My late mother was a founder member of the Black Sash, both my parents were politically involved against apartheid since the early 50s. It always shocked me that the kids at DSG (Grahamstown) where I went to school weren’t progressive (Helen Suzman’s party). They were mostly Nationsalist and UP. I think the only other Progressives with me were Jan Steytler’s daughters (Progressive Party leader). Somehow, I always thought that the white upper classes would be anti apartheid, but they weren’t.

I waa shocked to discover there waa still so much racism in South Africa when I returned. And, yes, I met some of those white immigrants in both the California and Texas when I was living there. I avoided them like poison. I avoided them in London as well.

It puts a knife in my heart to hear people speak so badly about other people. Unfortunately I have never made a difference — even in the days when I wrote to the press about it.