Letters from Robben Island: A Selection of Ahmed Kathrada's Prison Correspondence, 1964-1989

564 Pages·1999·2.11 MB·English

by  Ahmed Kathrada

Letters From Robben Island : A Selection of
title: Ahmed Kathrada's Prison Correspondence,
1964-1989
author: Kathrada, A. M.; Vassen, Robert
publisher: Michigan State University Press
isbn10 | asin: 0870135279
print isbn13: 9780870135279
ebook isbn13: 9780585188102
language: English
Kathrada, A. M.--(Ahmad)--
Correspondence, Political prisoners--South
subject
Africa--Correspondence, South Africa--
Politics and government--1948-1994.
publication date: 1999
lcc: DT1949.K38A4 1999eb
ddc: 323/.092
Kathrada, A. M.--(Ahmad)--
Correspondence, Political prisoners--South
subject:
Africa--Correspondence, South Africa--
Politics and government--1948-1994.
Page iii
Letters from Robben Island
A Selection of Ahmed Kathrada's Prison Correspondence,
19641989
Edited by Robert D. Vassen
Foreword by Nelson Mandela
Introduction by Walter Sisulu
Mayibuye Books in association with
the Robben Island Museum
Cape Town, South Africa
Michigan State University Press
East Lansing, USA
Copyright © 1999 by Michigan State University Press
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of ANSI/NISO
Z39.48-1992 (R 1997) (Permanence of Paper).
Published simultaneously in South Africa by Mayibuye Books in association with the Robben
Island Museum and in the United States of America by Michigan State University Press.
Michigan State University Press
East Lansing, Michigan 48823-5202
The Mayibuye Centre for History and Culture in South Africa is based at the University of
the Western Cape. Focusing on all aspects of apartheid, resistance, social life and culture in
South Africa, it aims to help recover the rich heritage of all South Africans and to encourage
cultural creativity and expression.
This publication was underwritten with support from the Office of the Provost, Michigan
State University, The Office of the Vice Provost for Libraries, Computing, and Technology,
Michigan State University; and College of Arts and Letters, Michigan State University.
04 03 02 01 00 99 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Author: Kathrada, A.M. (Ahmed)
Title: Letters from Robben Island : A Selection of Ahmed Kathrada's prison
correspondence, 19641989 / Robert Vassen, editor.
Published: Cape Town, South Africa : Mayibuye Books ; East Lansing : Michigan State
University Press, c 1999.
Description: p. cm.
LC Call No.: DT1949.K38A4 1999
Dewey No.: 323/.092 B 21
ISBN: 1868084507 (Mayibuye Books: alk. paper)
0870135279 (Michigan State University Press : alk. paper)
Notes: Dedication and acknowledgments Ahmed KathradaForeword
MandelaIntroduction Walter SisuluEditor's introduction
VassenAbout Ahmed KathradaSylvia Neame, February or March 1964
Sylvia Neame, February or March 1964Sylvia Neame, May 1964Sylvia
Neame, 9 June 1964Sylvia Neame, 11 June 1964Ahmed Kola, 30 August
1964Kathrada family, 18 October 196 Kathrada family, 24 December
1967Essop Pahad, 3 April 1968Goolam Hoosenbhai, 29 December
1968Sylvia Neame, between 1131 December 1970Solly Kathrada,
March 26 1972Zivia Shaban, 12 May 1973Mrs. Neville Alexander, 16
February 1975Sonia Bunting, 16 February 1975Choti and Ismail, 28
March, 1975Ruth and Ilse Fischer, 11 May 1975
Subjects: Kathrada, A.M. (Ahmed)Correspondence. Political prisonersSouth
AfricaCorrespondence. South AfricaPolitics and government19481994.
Other authors: Vassen, Robert D., 1938-
Cover design by Ariana Grabec-Dingman
Book design by Michael J. Brooks
Cartography by Michael Rip
Printed and bound in the United States of America
Visit Michigan State University Press on the World-Wide Web at:
www.msu.edu/unit/msupress
Mayibuye History and Literature Series Number 92
Page v
Contents
Foreword ix
Nelson Mandela
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction xv
Walter Sisulu
Editor's Note xx
About Ahmed Kathrada xxiii
The Letters
19641970
Sylvia Neame, February or March 1964 1
Sylvia Neame, February or March 1964 10
Sylvia Neame, May 1964 18
Sylvia Neame, 9 June 1964 20
Sylvia Neame, 11 June 1964 32
Ahmed Kola, 30 August 1964 37
Kathrada Family, 18 October 1964 38
Kathrada Family, 24 December 1967 39
Essop Pahad, 3 April 1968 40
Goolam Hoosenbhai, 29 December 1968 44
Sylvia Neame, between 1131 December 1970 46
19711980
Solly Kathrada, 26 March 1972 57
Zivia Shaban, 12 May 1973 59
Mrs. Neville Alexander, 16 February 1975 62
Sonia Bunting, 16 February 1975 63
Choti and Ismail, 28 March 1975 65
Ruth and Ilse Fischer, 11 May 1975 68
Page vi
Raman Chiba, 20 September 1975 70
George Peake, 22 November 1975 72
Tom Vassen, 22 November 1975 74
Rooki Saloojee, 24 December 1976 77
Sukhthi Naidoo, 25 January 1976 79
Sukhthi Naidoo, 28 August 1976 81
Zohra Kathrada, 25 February 1978 83
Dasoo Iyer, Easter, 1978 86
Tom Vassen, 17 June 1978 90
Zohra Kathrada, 24 June 1978 92
Tom and Bob Vassen, 25 July 1978 96
Zohra Kathrada, 25 November 1978 97
Bob Vassen, 21 April 1979 100
Poppy Kola, 19 May 1979 103
Aadil Jassat, 28 July 1979 106
Dasoo Iyer, 17 November 1979 107
Head of Robben Island Prison, 24 November 1979 110
Shamima Kola, 15 December 1979 111
Zohra Kathrada, 22 December 1979 114
Bob Vassen, 19 January 1980 117
Dr. Karim, 14 June and 30 July 1980 120
Aziz Kathrada, 19 July 1980 122
Farida and Ahmed Bhoola, 20 September 1980 124
Shamima and Neelan Poonen, 4 October 1980 126
Djamilla Cajee, 25 October 1980 128
19811989
Tahera Kola, 14 February 1981 133
Dasoo Iyer, 28 March 1981 135
Dr. Karim, 24 October 1981 139
Zohra Kathrada, 17 July 1982 142
Zohra Kathrada, 21 October 1982 146
Bob Vassen, 29 January 1983 148
Mammie Seedat, 29 May 1983 150
Roshan Dadoo, 1 October 1983 152
Zohrabibi Kathrada, 5 November 1983 155
Shireen Patel, 28 January 1984 157
Zeenat Cajee, 27 May 1984 160
Page vii
Essop Jassat, 15 July 1984 162
Leila Issel, 1 December 1984 165
P.W. Botha, 13 February 1985 168
Helen Joseph, 17 March 1985 173
Navi Joseph, 23 March 1985 176
Dullah Omar, 31 May 1985 180
Essop Jassat, 2 June 1985 184
Farieda Omar, 1 September 1985 188
Nazir Kathrada, 26 October 1985 190
Shireen Patel, 10 November 1985 193
Khatoon Patel, 18 January 1986 196
Shehnaaz Meer, 23 February 1986 199
Ameen Akhalwaya, 9 November 1986 203
Wilfred Kodesh, 14 November 1986 204
Helen Joseph, 30 November 1986 206
Enver Bharoochi, 14 December 1986 209
Veena and Ramesh Vassen, 2 January 1987 210
Mukesh Vassen, 6 December 1987 214
Amien Cajee, 17 January 1988 217
Oliver Tambo, Sometime in 1988 219
Sonia Bunting, 13 March 1988 223