Rebuffing Royals? Afrikaners and the royal visit to South Africa in 1947’

This article traces the responses of Afrikaners to the symbolism and political purposes of the 1947 royal visit to Southern Africa, the first post-war royal tour and the first visit of a reigning sovereign to the Union of South Africa. Taking place in the aftermath of a war that had caused bitter political divisions within Afrikaner ranks and stimulated radical populist nationalism, a royal tour intended to express the crown's gratitude for South Africa's participation in that war was bound to be contentious. Drawing on press accounts, biographies, autobiographies and archival sources, this article argues that the layered reactions of Afrikaners demonstrate that, even on the eve of the National Party's electoral victory on a republican and apartheid platform, attitudes towards monarchy and the British connection were more fluid and ambiguous than either contemporary propaganda or recent accounts have allowed. The diverse meanings attributed to this iconic royal tour reveal a process of intense contestation and reflection about South Africa's place in an empire that was in the throes of post-war redefinition and transformation, and confirm recent characterisations of the 1940s as one of manifold possibilities such that outcomes, like the electoral victory of the National Party in the following year, was far from pre-determined

Die Fischer-woning en -swembad in Beaumontstraat 12, Johannesburg: Simbool van rasseharmonie in apartheid-Suid-Afrika

Bram Fischer (1908-1975), well-known struggle activist and one time leader of the South African Communist Party, challenged the apartheid consciousness of the Afrikaner fundamentally and totally. Consequently in 1966 he was served with a lifelong jail sentence, but in 1975, after being diagnosed with cancer, he was permitted to spend his last days in his brother’s house in Bloemfontein. Interestingly enough, his house in Johannesburg, as well as the swimming pool at a time when such amenities were rather uncommon at private homes, contributed to the public declaration of his struggle sentiments. The Fischer house and swimming pool, where both black and white were welcome, certainly emphasises the meaning of non-racialism at a time when such a thing was largely unthinkable in a wealthy white suburb in the apartheid era. As a result the Fischers had to tread warily in handling the thorny question of an “open” house and swimming pool in those years, while the profusion of visitors obviously had an inhibiting effect on their family cohesion, privacy and life style

"An absolute pillar of strength for her husband and the struggle": Molly Fischer (1908-1964) - wife, mother and struggle activist.

This article concentrates on the life and times of Molly Fischer, wife of the renowned Communist and struggle-activist Bram Fischer. Molly and Bram’s life was not only woven together by their love for each other, but also by their love of Socialism and Communism coupled with their sincere endeavours to uplift the black community. She was as fervent a Communist and activist as Bram and in these circles was applauded for the unselfish manner in which she took up the cudgels for the oppressed people in the country. Molly is probably one of the few white women in the struggle-history of South Africa who had an Afrikaans background and who made a notable contribution to this cause. Her contribution remained rather obscured to the general public when compared with that of her famous husband. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to emphasise how she played her part as a struggle-activist and how she, as her husband’s soul mate, supported him throughout his public and political life and, in the interests of their cause, never backed away from the mistrust which they were obliged to endure from their Afrikaner compatriots. Also her role as mother, and for that matter homemaker, is taken into consideration. A great deal of Molly’s everyday life centred on their son’s welfare who suffered from cystic fibrosis