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Strikes Have Followed Me AU My Life. A South African Autobiography, Emma
Mashinini, Women's Press, London, 1989 (142pp, no price given, ISBN 07043 4177 8).
This publication highlights the writer's experience as a detained Trade Unionist in South
African prisons. As the fIrst black woman Trade Union leader Mashinini showed great
courage in the defIance of the apartheid regime.
Part One of the book discusses the writer's early life, before her detention. Part Two
discusses her detention and life after detention. Part One Chapter Onehighlights the writer's
upbringing. It depicts the typical life of black married women who are housewives and
factory workers, who face dehumanisation and all forms of insults and abuse at the work
place. These women are frustrated at home and at wolk, and this is clearly shown in the
writer's life story. She became conscious of the political situation in South Africa while still
a child.
In Chapter Four the writer describes the birth of the Trade Union, CCAWUSA, which
became one of the most powerful unions in South Africa, and of which she was secretary.
Mashinini tells how CCAWUSA was able to control the strikes and boycotts, even those
organised outside the union. As a result of tremendous support from the black workers
CCAWUSA became a force to be reckoned with. The authorities became concerned about
the tremendous influence and power the movement had over black workers. In Chapter Six
Mashinini describes her detention under Sections 6 and 22 of the General Laws Amendment
Act. This nationwide clampdown on trade rmions and political activity was obviously a
show of strength by the apartheid regime.
Chapter Seven depicts the author's deep emotions as she describes the inhuman
treatment she received at Pretoria Central Prison, a frightening prison known for the
detention of condenmed prisoners, ready to be hanged. It was at Pretoria Central Prison that
she almost broke down because of solitary confInement, and interrogation - anerve breaking
exercise which left her with hypertension and anmesia. In Chapter Eight Mashinini
describes how she forgot the name of her youngest daughter (Dudu) because of the
psychological trauma caused by continuous detention.
Part Two Chapter Ten describes the freedom felt when the author and other detainees
were released. This chapter confIrms the results of the inhuman treatment received by the
detainees, as another detainee and colleague was so disoriented that she could not remember
her home address in Soweto. The author's psychological trauma was illustrated by a fear
of cars and gates, which she associated with the police coming to take her away, and so she
felt like running away. As a result of memory lapses and these fears she was sent to Geneva
for medical and rehabilitation services. It was in Geneva that she began to write this book.
The author's approach and presentation is commendable, though some of the language
used as the author's tolerance reached its limit is not palatable. Some of the language is
abusive, but the reader can understand rmder what circumstances they were used. The book
is easy to read and is free from academic jargon.
The author displayed great endurance and courage during her detention, a good lesson
for political activists. The authorities could not break her, although psychologically she was
not the same person after detention.
Reviewed by T G Nduna, MSW student, School of Social Work, Harare, Zimbabwe.