ABSTRACT
Elizabeth Mafeking was back on her feet, working, she and Alexander had rekindled their communications, and Alexander was redoubling her efforts to secure financial aid for Nomsa and Rhoda. The Mafeking children in exile were doing relatively well in the opening months of 1972: everyone except Rhoda had passed their yearly exams, baby Uhuru was thirteen and completing Standard 7, and Catherine Nomsa was – like any teenager – pushing to spread her wings and get away from home. One of the most remarkable manifestations of Mafeking’s newfound freedom as South African citizen was gaining the franchise, and Nominkie recalled with great pride the first opportunity her mother had to vote. Mafeking was original “foot soldier” who “broke barriers and opened doors” during the liberation struggle, and helped to lead South Africa to its freedom. Every argument Nkewu attempted to present to the African National Congress on Mafeking’s behalf was met with unyielding African cultural stigmas against female drinking.
