At College Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #38)

those white liberals who were making fortune for themselves out of the political disabilities of our people. He was a keen supporter of the African National Congress which he described as the black man's hope, adding at the same time, that all that was needed was for Africans to give it mass support. At home I had repeatedly heard that all Thembus were members of Umbutho We Sizwe (National Organisation) because Dalindyebo had paid a subscription fee of thirty pounds for his people. But it was first time I heard the name African National Congress, and it was much later that I discovered that this Umbutho We Sizwe was none other than the African National Congress. Khongisa held radical views not only on national but on international politics as well. The most important world event in those days was the outbreak of the Second World War and almost every one of us prayed for England and her allies. The warden of Wesley House gave us a review of the military situation every night and painted a grim picture of what would happen to the world and to us in particular if Hitler won. Khongisa was unimpressed and unlike the majority of the students wished for a German victory, not because the Germans would want to free us, but mainly because victory over the allies would give the Germans effective control in Europe only and, so he argued, it would be comparatively easy for us to rise against our own oppressors here at home. I found his views on local questions impressive but I thought he went too far on the question of the war. With regard to the actual treatment of students at Fort Hare, I felt that we were in most respects far better than anything I had seen in Healdtown and Clarkebury. We had greater freedom of movement, more autonomy and the food was reasonable. But even university students do find time for light moments during which high moral standards may be relaxed. That was the position in our days. It may still be the case even now. One of the hobbies I had to give up on circumcision was roasting