Nelson Mandela life story: An unconquerable spirit

For those who shared his struggle and his captivity, Nelson Mandela's moral strength was a source of constant inspiration - and occasional amusement

AHMED KATHRADA

FRIDAY 06 DECEMBER 2013 "Mdala" - "old man", as Nelson Mandela and I used to call eac ot e! on "n#o!mal occas"ons - $as, l"%e all uman &e"n's, not #!ee o# $ea%nesses and #a"l"n's( )e $as an uncommon amal'am o# t e *easant and t e a!"stoc!at+ t e democ!at *a! e,cellence, &ut not $"t out a touc o# t e autoc!at+ at once *!oud and s"m*le+ so#t and tenac"ous+

dete!m"nedl- o&st"nate and #le,"&le+ .a"n and s -+ cool and "m*at"ent( )e $as, o$e.e!, al$a-s a *eo*le/s *e!son( 0!"son l"#e "s ta"lo!-made to &!"n' to t e #o!e t e &est and t e $o!st "n uman &e"n's( Mdala - du!"n' ou! -ea!s to'et e! on Ro&&en Island and, late!, at 0ollsmoo! - stood $"t t e !est o# us "n e.e!- as*ect o# *!"son l"#e, t !ou' t e &ad and t !ou' t e 'ood( )e $as o##e!ed &ette! clot "n' and &ette! #ood &- t e aut o!"t"es+ e !e#used( 1ome collea'ues su''ested t at, as ou! leade!, e s ould not &e *a!t"c"*at"n' "n $o!% suc as *ol"s "n' #loo!s, clean"n' t e to"lets, and so on+ e !e#used, add"n' t at "n ca!!-"n' out *!"son tas%s t e!e $e!e no leade!s2 all $e!e e3ual( 4 us, on ou! $ee%l- clean"n' da-s, e $as $"t t e !est o# us ta%"n' *a!t #ull- "n t e c o!es( In 1567, almost t e ent"!e *!"son *o*ulat"on o# Ro&&en Island $ent do$n $"t #lu( 8# t e 29-odd *!"sone!s "n ou! sect"on onl- Mdala and t !ee ne$ a!!".als d"d not succum& and $e!e st"ll on t e"! #eet( E.e!- mo!n"n' e and t e t !ee collea'ues $ent #!om cell to cell, collected, em*t"ed and $as ed t e to"let &uc%ets and *ut t em out "n t e sun( )e also el*ed ta%e #ood and $ate! to eac cell( A num&e! o# t"mes $e !eso!ted to un'e!-st!"%e act"on - t e ult"mate $ea*on o# *!"sone!s( ANC *ol"c- $as to e,em*t t e elde!l- and t e s"c%l-( Mdala !e#used to &e e,em*ted+ e $as $"t us "n t e "t!enc es", $ "c e cons"de!ed "s !"' t#ul *lace( :ma"n;)o$e.e!, "s ea'e!ness to &e $"t t e "masses" d"d not al$a-s #"nd #a.ou! $"t "s #ello$ *!"sone!s( 4 e esta&l"s ed *!act"ce $"t !e'a!d to smu''led ne$s*a*e!s $as t at t e sect"on t at o&ta"ned a ne$s*a*e! ad to 'et !ele.ant "tems t!ansc!"&ed, to &e sent to ot e! sect"ons( It $as a la&o!"ous tas%, es*ec"all- "n ou! sect"on, $ "c ad so #e$ *!"sone!s and ence #e$ t!ansc!"&e!s( Mdala, o# cou!se, not $ant"n' to s "!% an- !es*ons"&"l"t"es, t!ansc!"&ed t e #e$ a!t"cles e $as '".en "n "s neat s-mmet!"cal and att!act".e $!"t"n'( <It s ould &e !emem&e!ed t at t "s "n.ol.ed a !"s%+ "# "nte!ce*ted, t e m"n"mum *un"s ment $ould &e loss o# stud- *!"."le'es #o! an "nde#"n"te *e!"od( 4 e c!"me2 a&us"n' stud- mate!"al - namel-, us"n' &all*o"nt *en and *a*e! #o! *u!*oses ot e! t an stud-(= No soone! ad ou! *ac%a'e sa#el- !eac ed t e 'ene!al sect"on t an t e *a'es "n Mdala/s $!"t"n' $e!e !etu!ned to us $"t t e *lea, "Com!ades, t "s $!"t"n' "s almost "m*oss"&le to !ead+ could -ou *lease !e$!"te "t "n le'"&le $!"t"n' and send "t &ac% to us(" 4 "s sentence, &l"ss#ull-, *ut *a"d to Mdala/s ca!ee! as a t!ansc!"&e!( I #"!st met "m "n t e Fo!t"es, $ en e, Isma"l Mee! and > N 1"n' $e!e #ello$ la$ students at ?"ts @An".e!s"t- o# t e ?"t$ate!s!and, >o annes&u!'B and I, 11 -ea!s "s Cun"o!, $as st"ll at "' sc ool( It $as a t"me $ en a &lac% un".e!s"t- student, o! a docto! o! a la$-e! - &ecause t e- $e!e so #e$ - automat"call- $on $"des*!ead adm"!at"on, and $as loo%ed u*on as a leade!( But "t $as du!"n' t e R".on"a 4!"al, 20 -ea!s late!, t at I came to %no$ &est "s #o!m"da&le cou!a'e and dete!m"nat"on( At ou! #"!st le'al consultat"on ou! la$-e!s made clea! to us t e .e!- !eal *!os*ect o# t e deat sentence( In su&se3uent d"scuss"ons amon' ou!sel.es Mdala set t e tone( )e sa"d $e

s ould conduct "t as a *ol"t"cal t!"al and ca!!- ou!sel.es $"t d"'n"t- and *!"de( 4 e e-es o# ou! *eo*le and t e $o!ld $e!e u*on us, and $e da!e not s o$ $ea%ness( ?e could not !el- on t e A**eal Cou!t to u*set a deat sentence( 8nl- t e st!u''le and t e "nte!nat"onal sol"da!"t- could sa.e us #!om t e 'allo$s( 4 e!e#o!e, "n t e e.ent o# a deat sentence $e s ould not lod'e an a**eal( )e s*o%e so *o$e!#ull- and con."nc"n'l- t at "t le#t l"ttle need #o! de&ate+ $e acce*ted "s lead and *!e*a!ed ou!sel.es #o! t e $o!st( 4 "s stance $as cons"stent $"t a c a!acte!"st"c t at !an l"%e a t !ead t !ou' all #acets o# Mdala/s *e!sonal"t-2 once con."nced o# t e co!!ectness o# a ce!ta"n *os"t"on e $ould "nte!nal"se "t and ado*t "t $"t *ass"on( At t"mes t "s $ould man"#est "tsel# "n $ at I and some o# ou! collea'ues a.e called "s stu&&o!n st!ea%( Fo! e,am*le, one o# t e t "n's t at $e .alued .e!- muc as *!"sone!s on Ro&&en Island $as a !ela,ed atmos* e!e, #!ee o# tens"on and con#!ontat"on( 4 e lon'e! "t lasted t e &ette!( Du!"n' one suc *e!"od o# !elat".e calm, "n t e m"d1560s, out o# t e &lue Mdala came u* $"t a *!o*osal #o! a de#"ance cam*a"'n a'a"nst t e *!"son aut o!"t"es( )"s "act"on" *!o*osals $e!e d"scussed and de&ated &- ANC mem&e!s "n ou! sect"on o# t e *!"son and unan"mousl- !eCected( 4 e- $e!e sent to ou! mem&e!s "n t e 'ene!al cells and !eCected t e!e too( But Mdala $ould not '".e u*( 4 en <I t "n% $"t out consult"n' us= e sou' t t e &ac%"n' o# ot e! *ol"t"cal o!'an"sat"ons( 0!ed"cta&l-, t e onl- su**o!t e 'ot $as #!om Edd"e Dan"els, a d"e- a!d Mandela lo-al"st, and #!om 1$a*o leade! 4o".o >a 4o".o, $ o $as al$a-s !ead- #o! a #"' t $"t t e aut o!"t"es( As *!essu!e a'a"nst t e *!o*osals cont"nued to mount, 4o".o $as e.entuall- *e!suaded to $"t d!a$ "s su**o!t, and a#te! $ee%s o# #e.e!"s de&ate Mdala 'a.e "n to t e maCo!"t-( Mdala/s a!"stoc!at"c &ac%'!ound le#t a st!ea% o# autoc!ac-, &ut e $as amena&le to c!"t"c"sm( It must, o$e.e!, a.e &een uncom#o!ta&le to adm"t de#eat, $"t a st!on' *e!sonal"t- suc as "s( )e $as a *!oud man, and not $"t out a touc o# .an"t-( Fo! e,am*le2 &- t e t"me e $ent unde!'!ound, "n 1561, "s most !eco'n"sa&le #eatu!e $as "s &ea!d( 0 oto'!a* s o# t e &ea!ded Mandela ad a**ea!ed "n ne$s*a*e!s and lea#lets( I $as amon' t e small '!ou* $ o ad &een c a!'ed $"t o!'an"s"n' e.e!as*ect o# "s unde!'!ound l"#e( ?e #ound sa#e ouses and *!em"ses #o! sec!et meet"n's+ a!!an'ed #o! !e'ula! contact $"t "s #am"l-+ *!o."ded t!ans*o!t $"t "n o! a$a- #!om >o annes&u!'+ o!'an"sed meet"n's $"t selected med"a *eo*le, and so on( 4o #ac"l"tate t "s, an essent"al !e3u"!ement $as t at e &e d"s'u"sed and t!ans#o!med "nto a "ne$ man"( Amon' ot e! t "n's e ad to #o!sa%e "s st-l"s and e,*ens".e clot "n'( But a&o.e all e ad to s a.e "s &ea!d( )e a'!eed to most su''est"ons &ut s"m*l- !e#used to s a.e( )e must a.e %no$n o$ t e &ea!d en anced "s loo%s and *e!sonal"t-( ?e !e'a!ded t "s de-&ea!d"n' as a&solutel- essent"al &ut couldn/t *e!suade "m( It must &e !emem&e!ed t at t e secu!"t- #o!ces ad launc ed a count!-$"de unt #o! "m, sett"n' u* !oad&loc%s, sto**"n' .e "cles at !andom, sea!c "n' ouses,

3uest"on"n' *eo*le( Not #o! not "n' $as e du&&ed t e "Blac% 0"m*e!nel"( 4 e!e $e!e close s a.es, and a cou*le o# occas"ons $ en $e $e!e con."nced e ad &een !eco'n"sed &- mem&e!s o# t e *u&l"c( But t e &ea!d !ema"ned( It $as t e!e $ en * otos ta%en "n an Al'e!"an a!m- cam* a**ea!ed "n t e *!ess( And "t $as st"ll t e!e $ en e $as e.entuall- a!!ested "n )o$"c% on 9 Au'ust 1562( ?e $e!e to come ac!oss ot e! e,am*les o# t "s st!ea% "n "s *e!sonal"t-( )"s "ns"stence at 0ollsmoo! *!"son t at e ad to a.e a ce!ta"n &!and o# a"! o"l, and no su&st"tute, &ecame an "ssue o# cons"de!a&le "m*o!tance to "m( ?e du&&ed "t "t e 0antene c!"s"s"( 4 e *!"son $a!de!s sea!c ed #o! "t "' and lo$ &ut Mdala $ould not acce*t t at "t $as not a.a"la&le( I t "n% e e.en com*la"ned to M!s )elen 1uDman, and t "s led to a !ene$ed sea!c ( At last C "e# ?a!de! B!and mana'ed to locate t e last !ema"n"n' stoc% o# 0antene at some * a!mac-( ?e $e!e sa.ed #!om anot e! call to "act"on"( )e $as an unusuall- t o!ou' man, at t"mes too t o!ou' #o! ou! l"%"n'( ? ene.e! e set out on an- *!oCect e t!"ed to *e!#ect "s %no$led'e( 4 "s a**l"ed to e.e!-t "n' #!om 'ue!!"lla $a!#a!e and Ma!,"sm to t e stud- o# A#!"%aans( 4 us, $ en $e $e!e *e!m"tted to a.e a l"ttle 'a!den, e #elt "t "ncum&ent on "m to "m*!o.e on t e e,*e!"ence e ad ad $ "le '!o$"n' u* "n !u!al 4!ans%e"( )e o!de!ed &oo%s on 'a!den"n' and consulted $a!de!s and *!"sone!s al"%e on t e su&Cect( Fo! "mmed"ate "m*lementat"on e c ose t e a**l"cat"on o# com*ost #o! ealt - c!o*s( Bones a!e sa"d to ma%e .e!- 'ood com*ost, so on "meat da-s" e collected t em #!om all o# us( But t e!e $as a maCo! u!dle to o.e!come2 com*ost #!om &ones could &e used e##ect".el- onl- "n *o$de! #o!m and "n t e a&sence o# mec an"cal '!"nde!s t e onlo*t"on $as to amme! t em do$n( Fo! t "s t e!e $as a dea!t o# .oluntee!s( 1o Mdala o!'an"sed a stone-&loc%, and da- a#te! da-, #o! a #e$ ou!s, e $ould *at"entl- to"l a$a-, amme!"n' &"' &ones "nto small &ones and small &ones "nto *o$de!( No$, I ad ad some e,*e!"ence o# t "s act"."t- du!"n' m- #"!st "m*!"sonment "n Du!&an "n 1576( )o$e.e! a!d -ou la&ou!ed, at t e end o# t e da- -ou $ould *!oduce onl- a #e$ measl- ounces o# *o$de!( And all "t needed $as a 'ust o# $"nd to &lo$ e.e!*a!t"cle a$a-( I don/t %no$ $ - t "s la&ou! o# lo.e ad a s o!t l"#es*an+ "t "s *oss"&le t at Mdala $as d".e!ted &- anot e! #o!m o# com*ost2 one t at $as mo!e !ead"la.a"la&le, and "n '!eate! 3uant"t"es( 4 "s $as natu!al com*ost, "n t e #o!m o# uman $aste( 4 e #"!st ste* $as to d"' a la!'e ole "n ou! cou!t-a!d( 4 "s done, $e no$ ad to ma%e a !ad"cal c an'e "n ou! mo!n"n' !out"ne2 "nstead o# em*t-"n' ou! to"let &uc%ets "n t e la.ato!"es, $e ad to em*t- t em "n t e ole( 4 e "ncon.en"ence o# mo."n' a$a#!om esta&l"s ed !out"nes, t e !educt"on o# s*ace "n ou! al!ead- small cou!t-a!d, and a&o.e all t e stenc , d"d not endea! t "s sc eme to an- o# us( Euc%"l- t "s "n"t"at".e too ad a s o!t l"#e, and &e#o!e lon' $e $e!e &ac% to no!mal( ?e sa"led t !ou' t e t$o com*ost *e!"ods unscat ed, and cont"nued to enCo- t e *!oduce o# Mdala and "s team o# ent us"ast"c 'a!dene!s( 4 e!e $e!e ot e! "nc"dents "n *!"son, some !elat".el- m"no!, $ "c ma- add anot e! and *e! a*s cont!ad"cto!- d"mens"on to ou! unde!stand"n' o# Mdala/s *e!sonal"t-( In

15F2, $ en #".e o# us $e!e t!ans#e!!ed to 0ollsmoo!, "t $as t e #"!st t"me s"nce ou! a!!est t at $e ad &een *ut to'et e! "n a communal cell( ?e $e!e a&le to o&se!.e one anot e!/s a&"ts and, $ e!e necessa!-, adCust to t e no.el s"tuat"on( ?e $e!e 'ene!allea!l- !"se!s &ut Mdala $as ea!l"e! t an us and sta!ted $"t "s e,e!c"ses( ?e ad no *!o&lem $"t t "s, and not e.en $"t "s !unn"n'-on-t e-s*ot+ &ut $e d"d o&Cect $ en e e,tended t "s to !unn"n' a!ound t e cell( At 0ollsmoo!, ou! o&se!.at"on $as a'a"n !e"n#o!ced t at Mdala/s ca!e and conce!n #o! l"#e $as not !est!"cted to uman &e"n's alone2 e !es*ected all l"."n' t "n's( 8nce, on a cold"s n"' t, all #".e o# us $e!e snu'l- unde! ou! &lan%ets "n .a!-"n' de'!ees o# somnolence $ en $e $e!e d"stu!&ed &- t e loud c "!*"n' o# a sol"ta!- c!"c%et( 4 e #"!st "nst"nct $as to c!us "t to deat , &ut eac o# us $a"ted #o! one o# t e ot e!s to 'et out o# &ed to do "t( At last $e s*"ed Mdala slo$l- 'ett"n' u*( 4a%"n' a to$el "n "s and e t !e$ "t o.e! t e o##ende! and ca*tu!ed "t( )o$e.e!, ou! adm"!at"on and a**!ec"at"on #o! "s "n"t"at".e, and ou! !el"e#, $e!e s o!t-l".ed( )e $ent "nto t e &at !oom and "nstead o# #lus "n' "t do$n t e to"let e o*ened t e $"ndo$ and let "t out( Needless to sa-, e"t e! "n '!at"tude to "ts sa."ou!s o! "n de#"ance, t e "nsect cont"nued me!!"l- $"t "ts c "!*"n' unt"l "t $as $a%e-u* t"me( 4 "s s ouldn/t a.e su!*!"sed us "# $e ad !emem&e!ed t at on Ro&&en Island Mdala !e#used to %"ll t e ants t at "n.aded "s and man- o# ou! cells, o! t e &ees t at o.e!ed a!ound us $"t t !eaten"n' 'estu!es( Yet e d"d %"ll *lent- o# #l"es to #eed t e un'!c ameleon t at some o$ st!a-ed "nto ou! 'a!den( And o$ d"d e !econc"le sa."n' t e t!ou&lesome c!"c%et $"t "s act".e *a!t"c"*at"on "n *utt"n' to deat a seal t at &eac ed "tsel# $ "le $e $e!e $o!%"n' at t e seas"de to s%"n "t $"t 'lass #!om &!o%en &ottles and 'ett"n' "t !ead- #o! ou! coo%sG 4 "s ma- &e cons"de!ed &ut a m"no! cont!ad"ct"on "n "s com*le, *e!sonal"t-( ? "le e 'ene!all- ad an enl"' tened a**!oac to t e *!act"ces, demands and *!o&lems o# mode!n soc"et- e $as ca!e#ul not to st!a- too #a! #!om man- o# t e !e3u"!ements o# t!ad"t"onal l"#e( 4 e!e $as a cont!o.e!s- on Ro&&en Island $ en an ANC *!"sone! $ o ad &een $o!%"n' "n t e os*"tal too% "t u*on "msel# to !un an "lle'al c"!cumc"s"on sc ool( )e ad ad no med"cal t!a"n"n', -et e ad *lento# "*at"ents" #!om ac!oss t e *ol"t"cal s*ect!um( ?e ad &een a$a!e o# t e sc ool/s e,"stence #o! a lon' t"me, &ut seldom d"scussed "t( It $as a non-"ssue+ t at "s unt"l t e a!!".al o# t e ma"nl- u!&an"sed MH @Am% onto $e 1"D$eB cad!es o# t e *ost-1o$eto *e!"od, some o# $ om condemned t e *!act"ce2 not on '!ounds o# -'"ene o! sa#et&ut &ecause "t $as a !e.e!s"on to t!"&al"sm( In t e ensu"n' de&ate Mdala de#ended t e t!ad"t"on( Mdala d"d not #"t com#o!ta&l- "nto t e cate'o!- o# t e o!d"na!- man( )e $as c a!m"n' and c a!"smat"c( )e ad a ma'net"c *e!sonal"t- and a command"n' *!esence 3ual"t"es t at set "m a*a!t #!om one/s ne,t-doo! ne"' &ou!( Yet t e!e a!e 3uest"ons t at st"ll loom la!'e( 1a"nt-l"%e 3ual"t"es $e!e t e!e "n a&undance+ &ut can e &e desc!"&ed as a sa"ntG Do $e a.e a $ell-!ounded *"ctu!e o# t e manG 8ne o# "s st!on'est 3ual"t"es $as "s conce!n #o! t ose a!ound "m( In t e m"d-

1e.ent"es, I colla*sed $"t a se.e!e &ac% *!o&lem and t e docto! o!de!ed t at I &e *laced "n t!act"on( 4 "s meant st!a**"n' me on a &ed $"t a ea.- clot &a' an'"n' #!om m- #eet to st!etc m- &ac%( A &ed ad to &e &!ou' t to an em*t- cell "n ou! sect"on - at t e t"me $e $e!e slee*"n' on s"sal mats on t e #loo!, as all o# us d"d #o! a&out 17 o# t e 1F -ea! I s*ent $"t Mdala on Ro&&en Island( And as t e!e $e!e not enou' $e"' ts a.a"la&le, t e &a' $as made ea."e! $"t al# a &!"c% and some '!a.el( I $as dul- st!a**ed do$n and "mmo&"l"sed #o! mo!e t at a $ee%( Eac da- Mdala $ould come and s*end some ou!s $"t me( )e also .oluntee!ed to attend to c o!es suc as ta%"n' out t e &ed*an, &ut t "s $as al!ead- &e"n' done &- m- #!"ends Edd"e Dan"els and Ealoo C "&a( Mdala ad a $ell-dese!.ed !e*utat"on #o! &e"n' le.el- eaded, cool and un#la**a&le( It $as ."!tuall- "m*oss"&le to 'au'e "s "nne! emot"ons+ &- and la!'e t e- !ema"ned "nsc!uta&le( )e #elt dee* u!t and so!!o$ at t e deat s o# "s mot e! <"n 156F= and "s son <"n 1565=, and must a.e &een '!eatl- a##ected and an'e!ed &- t e a!assment t at "s #am"l- e,*e!"enced at t e ands o# t e *ol"ce( But e ne.e! s o$ed "t( Not #o! a s"n'le da- d"d e allo$ "s #eel"n's to "nte!#e!e $"t o! o.e!s ado$ "s !es*ons"&"l"t"es to$a!ds "s #ello$ *!"sone!s( Essent"all-, e ad a cool tem*e!ament, one seldom '".en to e,c"tement( Anot e! *!"son "nc"dent "llust!ates t "s - and "s an "nd"cat"on o# o$ e,as*e!at"n' "t can &e somet"mes( ?e al$a-s loo%ed #o!$a!d to ."s"ts( A*a!t #!om t e"! *!"ma!- .alue as a means o# %ee*"n' close to #am"l"es and #!"ends, t e- o##e!ed *oss"&"l"t"es #o! *"c%"n' u* sn"**ets o# "n#o!mat"on, es*ec"all- a&out t e ANC( Mdala/s ."s"ts $e!e *a!t"cula!l- .alua&le "n t "s !e'a!d( 8ne da- "n >anua!- 15F9 e $as called to t e o##"ce, and as usual $e ea'e!l- a$a"ted "s !etu!n( A#te! a $ "le e came &ac%, '!eeted us, t en $ent st!a"' t to "s des% and &us"ed "msel#( A#te! a $ "le, e called us to'et e! and "n#o!med us t at e ad &een told t at 0!es"dent Bot a ad o##e!ed to !elease "m and all *ol"t"cal *!"sone!s "# $e unde!too% not to "ndul'e "n ."olence( 4 e- $anted ou! !e*l- $"t "n a s*ec"#"ed t"me( ?e d"d not a.e to de&ate t e o##e!+ t e cond"t"on attac ed $as com*letelunacce*ta&le( ?e d!a#ted ou! !e*l- !eCect"n' "t( Mdala $as slo$ to an'e!( But on t e !a!e occas"ons t at I $"tnessed "s cold an'e!, "t .e!'ed on &e"n' uncont!olla&le and dan'e!ous( 8nce, "n !eact"on to some "' lo##ens".e !ema!%s &- a *!"son o##"ce!, Mdala adm"tted t at e came close to * -s"callassault"n' "m( ?e d"d not $"tness t e a!'ument, &ut Edd"e Dan"els and I a**ened to &e outs"de t e o##"ce and $e sa$ "m sto!m"n' out, cu!s"n' and mum&l"n' to "msel#( )e d"d not e.en not"ce us( 8n anot e! occas"on, t e $ ole o# 1out A#!"ca and muc o# t e $o!ld $"tnessed on tele."s"on t e *u&l"c .ent"lat"on o# "s an'e! a'a"nst t e t en *!es"dent, F? de Hle!%, at t e o*en"n' o# t e Hem*ton 0a!% tal%s( But t "s $as a d"##e!ent %"nd o# an'e!, an an'e! caused &- $ at Mdala &el"e.ed to a.e &een an act o# dece*t"on &- M! De Hle!%, $ o ad s*ec"#"call- as%ed to &e t e last s*ea%e! "n o!de! to launc an attac% on t e

ANC( Mdala, $ o ad al!ead- s*o%en, $as so an'e!ed &- t "s t at e as%ed #o! an o**o!tun"t- to !es*ond to t e attac%( ? at $as seen on tele."s"on &!ou' t t ousands o# *eo*le "n t e to$ns "*s "nto t e st!eets, danc"n' and s"n'"n' "n cele&!at"on( 4 "s s*eec *ut *a"d to an- dou&ts t at *eo*le ma- a.e a!&ou!ed a&out t e $"sdom o# t e ANC/s ent!- "nto t e ne'ot"at"on *!ocess( Mdala made "t #o!ce#ull- clea! t at t e ANC ad come to Hem*ton 0a!% not as a de#eated *a!t- &ut as a *!oud *a!t"c"*ant( Mdala/s "ntense lo-alt- and sense o# '!at"tude somet"mes &o!de!ed on na".ete( )e d"dn/t eas"l- #o!'et a 'ood tu!n done to "m o! to "s #am"l-, no matte! o$ small( )"s att"tude sta!ted #!om t e *!em"se t at all *eo*le a!e 'ood unt"l t e cont!a!- "s *!o.en( I# caut"oned a&out a du&"ous o! 3uest"ona&le c a!acte!, t e la$-e! "n "m $ould "mmed"atel- come to t e #o!e( "? e!e "s -ou! e."denceG" e $ould as%( Yet e $as not &e-ond "n.o%"n' uno!t odo, tact"cs to ac "e.e "s a"ms( An e,am*le o# t "s occu!!ed at one o# t e end-o#--ea! s*o!ts tou!naments on Ro&&en Island( )e ad &een c osen &- "s team to *la- c ess a'a"nst 1al"m, a -oun' man $ o ad &een a med"cal student at ?"ts( As "n *ol"t"cs, Mdala/s e.e!- mo.e "n c ess $ould &e ca!e#ull- t ou' t out, slo$ and del"&e!ate( At t e end o# t e #"!st da- t e 'ame ad not #"n"s ed, and t e $a!de! $as as%ed to loc% u* t e &oa!d "n an em*t- cell o.e!n"' t( As loc%-u* t"me $as a**!oac "n' on t e second <o! *oss"&l- t e t "!d= da-, t e 'ame ad st"ll not #"n"s ed( B- t at t"me, 1al"m $as utte!l- $o!n out( )e ad ne"t e! t e ene!'-, t e $"ll, no! t e des"!e to ca!!- on #o! -et anot e! da- and e !eso!ted to t e onl- o*t"on o*en to "m2 a&andon t e un#"n"s ed 'ame &- conced"n' de#eat( It $as not so muc a matte! o# t e '"ant and t e d$a!#, no! t e e,*e!t and t e amateu!( It $as s"m*l- t e com&"nat"on o# a&"l"t-, an "ne, aust"&le #ount o# ene!'-, *at"ence and dete!m"nat"on a'a"nst s ee! #at"'ue and #!ust!at"on( It $as Mdala/s $a! o# att!"t"on( Du!"n' ou! lon' -ea!s o# en#o!ced "solat"on, ou! t "!st #o! ne$s, es*ec"all- a&out t e st!u''le, !ema"ned "nsat"a&le( ? "le $e ne.e! lost con#"dence "n t e ult"mate ."cto!- o# ou! cause, $e constantl- ad to assess and &alance t e !e*o!ts and !umou!s t at t!"c%led t !ou' to us( ?e could not a##o!d to allo$ ou!sel.es to &u"ld "' o*es &ased on e,a''e!ated, un!eal"st"c o! '!ossl- "naccu!ate ne$s, as t "s could eas"l- a.e led to d"sa**o"ntment and e.en a &!ea%do$n o# mo!ale( At t"mes $e !ece".ed $"ld !e*o!ts a&out t e a!med st!u''le and a&out "n#"lt!at"on o# t e a!m- &- MH cad!es lead"n' to an "mm"nent mut"n-( 4 e slo'an "se"Du!e o# *o$e!" $as "nc!eas"n'l- used, es*ec"all- &- t e *ost-1566 a!!".als( 1ome o.e!-ent us"ast"c MH cad!es came to *!"son $"t asse!t"ons t at du!"n' ou! lon' -ea!s o# "solat"on $e ad lost touc $"t de.elo*ments "n ANC *ol"c-+ $e $e!e told t at t e ANC 'oal $as no$ t e ac "e.ement o# "0eo*le/s Democ!ac- and 1oc"al"sm"( It $as at t"mes suc as t ese t at t e $"sdom, cool ead, !eal"sm and #o!es"' t o# leade!s l"%e Mdala $e!e "nd"s*ensa&le( )e "n.a!"a&l- &!ou' t t e endless *olem"cs do$n to ea!t ( )e !em"nded us t at #!om da- one "t ad ne.e! &een en."sa'ed t at MH could ac "e.e a m"l"ta!- ."cto!- o.e! t e 1out A#!"can a!m-+ t at MH/s *!"ma!- a"m $as to en'a'e "n a!med act"."t- alon's"de t e *ol"t"cal st!u''le and mass mo&"l"sat"on+ t at

t e t$o to'et e! $ould #o!ce t e enem- to t e ne'ot"at"n' ta&le( ?"t "nds"' t, "t seems t "s l"ne o# t "n%"n' m"' t a.e ad a d"!ect &ea!"n' on de.elo*ments "n 0ollsmoo! *!"son "n t e E"' t"es( A#te! "s os*"tal"sat"on at t e end o# 15F9, t e *!"son aut o!"t"es d"d not &!"n' Mdala &ac% to t e communal cell t e #".e o# us ad &een occu*-"n' s"nce ou! t!ans#e! to 0ollsmoo! "n 15F2( Instead t e- "solated "m "n a cell a$a- #!om us( 8u! #"!st !eact"on $as to *!otest a'a"nst "s "solat"on and ta%e some so!t o# act"on a'a"nst $ at $e !e'a!ded as *un"s ment( But Mdala *!e.a"led u*on us not to do an-t "n', add"n' t at "t m"' t all tu!n out #o! t e 'ood( I a.e s"nce come to &el"e.e t at e must a.e made u* "s m"nd t en to use "s "solat"on to %"c%-sta!t t e ne'ot"at"on *!ocess( But at t e t"me e %e*t "s ca!ds close to "s c est( )e c ose to act "nde*endentl-, *oss"&l- &ecause e d"d not $ant to &e am*e!ed &- lon', d!a$n-out *olem"cs, and o**os"t"on( As "t tu!ned out, $ en e $as e.entuall- allo$ed to consult us "nd"."duall-, e 'ot lu%e$a!m su**o!t #!om ?alte! 1"sulu and #"!m o**os"t"on #!om me( 8nl- a#te! e un"late!all- too% t e #"!st tentat".e ste* "n t at d"!ect"on d"d e &e'"n to consult us and %ee* us "n#o!med o# de.elo*ments( )e also made contact $"t ANC ead3ua!te!s "n Eusa%a( At t e t"me I $as t e onl- one o# t e #ou! at 0ollsmoo! to e,*!ess m- #"!m o**os"t"on to t e "n"t"at".e, alt ou' "n !et!os*ect I a.e &een a&le to see "t "n t e *os"t".e l"' t o# a C "nese sa-"n'2 "E.e!- Cou!ne- sta!ts $"t t e #"!st ste*(" I a.e sa"d all I can, #o! no$( 4 e!e can &e no cla"m to o&Cect"."t- "n t "s a!t"cle, $!"tten as "t "s &- one $ o ad a *!o#ound !es*ect, adm"!at"on and #ondness #o! Mdala( It $"ll a.e to &e le#t to "sto!"ans and sc ola!s to *!o."de #o! *oste!"t- a mo!e com*lete and d"s*ass"onate anal-s"s( Yet I o*e t at t ese memo!"es $"ll ma%e some sl"' t cont!"&ut"on to$a!ds a #ulle! *"ctu!e o# a man $"t $ om I $al%ed t e same *at #o! 60 -ea!s and mo!e, and $ o $as, I &el"e.e, one o# t e '!eat #"'u!es o# t e *ast 100 -ea!s( A med Hat !ada $as a *!"sone! #!om 1567 to 15F5( )e $as 0!es"dent Mandela/s 0a!l"amenta!- Counsello! #!om 1557 to 1555(