Everyday Communists in South Africa’s Liberation Struggle: The Lives of Ivan and Lesley Schermbrucker (Palgrave Studies in the History of Social Movements)

This book explores the role of social movements in the Southern African liberation struggle, through the lens of two {u2018}everyday communists{u2019}. Focusing on the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA), the author explores the lives of Ivan and Lesley Schermbrucker, whose contribution to the party was more clandestine than that of leaders such as Bram Fischer and Joe Slovo. They represent how {u2018}ordinary{u2019} people could play significant roles based on stances more rooted in common decency and morality than in Marxist theory. The book also sheds light on the interplay between transnational and national tendencies during the liberation movement, particularly between the 1940s and the 1960s. The Schermbruckers changed their views in response to the shifting national and international political landscape, the rise of Stalinism, and the flight of South African activists into exile from the 1960s. Both fluent in African languages, they were able to create relationships of trust with African members of the CPSA. Examining tensions and conflicts during the liberation struggle, this book provides fresh insights into {u2018}underground{u2019} activism. Alan Kirkaldy is Associate Professor and Head of the History Department at Rhodes University, South Africa. He has previously published works on the Kalk Bay fishing community and Venda history. Alan has lectured on African and environmental history since 1989. Much of his teaching has focused on liberation movements Series Editors’ Preface 6 Acknowledgements 11 Contents 13 List of Figures 16 1 Introduction and Author’s Note 18 2 The Socio-Political Context, Finding Communism and Ivan and Lesley’s Early Years 27 The CPSA/SACP, the ANC, Transnationalism and African Nationalism 27 Women in the Struggle 42 A Sense of Rootedness: The Colonel 53 The Rural Economy: Transkei and Zululand Traders 56 Foundations of an Activist Ideology: Ivan’s Childhood and Youth 59 Radicalising Influences 63 The Party’s Paper: Work, the Move to the Guardian and Funding the Party 67 Lesley’s Family and Youth 69 Developing a Political Ideology and Establishing a Working Career 74 Stalinism 77 3 Partners in Activism—Ivan and Lesley 112 Life Partners and Struggle Partners 112 Security Legislation, Repression and Financing the Guardian 121 Growing in the Struggle 124 4 Tightening Repression: Increasing Involvement, Surveillance and Detention 153 Security Legislation in the 1960S in Context 153 On the Central Committee 159 Funding the Revolution and Supporting Its Captured Cadres 161 The State Cracks Down—Becoming a Target, Detention and Torture 163 Women Filling the Gap 171 Stayers vs Leavers in the Struggle 173 Situation of the Left at This Time 178 5 The Trial of Bram Fischer and 13 Others 202 Awaiting Trial 203 The Accused 204 The Trial Begins 205 Ivan’s Defence and Cross-Examination 214 Judgement and Sentence 233 Reflections on Activism—Pre-incarceration Letters 237 6 Women Picking up the Spear: Lesley’s Increasing Involvement, Arrest and Trial 270 Increasing Involvement, Further Arrests and Detentions, Clandestine Meetings, Party Funds and Hiding Bram Fischer 270 Lesley’s Arrest and Detention and Bram Fischer’s Preliminary Hearing 275 Those Who Gave State Evidence 279 Tightening the Net Further—Lelsey and Violet’s Trial 280 Caught in the Crossfire—The Children 283 7 Prison Life 296 “Politicals” and “Non-Politicals” 296 Ivan 297 A More Nationalist Focus 301 The Routine of Prison Life 307 Lesley 311 The Fort 311 Barberton 315 Changing Ideology 321 8 Aftermath 334 Lesley’s Release 334 Ivan’s Release 337 Disillusionment with Exiles and Cementing a More Nationalist Ideology 339 Helping Those Left Behind in Prison 341 Other Activities and Making a Living in Defiance of Restrictive Measures 347 Declining Health and Death 349 References 359 Index 386