Walter and Albertina
May 07, 2003 Edition -1
How the man and his marriage will forever be remembered
On Walter Sisulu's 70th birthday in May 1982, Ruth First paid tribute to the couple.
'He has committed all his life to the struggle for liberation - in the legal days, in the days of the underground and now in prison on Robben Island and in Pollsmoor. And in his person, he is committed to the practice of liberation because he is committed to the liberation of his people, of our people, but he is a liberated man in himself. He uses no devices to overwhelm others. He has pride, but no false pride. He has no arrogance, he has no malice. He is a plain and a straightforward man, he is a soft-spoken man, but he is a committed man, a man who makes no concessions when questions of principles are at stake. He is a decisive man but he is not an authoritarian leader. Politics is his life and he believes in people.
"He is committed to the liberation of all people. He is committed to the liberation of the African women. In his family, Albertina Sisulu is a fine leader in her own right, but her capacity to lead and her political strength is also the product of a good marriage, a good political marriage that is based on genuine equality and on shared commitment. And this is why, though Walter Sisulu is absent, when people need to refer back to the history of Walter Sisulu, they can find a living reference point in Albertina Sisulu and in Walter's children.
"One of the tributes to Walter Sisulu as a revolutionary is in the sacrifice and commitment which his entire family of children have made to the cause. In his children, we have the second generation of Sisulus deep in the struggle of our movement.
"It is one of the crimes of this government of South Africa that it has held a man like Walter Sisulu behind bars for so many unbroken years ... but although this is a time for mourning his absence, for wishing that he were among us, that we could have a birthday celebration in his presence, despite his absence, this is a day of celebration and it is today that we should celebrate Walter Sisulu's life, Walter Sisulu's commitment, Walter Sisulu's political achievements."
A love story that stood the test of time, separation and pain
Correspondence during Robben Island years
Darling walter ... longing for you
Walter wrote his first letter to Albertina a few days after his arrival on the Island. That took care of his quota for the first half of the year. He became rather distressed when he had not yet received a reply from Albertina after a month. He knew that she was not a great letter writer, but had assumed that in the circumstances, she would respond promptly. He was especially anxious for news about his children, Max in particular.
The attitude of the ANC leadership was that those young people who left the country with the intention of continuing their education should not be diverted to military training. It was often the young exiles themselves who decided to drop their schooling once they had left the country. During the Rivonia Trial, Walter and Albertina had been horrified to hear, through the ANC grapevine, that Max had opted to go for military training rather than to further his education. Walter had managed to smuggle messages to Ruth First, who was in London by then, asking her to find out why Max had not gone to school and to remind him that he could go into the military only after he completed his education. By the time he was taken to the Island, they had not yet had a response from Ruth.
He finally received Albertina's long-awaited reply in September.
11 August 1964
Darling Walter,
You cannot imagine how pleased everybody was to hear from you. I received your letter yesterday afternoon, the 10th August 1964, it was dated 12 July 1964. One wonders how quick the letters can be if they take a month to reach one. In any case darling it is not important.
We thought that after the sentence, they (would) keep you people in Pretoria for about one or two months, and would have enabled us to see you before leaving for the Island, but to add to the strain we had, when we took food to Pretoria the following day, we were told you had left for the Island. In any case, darling, we are very happy to hear from you.
Nkuli is doing very well at school ... Her daily song is that next year when she is in Standard 1 she will write a letter to Daddy and tell him to come back home because we are longing for him. If Daddy refuses to come home she will go stay with him in prison. Lungi and Beryl are doing well ... In their last tests they did badly, but they have picked up wonderfully in their June tests. They both wrote wonderful letters after the sentence, saying that they were happy it was not the death sentence. Your brave Lindi says: "Mama, be brave. As long as they are not sentenced to death we will see them again." A person who took it bitterly was Zwelakhe. They say he cried the whole day at school until Father sent him to bed. He has not written since. I have written two letters to him. The only reply I got was that he wants to come back home. In any case, don't worry about that, Darling, I will manage him when he comes home in December.
I got all your clothing from Pretoria. I was pleased to learn that you are studying. I know you will make it. It is never too late to learn. I am going to tell your sons to study hard because it will be a disgrace if you can pass examinations and they fail. I have spoken to many people about Max and I am prepared to be firm about his schooling. I think I will succeed in getting him back to school.
Yes, Walter, we were all upset about Molly ... Darling, I will be seeing you soon if all goes well. I am at present doing night duty so don't be surprised at seeing many mistakes. All are well at home. Greetings from all your kids.
Your loving Tinie
It was obvious that Albertina had not yet received Walter's second letter, written in August. In a letter dated September 9 1964, she wrote that it had been a pleasure to receive his second letter, but heart-breaking to learn that he had not yet received her letters: "I think the fault lies with the authorities because your letters take a month before they reach us."
The impact of Walter's incarceration on Albertina was much greater than she cared to admit. She showed a brave face to those around her, but she missed Walter desperately.
Her movements were drastically curtailed by her banning order, and friends who had rallied around to give her support found it increasingly difficult to visit. She suffered badly from insomnia and the months of strain and anxiety began to take their toll. In a letter to Walter, dated October 22 1964, she wrote:
This is just to inform you that I arrived safely on the 21st September and on the 22nd I was admitted at Bara Hospital with backache and I was discharged on the 19th October. I am still at home on sick leave and my back is still not quite well. I am sure you are wondering why I don't tell you how I travelled back home.
Darling, I am very sorry to be so absent-minded, you asked me to buy a book on that piece of paper I had, but I can't find it now. I wonder if it can be possible for you to write and tell me the name of the book again. Sorry, Walter, I know how you would feel.
Darling Ntsiki ... a million kisses
The mid-'60s were depressing years for political prisoners and their families, and the correspondence between Walter and Albertina sometimes reflected the mood of the times. In a letter to Walter shortly after she visited the Island towards the end of 1965, Albertina wrote:
I must say we were not very happy when we came back because we did not see you people properly. We only heard your voices and saw your shadows.
My dear, we were all hurt about your remarks, that you always think of our birthdays and wish us good luck, but we never think of you on your birthday and wish you Happy Birthday. Walter, we always think of you, but we never know what to do, whether you are allowed a postcard or not. Nkuli says, don't worry wena Tata ngenye imini ndizakuthengela iBirthday Cake enkulu namakhandela ayo (Daddy, one day I will buy you a big birthday cake with candles) (Letter, November 15 1965).
A year later she wrote: "Darling, your last letter was not a nice one. It looked as though you were worried or not well. There were a lot of incomplete sentences. What was the matter, were you not well? Please, when you are not well report to the authorities and get medical attention. Never go on with that headache of yours because I know how it can treat you" (Letter, November 19 1966).
On their wedding anniversary in July 1979, he wrote to express his appreciation of her success in raising their children and keeping the family together:
Darling
I think this is the date on which we got married 35 years ago. I was certain of this date until I slid my pen on the paper when I began to have some doubt whether it was the 15 or 17 July. All these years I was sure, but now?
Your welcome and most moving letter has had the desired effects ... It was not the volume that mattered, it was the quality, deep emotion and sincere expression of love which left an everlasting impression and kindled the fondest memories. I shall forever treasure it. I shall always imagine you in that excellent and fine spirit which it so vividly depicted ...
Concerning the progress you have made with regard to family matters and the manner in which you have handled them, I can only repeat what I have said in the past - absolute superb. I have never felt as comfortable as I am. I am really happy about all the children. It is true I would have wanted the highest possible education but I think they will
certainly make up for it. I was happy when there was a reunion of the children four years ago and now with Lakhe and Lindi all seems to be very well.
Now darling, let me have the photos of the two girls at least. You know in fact that I want the photos of all of you, including my bakhozi (in-laws). Your last photo was taken by Mthetwa or Cuthbert Mawana 12 years ago. Can you believe that? Have you any photo of Max there? Please send me a duplicate of it. I know you would not want to part with it.
What are your plans about Nkuli? ... Let her not miss the chance of a university while she is still interested. By the way, Tinie, she needs your attention and guidance on her love affairs. I know you think she has no boyfriends. She has told me that she has one. We ought to know what kind of boy he is even if there is nothing serious at this stage; at least it is a way of educating them.
With love to you and the children and million kisses to my beloved Ntsiki.
