THE MISSION
– A life for freedom in South Africa
by Denis Goldberg
(STE Publishers, R220)
These are the memoirs of Rivonia trialist Denis Goldberg. One of the interesting facts about the author is that he is a civil engineer, which made him useful to the ANC at the start of the armed struggle. His journey through the 20th century touches on most of the benchmark events for the ANC.
It is clear from start to finish that Goldberg pulls no punches and, as such, there is never a feeling that this is more about politics than simply about capturing the truth. Let the history of our rainbow nation be written by people such as this author.
Since the South Africa of Thabo Mbeki, an uncomfortable feeling lingers that our history should not fall into the wrong hands. It is thus with relief that one reads books such as this, where so much is made clear.
Many of the situations Goldberg describes directly relate to what we see happening daily in government. Many scenarios that have been incomprehensible suddenly become clear. Although a lot of the corruption that we see around us today seems to stem from pure greed, and is criminal in content, some of it stems from incom-petence, where the most basic bookkeeping procedures are not followed. Sometimes the lines between what is official, rather than personal, become blurred.
These problems were part of the ANC when it was a government in exile. It is remarkable how when ANC offices worldwide are described in the book, they resemble the offices that are now serving the political party in South Africa today.
What makes a freedom fighter? From a distance, it seems there must be some degree of madness involved. There has to be a certain disregard for the well-being of one’s children, if there are children, for example.
Surely one has to have an overwhelming passion for one’s country to operate in an almost self-destructive manner?
All of this is happening against the backdrop that one individual’s freedom fighter is another’s terrorist.
However, most of us have been confronted by the question of why some went beyond simply disliking the system of apartheid and put everything at risk to fight for liberty.
Goldberg’s family circumstances make for absorbing reading. Picture a young Jewish boy from a non-conformist family being influenced by his parents, who are both activists at heart. We then move to what he gets up to at university in Cape Town. Ironically, a stint of government service follows, as well as a progression into anti-apartheid activities. Most interesting to observe is how those around him relate to Goldberg’s way of life.
Then there’s the progression, along with the ANC, to the decision to violently overthrow the government of the day. There are, as we know now, many undesired consequences that follow from this.
It is fascinating to read about the Rivonia trial from someone who was on the receiving end. Again one has the feeling that the comrades from the ANC had a disregard for the simplest form of security.
After the trial follow 22 years in captivity, which were, once more ironically, separate from his fellow convicts on Robben Island simply because of skin colour.
Goldberg is again astounded by the pettiness of the apartheid government and its functionaries. But there are, of course, exceptions where simple humanity wins the day.
It is interesting to read about life after prison, where the fight against apartheid continues, albeit in a revised format. Finally there is the change of government and the new challenge of governing.
This is a remarkable book written by an even more remarkable man.
He rekindles your passion and pulls you back from the quagmire of present-day politics to a reminder that we can build a great nation.
People like Goldberg got involved in a time when it was life-threatening to join the movement, not simply a path to self-enrichment. That’s admirable.
l If you want the full story, see The Rivonia Trial, directed by Aubrey Sekhabi and starring Sello Maake ka Ncube, running until May 15 at the Arena State Theatre.