Mandela was inspired by stories of hope
Ex-QDMS
Zubeida Jaffer
THIRTY-THREE years ago Zubeida Jaffer had her first encounter with Nelson Mandela.
Jaffer, 55, was a newly graduated reporter at the Cape Times.
"He sent a message to me via Dullah Omar, who was his lawyer at the time, that the stories I had published in the Cape Times gave him and others on Robben Island great hope.
"I am not sure until this day, how they managed to circulate the newspaper, but the prisoners of Robben Island were able to follow the stories I had written about the uprising of the youth in the Cape."
In the same year that Mandela made contact, Jaffer was detained by authorities after exposing murders by police officers. During her two months in detention, she was kept in solitary confinement, beaten and tortured. Six years later, she was detained again, this time for her involvement in editing community and trade union papers.
She was several months pregnant at the time of her incarceration and was released when her baby was born, only to be jailed again, with her child, a few weeks later. Jaffer, who had worked in education, journalism and as an author, said she was fortunate to have met with Mandela several times.
"On three occasions I was able to speak with him privately, something which I hold to be a real privilege."
Jaffer said that Mandela's life had not been his own and even his last days were not his own.
"We still cling on to every moment, finding it difficult to let go of this extraordinary man. He has exemplified exceptional leadership, and has inspired all of us at home, throughout the continent of Africa and the world at large.
"Our gratitude must flow from every corner of our land and from every fibre of our beings."
Jaffer said that Mandela should be thanked by everyone – irrespective of race, colour or creed.
"We are a great people with a great history who have been blessed with a great leader. Let us not be greedy and ask for more but work now with what we have, without complaint to make his dream of a united non-racial prosperous South Africa a reality."
She said this was a time for ordinary South Africans to acknowledge the achievements of South Africa. – Staff Writer
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