Two men…uncanny similarities, major differences. And a valuable lesson from history. On the one hand we have Bram Fischer, a man from an old Afrikaner family who joined the struggle against apartheid, became a Communist and eventually went to to jail. Fischer was part of the inner circle of which Mandela was the leader, planning the overthrow of the Verwoerd government at Liliesleaf Farm, Rivonia. When they were arrested, Fischer was not present, although he was heavily implicated through his handwriting being on some documents confiscated. These referred to “Operation Mayibuye” – the violent overthrow of authority in South Africa. Fischer was leader of the defense team at the Rivonia Trial. Shortly after the trial he was charged with furthering Communism and was sentenced to life imprisonment. It could never be proven, without doubt, that he was part of the conspiracy – he was not there at the time. In March 1966 he was sent to Pretoria Central Prison. He served 11 years of his sentence before being diagnosed with cancer and being transferred to hospital in December 1974. Shortly after that apartheid Prime Minister, BJ Vorster, ordered that he be held in house arrest to the house of his brother in Bloemfontein, where he died on 8 May 1975, aged 67. On the other hand you have Clive Derby-Lewis, a man from an English South African family who took up the struggle against Communism, became a true Afrikaner and eventually went to jail. Clive Derby-Lewis was one of the people who planned the political assassination of Chris Hani, Secretary General of the SA Communist Party. When the assassin was arrested, Derby-Lewis was not present, although he was heavily implicated. Derby-Lewis was charged with being involved in the murder and was sentenced to be hanged, later commuted to life imprisonment. He was locked up in the same prison as Bram Fischer, he already served 21 years (a decade more than Fischer) and, like Fischer, was diagnosed with cancer and transferred to hospital. And right there the similarities end. The main differences are: Fischer was 67 when he was sent home, Derby-Lewis is already 79and still in jail… Fischer was sent home to spend his last days with his family, Derby-Lewis, despite numerous applications, are being kept locked up. There is only one logical conclusion – the apartheid government had so much more humanity in them than the ANC government of the day. Clive Derby-Lewis celebrates his 79Th birthday tomorrow. 21 of them in jail…God alone knows how many more…
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 10:43:28 +0000
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