Behind the lines with Eddie Daniels
By: Jessica Farley
“It was difficult to align the popular decision with the right decision, but Nelson Mandela did it’, says Eddie Daniels. ‘On 11 February 1990, 6 hours after his release from Robben Island, he addressed the masses with no call for revenge or brutality. In doing that, he saved his country from disaster.”
It’s a cool English day next to the iconic Thames River in Twickenham. Eddie Daniels, an honoured comrade among his peers in the anti-Apartheid struggle, is expansive in his verbal time travel and comfortable in a front room of St. James School.
A soldier in the struggle for a free and democratic South Africa, Daniels spent fifteen years on Robben Island in the company of the freedom fighters who, alongside Daniels himself, created a democratic South Africa. A man of honour and stature, Daniels chose a life of struggle in a country that, for whatever inexplicable reasons they were following at the time, allowed Daniels to slip into the realm of the more ‘accepted’ coloured racial categorisation.
Meeting Daniels is like meeting the underclothes of South Africa’s history. We have all seen and read the same stories – the top hat and tails of the struggle. As the leader and figurehead of the fight for democracy, Nelson Mandela showed the world the truth about South Africa through his bravery and strength and infinitely forgiving manner. But, Nelson Mandela did not stand alone and while he has always praised the work of his comrades in arms, meeting one of them is grounding. So many nameless, faceless people gave their lives in the fight for democracy and every one of those stories is equally as poignant and as harrowing as the well known stories etched on our brains. Daniels likes to tell his story, and he has found a wiling audience.
Born in District Six in the Western Cape in 1928 to a British father and a South African mother, Daniels found politics on the streets of Athlone. Joining the Liberal Party after becoming enraged at the mindless oppression of his people, Daniels believed the party fulfilled the two major necessary criteria: being anti-government and non-racial.
From the moment Daniels found his home with the Liberal Party, his politics never swayed. During his time on Robben Island for terrorist attacks on the government, Daniel’s was the sole member of his party – falling into the ‘black’ category while his co-accused fell into the ‘white’ category – but he did his time cheerfully, all the while expounding his beliefs. In A Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela speaks of Daniel’s fondly: “We recall his loyalty and courage; his sense of humour and justice as well as total commitment to the struggle of the prisoners for the eradication of injustice and for the betterment of their conditions.”
Daniels tells his story like a narrator in a cops and robbers film; dangerous tales of arson and explosions follow attempted jail escapes, clandestine meetings and plotting to impact a government. The constant push and pull of SA politics – key to the renegade story line - caught Daniels on a tidal wave, which pushed him over the edge into conviction when a trusted friend turned state witness and gave evidence against him. “I was asked to be state witness three times,” says Daniels. “I said no and I had to wait 24 years to find out that that was the right decision.”
Of the man – Adrian - who turned against him? Daniels bears him no ill will. “He was very brave, used explosives and risked his life. He said he took it too far.” In his memoirs ‘There & Back’, Daniels published two letters between himself and Adrian, highlighting the end of an era and an inconceivable ability to forgive. “I hope that my release from prison will alleviate the terrible mental pressures that you have been suffering all these many years,” he writes. “You ask me if I would like to change the past. Both you and I know that we cannot change the past – but to indulge in some wishful thinking, I’ll say yes. I would like to change your role … why I wish this is because of the brave role you played in the organisation prior to your arrest. You were an outstanding organiser, leader and a person held in high respect by all.”
15 years spent in prison is an endless time to comprehend, specifically considering the political prisoners were held in the punishment unit in isolation for extended periods, were beaten for the smallest of incidents and humiliated and ridiculed by the guards at every turn. This was done in an effort to break their spirit - an effort which proved unsuccessful. Still, Daniels retains his positive ideals. “I can still look at it as a blessing in disguise,” says Daniels. “When I went into Robben Island, I only held a Standard 6 education. When I left, I left with two degrees – a BA and a BCom.”
The most astounding part of Daniels journey is that, although he had the option to leave jail early (under restrictions of course) he chose to ride out the sentence rather than fold to the National Party’s requirements. “I said to the judge – I’ll be sentencing my children and grandchildren to a life of slavery if I give in”. So he didn’t. 15 Years after his release, South Africa elected its first democratic government.
Today, we – as South Africans –are working toward a nation based on equality. The years of oppression and violence have left scars, but gradually the anger will melt away and we will stand, as we deserve to stand, as a monument to the persistence of the people. Eddie Daniels stood up and fought for that democracy and his story, like many others, is inspiring.
By: Jessica Farley
“It was difficult to align the popular decision with the right decision, but Nelson Mandela did it’, says Eddie Daniels. ‘On 11 February 1990, 6 hours after his release from Robben Island, he addressed the masses with no call for revenge or brutality. In doing that, he saved his country from disaster.”
It’s a cool English day next to the iconic Thames River in Twickenham. Eddie Daniels, an honoured comrade among his peers in the anti-Apartheid struggle, is expansive in his verbal time travel and comfortable in a front room of St. James School.
A soldier in the struggle for a free and democratic South Africa, Daniels spent fifteen years on Robben Island in the company of the freedom fighters who, alongside Daniels himself, created a democratic South Africa. A man of honour and stature, Daniels chose a life of struggle in a country that, for whatever inexplicable reasons they were following at the time, allowed Daniels to slip into the realm of the more ‘accepted’ coloured racial categorisation.
Meeting Daniels is like meeting the underclothes of South Africa’s history. We have all seen and read the same stories – the top hat and tails of the struggle. As the leader and figurehead of the fight for democracy, Nelson Mandela showed the world the truth about South Africa through his bravery and strength and infinitely forgiving manner. But, Nelson Mandela did not stand alone and while he has always praised the work of his comrades in arms, meeting one of them is grounding. So many nameless, faceless people gave their lives in the fight for democracy and every one of those stories is equally as poignant and as harrowing as the well known stories etched on our brains. Daniels likes to tell his story, and he has found a wiling audience.
Born in District Six in the Western Cape in 1928 to a British father and a South African mother, Daniels found politics on the streets of Athlone. Joining the Liberal Party after becoming enraged at the mindless oppression of his people, Daniels believed the party fulfilled the two major necessary criteria: being anti-government and non-racial.
From the moment Daniels found his home with the Liberal Party, his politics never swayed. During his time on Robben Island for terrorist attacks on the government, Daniel’s was the sole member of his party – falling into the ‘black’ category while his co-accused fell into the ‘white’ category – but he did his time cheerfully, all the while expounding his beliefs. In A Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela speaks of Daniel’s fondly: “We recall his loyalty and courage; his sense of humour and justice as well as total commitment to the struggle of the prisoners for the eradication of injustice and for the betterment of their conditions.”
Daniels tells his story like a narrator in a cops and robbers film; dangerous tales of arson and explosions follow attempted jail escapes, clandestine meetings and plotting to impact a government. The constant push and pull of SA politics – key to the renegade story line - caught Daniels on a tidal wave, which pushed him over the edge into conviction when a trusted friend turned state witness and gave evidence against him. “I was asked to be state witness three times,” says Daniels. “I said no and I had to wait 24 years to find out that that was the right decision.”
Of the man – Adrian - who turned against him? Daniels bears him no ill will. “He was very brave, used explosives and risked his life. He said he took it too far.” In his memoirs ‘There & Back’, Daniels published two letters between himself and Adrian, highlighting the end of an era and an inconceivable ability to forgive. “I hope that my release from prison will alleviate the terrible mental pressures that you have been suffering all these many years,” he writes. “You ask me if I would like to change the past. Both you and I know that we cannot change the past – but to indulge in some wishful thinking, I’ll say yes. I would like to change your role … why I wish this is because of the brave role you played in the organisation prior to your arrest. You were an outstanding organiser, leader and a person held in high respect by all.”
15 years spent in prison is an endless time to comprehend, specifically considering the political prisoners were held in the punishment unit in isolation for extended periods, were beaten for the smallest of incidents and humiliated and ridiculed by the guards at every turn. This was done in an effort to break their spirit - an effort which proved unsuccessful. Still, Daniels retains his positive ideals. “I can still look at it as a blessing in disguise,” says Daniels. “When I went into Robben Island, I only held a Standard 6 education. When I left, I left with two degrees – a BA and a BCom.”
The most astounding part of Daniels journey is that, although he had the option to leave jail early (under restrictions of course) he chose to ride out the sentence rather than fold to the National Party’s requirements. “I said to the judge – I’ll be sentencing my children and grandchildren to a life of slavery if I give in”. So he didn’t. 15 Years after his release, South Africa elected its first democratic government.
Today, we – as South Africans –are working toward a nation based on equality. The years of oppression and violence have left scars, but gradually the anger will melt away and we will stand, as we deserve to stand, as a monument to the persistence of the people. Eddie Daniels stood up and fought for that democracy and his story, like many others, is inspiring.
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