Sequel to Long Walk to Freedom - Revision 4 - Chapter 10 Page 1

Traditional Leaders Soon after my release from prison I flew down to East London and met Comrade Silumko Sokupha and the regional executive Committee to acquaint myself with the situation in that area. In their briefing they told me that the Head of the House of Rarabe, King Zanesizwe Sandile, would visit me at my hotel that morning. I was shocked because to invite a monarch to visit a mere politician in a hotel was a breach of protocol. I instructed the Committee to phone immediately and inform the King that I would prefer to pay him a courtesy visit at his palace later during the day. At that moment the king walked in. I apologised and pointed out that many of the young people who occupied leadership positions in the African National Congress grew up in the urban areas. They knew