Conversations with Myself (26 page)

Read Conversations with Myself Online

Authors: Nelson Mandela

BOOK: Conversations with Myself
10.46Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub

 

16 JUNE 1986

Dreamt of Zami having become an attorney. She appears in a case against Mandela and Tambo, takes judgment by default. NM arrives in court to apply for rescission of judgment and I call her into court

 

17 JUNE 1986

W/O Gregory informs me in arrogant manner that the letter he misplaced is gone and that there is absolutely nothing he can do about it. He also states that nobody, whatever his position, can threaten him.

 

18 JUNE 1986

Had discussion with Maj Van Sittert re W/O Gregory. Major promises to take up matter as soon as W/O Gregory is available

 

18 AUGUST 1986

Rev Peter Storey devotional prelude on ‘The Monday’
58

 

Film of Muhammad Ali in Germany, also ‘The Nerds take Revenge’ and a short
59

 

19 AUGUST 1986

Rev Peter Storey on forgiveness

 

20 AUGUST 1986

Rev Peter Storey on the Lord’s Prayer

 

25 AUGUST 1986

BP taken by Major Burger 140/80

 

Rev Brian Johanson… on ‘standing’

 

26 AUGUST 1986

Rev Brian Johanson on ‘walking’

 

27 AUGUST 1986

Rev Brian Johanson on ‘sitting’

 

4 SEPTEMBER 1986

Father Michael Austin of Johannesburg. On how to live like Christ

 

BP 120/70 taken by Major Burger

 

5 SEPTEMBER 1986

Father Michael Austin: Loyola said if somebody told him that he was about to die he would continue to play cards

 

10 SEPTEMBER 1986

Zondo (Sibusiso), Sipho Bridget Xulu and Clarence Lucky Payi executed
60

 

1 OCTOBER 1986

Provided with television set. Whole programme upset watching tel[evision] from 4 pm – 6.45 pm

 

8 OCTOBER 1986

Supplied with new and better antenna

 

10 OCTOBER 1986

Meeting with Daliwonga, accompanied by H.T. Mpunzi, Transkei Consul and Nelson Mabunu
61

 

19 OCTOBER 1986

President Samora Machel dies in air crash on the border between SA and Mozambique

 

20 OCTOBER 1986

Radio announces the death of Samora Machel, President of the Republic of Mozambique. The Minister of Defence and Minister of Transport and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

11 DECEMBER 1986

Post Zindzi’s birthday card. Dreamt of Jimmy and Connie.
62
Jimmy visits Zami and me and we invite him to come to spend holiday with us. Also dreamt asking Mr Sidelsky to get me a job

 

26 DECEMBER 1986

Spent the day with colleagues at their premises and enjoyed a lovely lunch

 

27 JANUARY 1987

[In Afrikaans] Not satisfied with the evidence about the missing letter to Zami. It was not a photostat. The post office promises to sent a photostat in the meantime

 

18 FEBRUARY 1987

1 reel of 50 m dental floss.

 

Start receiving 1 litre a day of fresh milk.

 

20 FEBUARY 1987

BP. 120/80.

 

23 FEBRUARY 1987

Celebrate Thembi’s birthday with a piece of rich fruit cake and peanuts

 

 

4 APRIL 1987

Examined by Dr Marshall: trouble with the right eye. Can see nothing

 

8 APRIL 1987

Consultation with Prof J Van Rooyen, Tygerberg [Hospital], finds hole in retina and operates on right eye and recommends new reading lenses. To see us again in a fortnight

 

20 APRIL 1987

Visited by my 4 comrades from Women’s Section of the prison for 2 hrs
63

 

22 APRIL 1987

Jim Fish of the BBC announces the resignation of Joe Slovo as MK [Umkhonto we Sizwe] Chief of Staff. A comment by John Barratt.
64

 

Consult Prof Van Rooyen, Tygerberg. Puts additional laser shots on right eye, to see me again in month’s time

 

23 APRIL 1987

Interview with C.O.P [commissioner of prisons] Gen. Willemse, re harassment of family.

 

9 JULY 1987

Dakar Conference between ANC and group of South Africans begins.

 

14 JULY 1987

Consulted Dr De Haan, Ear, Nose and throat specialist re pain in right jaw joint. Examination reveals no observable abnormalities other than a slight swelling of a duct in the right ear and possibly unrelated to the pain.

 

6 AUGUST 1987

Ayesha [Arnold]’s birthday: At 9.20 am Sgt. [Sergeant] Brand informs me of the death of Ayesha. Immediately handed in telegram for dispatch to Ameen and the children.

 

19 AUGUST 1987

Weight 67 kg: body mass without clothes

New razor blade

 

20 AUGUST 1987

Measurement of cell 6,4 metres x 5,4 metres

 

22 AUGUST 1987

An hr interview with Kathy [Ahmed Kathrada] on his birthday

 

7 SEPTEMBER 1987

Attempt to avoid taking plain sugar in all kinds of food and drink

 

12 SEPTEMBER 1987

My sister, Mabel, pays 40 minute visit. Gave her R120,00
65

 

26 SEPTEMBER 1987

Celebrated Zami’s birthday with mutton breyani plus butter beans and a piece of rock fruit cake

 

27 DECEMBER 1987

Harvey advises that our new house in Soweto has been bombed and damaged. Saw Tyhopho [Walter Sisulu] for 40 minutes.

 

5 JUNE 1988

Consultation with Dr Shapiro on pain under right collar bone and on left foot. X-ray reveals no abnormalities, but there’s blood in urine. Suggest examination by urologist. Weight 72¼ kg

 

12 AUGUST 1988

Admitted to Tygerberg Hospital after 10 p.m. Examined by Prof Rossenstrauch

 

 

13 AUGUST 1988

Examined by Prof. De Kock, Head of Internal medicine. Diagnose T.B. and pleural effusion

 

17 AUGUST 1988

Visited by Rev Anthony Simons

 

24 AUGUST 1988

Weight 71 kg: Matron Elaine Kearns goes on leave as from

25.8.88

New pyjamas and sleepers

 

25 AUGUST 1988

Weight 70,3 kg

 

27 AUGUST 1988

Weight 71,5 kg. Sister De Waal goes on holiday

 

10 SEPTEMBER 1988

Examined by Dr Stock. Brings along hazel nuts. Home supplies bag of peanuts

 

11 SEPTEMBER 1988

Examined by Dr Stock: Observations taken by Sister E Kearns (no relation of matron). E Kearns of Tygerberg. Sister Letitia Johnson taking observations in the evening. Sister Marlene Vorster brings chocolate cake.

 

12 SEPTEMBER 1988

Weight 69,5 kg

 

14 SEPTEMBER 1988

Sister Killassy Pam, E. leaves on week’s holiday

 

20 SEPTEMBER 1988

Examined by Dr Stock. Matron Tee announces that she would fly to London to visit her sick sister

 

22 SEPTEMBER 1988

Weight 70 kg. Four blood specimen[s] taken by Major Kleinhans.

 

Dr Stock did not turn up. Dr Stock turns up about 5 pm. Received report that I have started coughing again. I assure him that I was not coughing.

 

26 SEPTEMBER 1988

Weight 71 kg. Dr Stock examines me as usual

Visited the ‘garden’ for ±45 minutes. Misty and cold

 

27 SEPTEMBER 1988

Examined by Dr Stock, as usual

 

Nurse Kay celebrated her 21st birthday on 25.9.88 Visited by Sister Bradley

 

28 SEPTEMBER 1988

Prison outfit brought over

 

15 OCTOBER 1988

Examined by Dr Stock as usual. Examined also by Prof De Kock

 

Visited by Zami, Leabie, Zindzi, Zozo and Zondwa
66

 

17 OCTOBER 1988

Sat for exam in Military Law

 

Dr Stock examines at about 5.30 pm

 

22 OCTOBER 1988

Dr Stock examines me as usual. Prescribes two pairs of long elastic socks and Cepacol

 

24 OCTOBER 1988

Weight 71 kg. Dr Stock examines me: Got 500 g peanuts; 100g brazils; 100g almonds. Dr Strauss, Chief Superintendent of Tygerberg, visits me.

 

3 NOVEMBER 1988

Examined by Dr Stock. Major Marais advises that request to purchase clothing has been granted. Weight 71 kg

 

19 NOVEMBER 1988

Examined by Dr Stock. Sister Ruth Skosana takes fortnight’s leave

 

21 NOVEMBER 1988

Weight 73 kg. Sister Ray leaves for 3 weeks holiday to Johannesburg. Examined by Dr Stock

 

30 NOVEMBER 1988

Examined by Dr Stock. Returns twice to report on results of blood test and on condition of Sister Julie Morgan. Tests disclose viral meningitis.

 

7 DECEMBER 1988

Examined by Dr Stock

 

Transferred from Constantiaberg Clinic about 9.30 pm to Paarl [Victor Verster Prison]

 

8 DECEMBER 1988

Private X 6005 South Paarl. Prison 1335/88

 

Examined by Dr Schoening. 7624-41011 (02211)

 

23 DECEMBER 1988

Spent 7 hrs with Pollsmoor comrades

 

25 DECEMBER 1988

Visited by Zami, Zindzi, Zozo and the 2 Zondwas
67

 

2 JANUARY 1989

Visited by Brig T.T. Matanzima from ± 1915 am [
sic
] to 1.30 pm.

 

Agreed to see the 2 contending parties in the Thembu succession dispute.

 

17 JANUARY 1989

Zami and Zindzi pay visit from 11 am to 1.15 pm. Had lunch together

 

25 JANUARY 1989

Visited the X-ray firm of Ormond and Partners at City Park. On return journey drove past Langa, Gugulethu, Crossroads, Khayelitsha, Strand, Beaufort West, Du Toit Pass [
sic
], Grabouw, Elgin and Frenchoek [
sic
]. R9,70 to Sgt Gregory

 

27 JANUARY 1989

T.B. treatment ended

 

24 FEBRUARY 1989

Visited by Mr Sidelsky for 40+ minutes. His wife and daughter, Ruth, not allowed in. Barry a minister of religion in Israel. Colin in commerce in SA (estate agent).
68
R9.70 given to Sgt Gregory

 

12 MARCH 1989

Received so far 674 birthday cards from Cape Democrats.

 

15 MARCH 1989

Visited by Tyhopho from 11.15 to 2 pm

 

16 MARCH 1989

Examined by Prof. M.B. Van Rooyen. Right eye deteriorating but op not indicated. Passed through Wellington, Worcester, Rawsonville, Tulbagh through Du Toit [
sic
] tunnel. Re-examination by Dr Van Seggelin. Also visited Pollsmoor [Prison].

 

17 MARCH 1989

Visited by Bri Bri [Wilton Mkwayi] from 11.15 am to 1.30 pm. liquifilm.

Other books

Green Ice by Gerald A. Browne
The Dreamtrails by Isobelle Carmody
The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller, Anderson, Jeff
Strange Trades by Paul Di Filippo
The Illogic of Kassel by Enrique Vila-Matas
As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason
Throne of the Crescent Moon by Ahmed, Saladin