At College Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #36)

to my future role in Thembuland hardly differed from that of the Regent and was throughout preoccupied with Sabata's education, hoping that the future king would be inspired at least to pass through Fort Hare. He encouraged me to study law and advised me concerning my curriculum. On college politices and on the question of preparing for my future career, he acted as my mentor. I never suspected then that we would later differ so radically on questions of principle and method as we do now. Another prominent student at Fort Hare in those days and a friend of Daliwonga was the present leader of the Transkeian opposition, Knowledge Guzana. He was influential and respected both by students and the College authorities alike. Oliver Tambo also came to Fort Hare in 1939 and immediately attracted attention. He was a keen debater and even during that first year, it was clear that he would make a definate mark in life. It was here that I met a bright science student from Basutoland and who in the early 1950s became head of the basutoland Congress Party and leading figure in the struggle of the people of that country for national independence. This was Ntsu Mokhehle. Interested as I was in law I none the less could not resist the glitter of a civil service carreer. My ambition was now to be an interpreter or clerk in the Native Affairs Department of Bunga. In the rural areas during those days an interpreter in the Magistrates office was an important person, second only to the Magistrate the administrative head of the district. Not only did he serve as interpreter at court and at official gatherings, but he acted as liason between the public and the administration. Usually even those senior chiefs who could speak English well were given audience by officials in the presence of an interpreter. Interpreters from the department formed an importantAfrican elite who commanded influence among the people. My ambition for a civil service carreer was largely influenced by this background. When at the begining of 1940 Fort