Dear Tjhabi I have been thinking of you over the last few ...
Dear Tjhabi I have been thinking of you over the last few days. And every time this happens my mind goes back to the question you asked me in December. You suddenly wanted to know why I was in prison. This surprised me. Not that I thought it was a foolish question. No, not at all. Rather I was not aware that your tender mind was already trying to answer such an important question. Now, I did not reply to you then because I wanted to think carefully what I was going to say to you. All this time I have been thinking about your question and my answer to it. And now I am going to write this reply out to you. It is a very long one Tjhabi, and it will take a number of letters. Each one of these letters will form a complete and understandable part. So please do not destroy these letters because you will need to refer to them as we go along. Like a jigsaw puzzle, in the end you will find that they form a whole picture. Okay? I must ask you for one promise before I start. You must promise me that you will share these letters with other children and people of our country. You see, you are not the only person who wants to know why I and other people were
put I prison and are still being imprisoned by this government. The other reason is that you must learn to share things. In this world we must all learn to know that motho ke motho ka batho ba bang* as some of our greatgrandparents used to say. Will you then start by sharing this letter with your brother, sister, companions and schoolmates? And as you grow older, help other people understand what I am about to say to you? It is the treasure of the people of our beautiful country – South Africa. Preserve it, my child, and carefully pass it on to those who will grow up clutching the hem and pleats of your skirts. I am preparing the first part of my reply to you and as soon as your letter, with the promise, arrives, I shall be sending it. Are you caring for your little brother? Do not eat his sweets, hey! Pass my regards to Granny. Good-bye. Your loving dad. *(South Sotho) Literal translation: “A person is a person because of other people.”
put I prison and are still being imprisoned by this government. The other reason is that you must learn to share things. In this world we must all learn to know that motho ke motho ka batho ba bang* as some of our greatgrandparents used to say. Will you then start by sharing this letter with your brother, sister, companions and schoolmates? And as you grow older, help other people understand what I am about to say to you? It is the treasure of the people of our beautiful country – South Africa. Preserve it, my child, and carefully pass it on to those who will grow up clutching the hem and pleats of your skirts. I am preparing the first part of my reply to you and as soon as your letter, with the promise, arrives, I shall be sending it. Are you caring for your little brother? Do not eat his sweets, hey! Pass my regards to Granny. Good-bye. Your loving dad. *(South Sotho) Literal translation: “A person is a person because of other people.”
