. Fabian, too, has written and enclosed a cheque for R50 (Fifty). I am submitting my order for the books I require. I have been unable to do much in Economic History so far because the textbook deals in broad generalisations while the course, judging from the notes and the tests, requires a great deal of detail.
Benjie wrote to say he would be coming down on the 1st March. I have not heard from him yet. I don’t know how he has succeeded in collecting the books he hoped to get for me.
I heard over the radio that there had been a train accident at New Canada. And I was relieved to learn there were no deaths. Human beings are selfish really because my first thoughts when I heard of the accident [illegible] yet the other men whose wives and children were on that train love their wives and children just as much as I love mine. We still have a very, very long way to go in our spiritual evolution to reach the stage Christ occupied over 2,000 years ago!
I miss you, of course, terribly, particularly on Sunday, when I know you are home – doing washing as usual!
[…]
I have written to Mrs Pullen to thank her on your behalf, but she will still expect and appreciate a direct letter from you. So when you do have a few minutes to spare do scribble a few lines to her, Child, please.
Have you heard from Den’s wife?11 She did not reply to my letter and I am just wondering where she is and what she is doing. I advised her to continue with the shop.
I do not know whether driver’s licences are easy to come by in Cape Town or not, but the accident rate down here is phenomenal. I am sure I would spend sleepless nights if I knew you were coming down here by car. Almost every day someone dies in a road accident down here. At this rate they’ll be forced to increase public transport and ban private driving altogether, although of course the motor dealers will kick up a row if such a measure is as much as mentioned!
Do give my love to Mama and Jabie [illegible].
Thank you for your prayers, Kid. I, too, never forget to commend you and the children to His care and keeping. And up to now we can honestly say He has done for us more than we had ever hoped for. And He will continue to do so Darling. He NEVER breaks a promise. But we must keep our side of the bargain too – love and forgiveness. That is all He asks from us.
Give my love to Mili and Dini when you write to them. I am extremely proud of them all. And of you most of all. You’re a rare girl – one who has taught me more about the love of God than all the books that I have read on the subject. And you’ve done it, Little Woman, just by being your natural self, without any pious talks or looks. God bless you, Child.
Your loving husband,
Mangi
Robert Sobukwe
to Veronica Sobukwe,
2 April 1964 (Bc14)
Hullo Darling!
Thank you for your letter. I had thought I had outgrown the “school boy” stage of excitement at receiving letters from you. But I haven’t. I still find it a great comfort to read your letters over and over again.
Yes, it was a lovely time we had in our little cottage. I keep thinking about it – how we started off with exactly one chair in the kitchen and no furniture whatsoever in the Dining Room. It’s been an uphill struggle, Little Woman. But, with the grace of God, we made it. Together, side by side, bit by bit, we converted those four walls into a home, fit for the children to grow up in.
[…]
Your telegram reached me a day before Benjie visited me. He promised to write to you immediately to tell you he had seen me and I was looking well. He appears to have put on weight since I saw him in January. He assured me that the books would be arriving any day and has undertaken to get the shoes, pyjamas and shirts I need. So don’t worry about those. Only I didn’t remember to tell him that the shoes should be broad-toed. Please advise him so if he comes to see you before buying them. I am also still well-off for cash. I won’t be needing any just yet.
It’s a pity you can’t see my quarters. I have just been provided with curtains for the “kitchen” and the “lounge” – lovely mustard and orange curtains. The “kitchen” walls are a light blue and the lounge has a “modern” two-tone!
Winter is setting in and the rains will soon be falling. I’ll be able, therefore, to take up gardening again. I feel so frustrated sometimes when I see lovely items in the Press advertisements that I would have liked to buy for you and the kids. But I’ll have to resist the temptation because anyway I no longer know what sizes you and the kids now wear.
I wrote to Mrs Pullen and thanked her as you had asked me to do. I am glad you enjoy their fortnightly tracts. Benjie was rather annoyed when a friend told him you were being flooded with these tracts. I also receive them. We’ll discuss them when next we meet.
Your remark about the kids playing in the mountains where their grandfather grew up was also made by Buti in a letter I received the same day as yours. Is it a case of two great minds thinking alike?
Yes Fabian told me they had named their son after me. I felt flattered and told him so. A pity about Jabi but I hope she’ll settle down soon. Thanks for news about Mercy. Charles is absolutely quiet.
How are Dedani and Dali getting on? I miss those guys. They are irrepressible. I am glad you’ve managed to shake the cold off. Yes I remember the joke you mention. What a queer language English is!
I had a quiet Easter, but felt strangely elated. Sang some hymns on Good Friday & Easter Sunday, full-blast and was just short of audience (congregation is the word) to preach to. It is quite alright singing to oneself, but when one preaches to oneself one’s sanity is immediately questioned. I am still sane enough to remember that!
[…] You remember Peter’s sister?12 Well I learn from Nenti that she too is at Healdtown13 now. It is really surprising how these Graaff-Reinet people, poor as they are, still manage to give their children a tolerably good education.
How is Ma-Mpanza? Give my love to her please. I am sorry I did not know her when she was still younger. She must have been a very lovely girl. No wonder “indlondlo” fell for her so heavily!
Love to the kids and Jabi.
Cheerio darling.
Yours ever,
Mangi
Robert Sobukwe
to Astrid Pogrund,
7 April 1964 (Ba2.11)
My dear Astrid,
Benjie has been twice to see me and assures me that both you and Jennifer are well and that you are back at varsity. I was really glad to know that you were able again to pursue your studies.
Benjie has also told me of the disgusting letter you received.14 I am sorry that you have been caused so much pain and embarrassment. But I do hope that you will regard the letter as the malodorous product of a putrid mind and treat it with the contempt it deserves.
I