There is nothing new to report. The sea is still full and the wind still blowing which is proof, I am told, that no hydrogen bomb has been dropped anywhere.
My wife wrote to say she had received your letter and that, like me, she lacked for nothing – materially.
I know you are worried about me, particularly in the light of the latest “leakages”.37 But I think you should know me well enough by now to realize that when next you meet me you’ll have no difficulty in recognizing the Bob you know. That is diplomatic language, isn’t it? A lot of words uttered but nothing really concrete said.
I’ll write more next time. Am not feeling particularly bright today.
Greetings to Astrid and Jennifer.
Yours sincerely,
Bob
Benjamin Pogrund,
213 Diamond Exchange Building,
De Villiers Street, Johannesburg,
to Robert Sobukwe,
11 June 1964 (Ba2.24)
My dear Bob,
Please forgive my delay in writing to you. I had to leave for Rhodesia unexpectedly soon after my return from Cape Town. In addition, at that time, I was reluctant to write to you as I would have had to give you news which I know would upset you. Astrid and I have separated and divorce proceedings are being instituted. At this stage, there is no hope of a reconciliation. Last night, however, she agreed with me that the divorce should be postponed for three months for a “cooling off” period, during which time she would also undertake psycho-therapy. The insoluble tragedy is our little daughter, to whom we are both passionately devoted. I am sorry to have to break this news to you, Bob, as I know it will distress you.
Before I left for Rhodesia, I made arrangements for your wife to visit Cape Town again to see you. She told me that she hoped to go during June. I have not yet been able to contact her since my return, but hope that she is already with you or on her way to see you.
By now, you should have received all the study books which you require. Last month I sent you four parcels of study books (I think four was the number) and I trust that they reached you safely. Friends of mine have confirmed also the consignment of books to you from overseas. I am glad that you have found the Hoover Institution book of value.38 I haven’t yet had a chance to read it myself, but plan to start on it during the next few days. Would you like me to send you other books of a similar nature? In addition to all these, there is a man up here who intends sending you a monthly supply of reading material and I have given him an outline of your tastes. This was easy in view of your catholic outlook!
Is the fruit of sufficient quality and quantity? Please reassure me on these points. In regard to the tobacco parcel, I have today written to the Defence and Aid Fund in Cape Town enquiring about it. As your letter was written on May 30th I think it likely that the parcel has now reached you.
I am still trying to discover what has happened to the subscription to the “Observer”. Acting on the advice of the Robben Island authorities, I wrote to the Chief Magistrate in Cape Town enquiring about the matter. This has led to a protracted and confused correspondence in which letters are flowing in to me from the Magistrate and from the Secretary for Justice. I am not too sure why the Secretary is involved in the matter, and I don’t think he is either. In any event, the gist of it all is that the Magistrate has not been receiving the newspaper and therefore has not been holding it back from you. I have arranged for the issue to be taken up with the CNA39 and I hope that the paper will soon be arriving.
Is the clothing all right? Do you need more? You know that you must not hesitate to let me know your needs. The same, obviously applies to books and anything else that you may require.
I have had a hurried look through the notes you prepared for me and only wish I knew how to express my appreciation adequately. Thank you very, very much for your help, Bob. Your insight is penetrating, but above all you are fair and balanced throughout. As soon as I have the chance, I shall take up one or two points and ask you whether you would care to expand on them.
I had a good trip to Northern Rhodesia and gained quite a deal of valuable information. I saw a lot of Professor Z.K. Matthews40who reminisced about your student days. He told me that he had predicted a brilliant future for you, but had warned you to be careful in using the power of your personality! He asked me to convey his warmest good wishes to you. The same regards come from Dr. Robert S. Bilheimer,41 of whom I have previously told you. He remains a good friend. Also regards from other whom I saw – Lawrence Masinini, Mayekiso and Mike Mafase and others who were with him.
I have asked Julius Malie in Basutoland to arrange for photographs of your children to be taken and he has promised me that it will be done. I am writing to him again to check on the matter.
In accordance with our discussion on the last day we spent together, I took up the matter in Pretoria.42 I did not do it in Cape Town simply because I was too scared! But I was well received and I was promised immediate action. I have not yet heard whether this was in fact carried out.
This is all for now. I hope that you have recovered from the depression which was so evident in your letter of the 30th.
My very warmest good wishes to you,
Sincerely,
Robert Sobukwe
to Nell Marquard,
19 June 1964 (Bd1.5)
Dear Mrs Marquard,
Thank you very much for your letter, the books and the edibles. I noticed, incidentally, that the chocolates were labelled “dark” and wondered whether you had made the choice in reference to my colour prejudices! They were a real and rare treat for my palate but I would hesitate at this stage to say that their palatal success was primarily due to their colour.
Your letter was not “scatty” at all: only it was a voice and not a pen – the kind of letter one reads with an ever-widening smile.
I enjoyed the plays – particularly [Brendan] Behan’s. We belong to the same club, you know and share a common “historical experience”. Laye’s book was all you said it was – the work of an artist: an adult’s tale told by a child.43
Thank you for the picture of Gladys Mgudlandlu. I am afraid, though, I still cannot say whether it is the same person. For one thing, she is carrying more than her fair share of weight and would probably look different from the sweet-sixteen I knew at Healdtown. This is no criticism. My wife is in the same position – a condition which would have reflected creditably on me if she had carried this poundage (“surplusage” is rather indelicate) while I was with her. But since the expansion has taken place in my absence it will most likely encourage the thought that the “poor child” is well-rid of this tyrant who starved her into unwifely proportions.
I am sorry I cannot provide you with the editorial on the Ghana Boxing Decision. Besides the fact that my letter would be too lengthy, such an editorial, I have decided after careful reflection, would be an act of disloyalty to the idea of an African Personality,44 in vindication of which it was that Floyd Robertson45 entered the ring. And what a fine job he did of it! – as all the disinterested spectators who jammed the stadium and the impartial referee of international standard who, unlike the criminal judges at the fight, is not a lackey of the imperialists, so aptly decided. To add insult to injury, just a week or two thereafter, the pattern was repeated in Senegal where the local Boxing Board had to reverse the decision of the judges who had deprived the local hero of victory in spite of the fact that all who had paid money to see the fight (and that made it possible for these same criminal elements to be paid) were solidly behind the local boy!
I haven’t had time yet to find out what “The Daily Graphic” 46 – an oppositionist