The history of South Africa is a tapestry woven with stories of immense resilience, yet many of the threads specifically those representing the voices of women in the anti-apartheid struggle remain overlooked. In a recent moving interview on Bush Radio, Professor Gertrude Fester joined us to shed light on these hidden narratives and discuss her powerful memoir, Prison Notebook V2957/88.
Professor Fester, whose prisoner number serves as the title of her book, spent harrowing days as a political detainee, including a significant period in solitary confinement. Her story is not just one of survival, but a call to action for women to document their own histories.
When Professor Fester was placed in solitary confinement in 1988, she was stripped of everything even pen and paper. Faced with the prospect of six months in total isolation, she had to find a way to keep her mind intact against a system designed to "demoralize and dehumanize."
"The first thing I decided was that I will compose a play in my head," Fester recalls. "Whatever happens, I’ll compose a play, I’ll compose a poem, and then I’ll say it the next day and edit it."
One of the most poignant moments of the interview touched on why women must tell their own stories. Fester pointed out that even in the formation of the ANC in 1913, women were excluded from membership, leading Charlotte Maxeke to form the Bantu Women’s League.
She highlighted a critical gap in South African historiography:
The Documentation Gap: Many academic texts on the United Democratic Front (UDF) barely mention women, despite women’s organizations providing the very structures and offices the UDF relied upon in the Western Cape.
The Burden of Memory: "It’s important to document," Fester insists. "I’m very lazy, I don’t always want to write, but I think you must."
Fester’s book extends beyond her time in South Africa, including a profound chapter on her five years in Rwanda. She was deeply moved by the Rwandan approach to reconciliation following the genocide, specifically their "Memorial Time" (April 7th to July 4th), where confessions and the search for the disappeared are prioritized.
This experience even led her to attempt a conversation with her own former interrogator. While the encounter was fraught with the former official remaining defensive and unrepentant Fester chose to include his entire three-page email in her book's appendix, allowing the reader to see the raw, unfiltered reality of the past.
Fester is candid about the role faith played in her survival, admitting that it was the only thing that prevented her from succumbing to suicidal thoughts during her darkest hours. However, she is equally clear that "freedom" in the modern South African context remains a complex, unfinished project.
She spoke of intergenerational trauma and the "woundedness" that still permeates the country. "We think we are free, but we’re not free," she noted. "We are still imprisoned by poverty and unemployment."
Professor Gertrude Fester’s journey serves as a vital reminder that while the laws of apartheid have changed, the work of healing and documenting the truth continues.
Email: GertrudeFester@gmail.com
WhatsApp: 082 373 4419
Listen to the full interview on Push Radio for more insights into the "Rainbow Trial" and the enduring spirit of South Africa’s women activists.
Unheard Voices
Survival, Solitary Confinement, and the Power of Memory
South African history is filled with powerful stories of resilience, but many voices—especially those of women in the anti-apartheid struggle—remain underdocumented. Recently, Professor Gertrude Fester joined Push Radio to discuss her harrowing experiences and her memoir, Prison Notebook V2957/88.
The Architecture of Survival
Spending 104 days in solitary confinement in 1988, Professor Fester was stripped of even basic writing materials. To survive, she turned to the only thing they couldn't take: her mind.
"The first thing I decided was that I will compose a play in my head... I'll compose a poem, and then I'll say it the next day and correct it."
She describes composing poems to the birds that visited her exercise cage and finding a connection to the outside world through the distant sounds of the Mardi Gras festival in Wynberg.
The Importance of Women's Stories
Fester emphasizes that women have always been at the forefront of the struggle, yet their contributions are often omitted from historical texts. She notes that women’s organizations provided the very structures the United Democratic Front (UDF) relied upon, yet these contributions frequently go unmentioned in academic records.
Lessons from Rwanda
Having taught in Rwanda for five years, Fester was deeply moved by their approach to reconciliation. She highlights their "Memorial Time" as a model for addressing trauma—a process of confession and seeking the truth that she feels is still missing in many aspects of the South African transition.
A Microcosm of South Africa
Reflecting on the "Rainbow Trial," where she was one of 14 accused, Fester notes the starkly different paths the survivors have taken. While some moved into high-ranking government positions, others have struggled to find permanent work since 1994. For Fester, this disparity is a microcosm of the country's broader challenges with poverty and unemployment.
Connect with Professor Gertrude Fester
To learn more or get in touch regarding her work and history:
- Email: GertrudeFester@gmail.com
- WhatsApp: 082 373 4419
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