ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book introduces the complication of the changing legislative relationship of Basutoland with South Africa in the 1960s that compelled the High Commission Territory to broker some semblance of understanding and peace with the sea of Apartheid that surrounded. It analyzes the realities of life in Basutoland for Elizabeth Mafeking and her children, exposes the unique vulnerabilities of women in exile/banishment, and discusses the complexities of changed family forms and intimate relationships. The book considers the memory of Mafeking within activist circles, questions the value of her sacrifices, and reflects upon her enduring legacy within the South African freedom struggle. It examines the response of Mafeking’s community to what it perceived as an attack on one of their own: first petitions and demonstrations, then eventually a two-day riot.
