Description
About the book
Different perspectives on the remarkable life of an anti-apartheid activist who was preciously a ‘key-leader’ of the tertiary based Catholic student movement in South Africa, Kallie Hanekom, are in this presented in this volume by family members and leading figures in the struggle against Apartheid.
His brother Derek, a former ANC (African National Congress) Cabinet Minister, gives an insightful overview of his life. Kallie’s sons pay tribute to their brilliant and complex father. Fr Mike Lapsley SSM, an activist who lost his hands in a letter-bomb attack, presents a heartfelt tribute to a brother Christian. Fr Mike Deeb OP gives an appreciative account of working against the Apartheid regime with Kallie over many years, in groups inspired by the Theology of Liberation and the See- Judge-Act Method. Dr Mavuso Msimang, one of the great leaders of the ANC over many years, brings his extensive experience to bear on Kallie’s life within a movement which has changed drastically from revolutionary activism to a government in power. Richard Crowe presents an overview of his friendship with Kallie from student days to their elder years.
Richard presents a new understanding of Africa as the first great spiritual culture in world history. Africa, as the cradle of all human spirituality and culture, foreshadowed and informed all succeeding world religions and their cultures. Kallie opposed the evils of Apartheid over many years. He was a builder of human connections that transcended all notions of race or class. This publication celebrates his unique gift for crossing ideological and racial barriers to connect with his fellow human beings in a non-judgemental and egalitarian way.
About the editor
Richard Crowe was born in 1955 at Colleen Bawn, Southern Rhodesia, where his father worked as a mine doctor. In 1973 he went to Rhodes University and studied Fine Art, English and Biblical Studies. He also joined Cathsoc and attended NCFS Conferences and was a life- long friend of Kallie Hanekom. Richard underwent compulsory military service in the South African Defence Force (SADF) as a non- combatant during 1978–1979 and was placed in unit detention for this decision.
He wrote his Master’s Degree thesis while in detention, which was passed with distinction. He lectured at Port Elizabeth Technikon (now Nelson Mandela University), the oldest art School in South Africa. In 1986 he resigned his lectureship with three others in protest against extreme racism at his teaching institution. After taking action in line with the Kairos Document he went into exile to avoid arrest. He and his family attempted to return to South Africa in 1992, but he was known for his anti-apartheid beliefs and action. He encountered resistance from staff in white dominated teaching institutions, and could not obtain a teaching position and so returned to the UK where he now lives with his wife, Samantha.
