Yes I was born and bred at Graaff-Reinet. And what memories I have of the place: still covered with thick bush and with the loveliest prickly pears imaginable. I saw the bush disappear and houses rise and streams run dry.
I know Reinet House very well56 and “Werda” which we used to pass on our way to and from the rugby field near the Show Grounds. We used to fight daily running battles with the students who stayed there.
The “Murray” I know personally is “Bobbie” Murray of Broederstroom, who, in the 1930s was a young man who dominated the local Stock Market. Our auctioneers then were the Pohl Brothers. My father was employed by Jack Tilbrook & Co., the leading wool merchants in the town. And as he had passed Standard four, he was a registered voter!57
There was also the shop of Kingwill and Murray, later known as “Kingray”. But I never knew either Mr Kingwill or Mr Murray of Kingray.
I spoke Afrikaans fluently as a child though never so well as either my mother or my eldest brother both of whom, up to this day, can deliver an impromptu sermon in that language. My father, on the contrary, never learnt to speak Afrikaans but was recognized locally as an authority on Xhosa which he loved and spoke with a rare beauty.
Graaff-Reinet Xhosa, of course, is a species on its own, spoken in an area covering Nouwpoort & Hanover in the north and Aberdeen, Jansenville, Pearston etc in the S.W. It bristles with “maars” and “dans” and “togs”, “assebliefs”58 even having “ronanti” (goeie naand) and “rondara” (goeie dag)59 as forms of greeting in place of the traditional “bhota” or the modern “molo” (môre). You’ll excuse my spelling. I never studied Afrikaans.
I have read Mr V.G. Davies’ complaints about the “incorrect” forms of Xhosa used in the Magistrates’ Courts.60 He makes the mistake many Europeans who know a Bantu language make. They not only think that the language they know is THE Bantu language but they are genuinely grieved to note that it can stoop to borrowing as all other languages do! The modern approach to language study, however, is not prescriptive but de-scriptive. And the forms he complains of are widely used. Those he prefers are just NOT used by children. Unfortunately the Magistrate’s clerk or interpreter who corrected him chose to demonstrate his knowledge of comparative philology and succeeded very brilliantly in demonstrating his ignorance. Why won’t the shoemaker stick to his last?61
So should I. God bless you.
Yours sincerely,
RM Sobukwe
Robert Sobukwe
to Veronica Sobukwe,
24 September 1964 (Bc19)
Hullo Darling!
This is the fifth if not the sixth letter I am writing to you. Since you left, I have written you a letter EVERY week! I have not yet received the letter you said was “following” in your telegram.
I received an air mail letter from Benjie on the 14th (fourteenth) September. It had been posted on the 2nd (second). Another air mail letter from Lauretta [Ngcobo] in Swaziland reached me on the 21st (twenty-first) September. It had been posted on the 8th (eighth). An ordinary letter from Nenti posted on the 8th (eighth) reached me on the twenty-first. So even assuming you did not write immediately on your arrival, but waited until the end of the month, I should have received your letter by now unless:–
1.you have, for some reason or another, postponed writing the letter or
2.you wrote it and, like the children’s letters, your letter has disappeared in one of the numerous offices [illegible]. It was to ascertain this that I sent you a telegram on Monday (21st). Unfortunately, I did not make it “Reply Paid” as I am certain you can afford the cost of a telegram.
I am writing this letter on Wednesday afternoon (4.15 p.m.) and I have not yet received a reply to the telegram I sent. I am really at a loss what to think, baby.
I had hoped to be able to write you a letter every week until, at least, the end of October. But there are a number of letters awaiting replies and I shall have to skip next week at any rate. However, I shall write again in the first week of October.
Nenti has asked me to thank you for the beautiful jersey you sent her. She says she would have written directly to you to thank you but she lacks your address. They tell me Fezile is back from the Circumcision School and is now in employment. It is a pity he could not proceed with his studies. Charles didn’t go home for the June holidays.
Lauretta wants to know if you received the letter she wrote you some time back. They appear to use the initial “Z” for their daughters. The eldest daughter, I know, is Zabantu. I don’t know the name of the second. But the latest addition to the family is “Zikhethiwe”, reminding me of what an old preacher at Standerton said, when he heard I was about to get married. He told me my wife would have to be “a chosen among the chosen” (mokhethoa hara bakhethoa). I assured him that she was and I can assure him more than ever today – in spite of your quiet stubbornness!
I know, Child, how this separation affects you. There will be days when you feel absolutely hopeless and depressed. But please remember, darling, that the will of God ALWAYS prevails and try to live one day at a time. You cannot know what will happen tomorrow so you can’t change it. Why worry about it then? I think you’ll agree that God been very kind to us. Count his blessings and concentrate on THEM and thank him.
Mrs Marquard sent me a box of sweets early this month. I told you in my last letter that she was very sorry you did not have a chance for a tete-à-tete.
Fabian has been quiet, too, for some time now. They must be getting ready to welcome Father Webber, I think. He should be on his way back this month.
Well, Kid, so long for the time being. My love to Mama and the kids. And remember, Little Girl, I love you very much.
Your loving husband,
Mangi
Veronica Sobukwe
to Benjamin Pogrund,
24 September 1964 (Ba2.37)
Dear Mr. Pogrund,
I am extremely sorry to learn that you did not get my letter.
As I had explained in my last letter, I could not come to town.
I had to change my day off and take a weekend. Any-way, those people who promised me a lift did not turn up.
Please extend my apologies to her. I have received letters and a telegram from Bob. He says he gained three pounds during my visit. I phoned you on the 19th at 7.55 am but there was no reply.
Good-bye,
I am,
Yours sincerely,
Veronica Sobukwe
Telegram
from Robert Sobukwe
to Benjamin Pogrund,
5 October 1964 (Ba2.38)
Twins birthday tomorrow Tuesday have sent congratulations by telegram Can you procure cards please Bob
Benjamin Pogrund
to Robert Sobukwe,
12 October 1964 (Ba2.52)
My dear Bob,
Your letter arrived last week. I was, as always, happy to hear from you and to be reassured that you are keeping as well as possible in your somewhat extraordinary circumstances.
By now you will have received my telegram advising you that your wife and children are keeping well, and that there is no need for concern on your part on any account at all. Your wife has written two letters and intended writing to you again immediately I contacted her. As you no doubt know, she will be taking her annual leave in December so you have something good