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Published: February 14th 2014
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How many of us have sat next to total strangers on an airplane and either divulged our deepest secrets or been the recipient of amazing stories? In my case on the flight from Livingstone Zambia to Johannesburg South Africa I was gifted with an amazing real life story by my seat mate.
Let us call her Mimi.
As she sat next to me I noticed her no-nonsense natural haircut, capable hands, clean but inexpensive white shirt and lack of jewelry save for a large tigers eye ring on the middle finger of her left hand. (A gift she said). She had veiled darting eyes that hid all but missed nothing...curiously got the better of me....I spoke first. Throwing out a drag net I hinted at my adventures, New York, my fascination with Tanzania, the mysterious appearing and disappearing of the Maasai....here her eyes darted to then fixed on me and this is what I learned:
Mimi had been a freedom fighter for the African National Committee (Mandela's party) as a young woman. She had left South Africa in 1985 at the age of 22 and spent 10 years in exile in neighboring countries, mostly Tanzania. She knew well
Township
In the Shadow of Table Mountain the ways of the Maasai, 30 years ago she had lived in Arusha their stronghold. Here her eyes flickered, her voice betrayed nothing, but I did not dare to ask about a young woman's dreams and loves, I knew so much in her life that was precious had been sacrificed for the cause.
Her family was harassed and beaten when she was in exile, communication with them only possible when sympathetic people traveled out to the USA or England and could mail untraceable letters from there. Even though the letters to her family were intercepted they still got through. At least her mother knew she was alive.
Her mother has passed on now, but, with a rare smile and a flash in her eyes Mimi says that she was proud of her daughters bravery and sacrifice. What about her own? I wonder....
The government of Tanzania had given the ANC land years before Mimi's arrival, the support services were already in place and the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College (SOMAFCO) was established. The young exiles were able to continue their education with the help of many sympathetic international teachers who came to tutor them. Their examination papers for
O and A levels (British system of education) were corrected in England!
In 1990 (the year that Mandela was freed) the ANC held a woman's conference in South Africa, representatives of the women in exile were invited to attend and given safe but nerve wracking passage in and out of the country. The aim was to understand the challenges of the women in exile, to prepare for their return and to integrate them into the leadership of the ANC. Mimi was one of the women chosen to attend.
In 1994 with only one year of financial aid from the ANC Mimi received her B.Sc in chemical engineering.
Unbelievably, today Mimi works for the South African Defense Force in the area of explosion oversight. The very men from the other side, her old enemies, now colleagues at work. A testimony for both sides.
A shrug, down turned smile, sadness but with a spark of defiance in her eyes.
She says the South Africa of today is not what she fought for, too much corruption, but the sacrifice was not in vane.
One step further from how it was, is one step closer to how she
Motivation
Inspirational message on Township Wall dreamt it would be, even if the journey is filled with bazaar twists, bumps and continuing real human sacrifice.
Mimi is the only member of her family working at this time. She lives in a township outside Cape town and In the African tradition she supports her siblings, their families and the children of her maternal aunt.
It was an honor to share even a small portion of my journey with her.
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