The heat rises Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #336)

well to do family, her father being a retired school principal, prosperous bus owner with a couple of free hold properties. She had been brought up in relative comfort, had a status job and prior to our marriage moved in circles far removed from the dust and storms of political struggle. I reminded her that she was employed by the provincial administration and that imprisonment would cost her her job at a time when my own income had disappeared and when I could no longer support her. I pointed out that her contemplated action would also mean the end of her profession as a social worker since the stigma of imprisonment would make all public agencies reluctant to employ her. She was pregnant and I warned her of the hardships and humiliation she would suffer in jail. She was determined and the grim picture I painted did not frighten her. Early the next day I helped her make breakfast and after kissing and embracing we drove to Walter Sisulu's wife Albertina. I watched her as she walked with other women to board a train at Phefeni station. Since our marriage she had always travelled to town by car either with me or with my friends, Ismail and Martha Matlhaku, and she looked a bit strange as she walked to the station. That day she and others were arrested and later that afternoon I spent about half an hour chatting with her at the police cells at Marshall Square. The following day they were remanded to the Fort where they awaited trial. Lilian Ngoyi, the national president of the Women's League and Bertha Mashaba were appearing in the treason trial and it was decided that they should not take part in the demonstrations. The arrest of 2,000 women created formidable problems for the Women's League, our firm, the police and jail authorities and the magistrate and his staff. Few cells in the magistrate court were big