No title {Reflections} Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #610)

who wish to consult him. What is more he shows the remarkable quality of being always willing to approach fresh ideas and give them serious consideration. He gives political lectures willingly to groups and individuals and shares his knowledge and experience. Among us here he was one of the first to give up an independent livelihood and give his full attention to the struggle. Although sometimes we have sharp differences our approach tends to be the same on many matters. But his judgement and mine have been criticesed by some of our men as unreliable in that we readily see good in persons with whom we deal. In spite of his age he is physically fit, goes out with the span to work with pick and shovel or to pull out messy seaweeds from the sea. Like all men who grew up in the countryside he likes the open air, to see green vegetation and trots around the courtyard every morning. He is always among his fellow prisoners cleaning the passage, washing the bathroom and tables, carrying the food drums and doing all the menial things to which our life as prisoners condemns us. He moves up to the forefront with ease when there is danger and is dependable in any fight. In 1971 the Prisons Department brought from retirement Col. Badenhorst, certainly the crudest commanding officer I have met on this Island and who ran the prison as if under martial law. Walter was amongst the delegation that went to see him and foiled his bullying tactics. He features in the annual tournaments and he and his partner won the 1975 scrabble championship. His desire to avoid confrontations and strong striving for unity has been abused by hard liners from inside and outside our ranks, forcing him to drop important proposals and giving the impression of indecision and weak leadership when a bold line is called for. He and Kathy share one common feature which forms an essential part of our friendship and which I value very much they never hesitate to criticise me for my mistakes and throughout my political career