No title {Arrest} Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #500)

had never been close to him. But friendships are easily formed in prison and can often prove invaluable. He asked me whether I had any objection of he obtained permission from the Commanding Officer to stay with me in hospital a suggestion I welcomed. He discussed the matter with the Commanding Officer and joined me the same day. I found it strange that a convicted prisoner was allowed to stay together with a prisoner awaiting trial. He certainly was a priviledged prisoner for he wore clothes meant for the white prisoners, ate their diet, and did not work at all. He had many contacts in government circles and I found him to be a fascinating conversationalist. Although I accepted his bona fides and had no reason to suspect his motives for joining me, our work requires us to be on guard. Thus I scrupulously avoided any discussions of a confidential nature concerning the case. At the time he was working on the question of his release from prison on parole. I was amazed at the ease with which he pulled strings and the top personalities he was able to contact from behind prison walls. He was released after serving only 4 months of his sentence. After his release he acknowledges his appreciation of our prison friendship through several acts of kindness to my family. When Zami and 21 others were charged under the Terrorism Act in 1969, Dinath visited me on Robben Island to discuss the question of her defence. He suggested the names of an attorney and counsel whom I knew well but whose political views I did not share. I indicated to him that I appreciated his concern and efforts for my family but made it clear that I preferred Zami to be defended by lawyers in whom I had the greatest confidence and that accordingly I was instructing Joel Carlson and George Bizos to handle the case.