Dancing to a Different Rhythm - A Memoir

Author: Zarina Maharaj
Publisher: Zebra Press
Cape Town, 2006
ISBN: 9781770071087
Paperback, 15x23 cm, 272 pages, several colour and bw photos

Description:

Dancing to a Different Rhythm recounts the fascinating life story of Zarina Maharaj, wife of struggle activist and former cabinet minister Mac Maharaj.

Despite many volumes being written about South Africans involved in the struggle for democracy, few are first-hand accounts by the women who stood side by side with their men on the front lines.

This book chronicles the experiences of a remarkable woman who was prepared to sacrifice a conventional life and brilliant career in her quest for the freedom of her country, while raising a young family in foreign lands.

The book, however, is not only about politics and life in exile, but also about an extraordinary love story that transcended severe hardship, long separations and political imprisonment.

Illustrated with never-before-seen photographs, this is a gripping and indispensable addition to struggle literature.

About the Author:

Zarina Maharaj was a mathematician in the UK-based international team that researched and patented the concept of the fax machine in the seventies, having earlier obtained a Master of Science degree in Mathematics.

She taught mathematics at the university in post-independent Mozambique, and developed information technology in Zambia. In post-democratic South Africa she wrote newspaper columns and journal articles on issues of gender and development, and consulted to business on women’s economic empowerment, having obtained a Master of Arts degree in Gender and Development in the early nineties. She is a long-standing member of the ANC and a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

Reviews:

'There is an alternative inside history that comes not from historians but from men and women whose lives have been totally dedicated, at great personal risk, to political struggle. The testament of Zarina Maharaj and Mac Maharaj, given eloquently by her in this memoir, is brave, and will be controversial.' NADINE GORDIMER

'Tills book humanises the struggle against apartheid in a way that no other publi-cation has done to date. It gives us an invaluable insight into the parallel struggle that went on in the family waged by the women and the children. It is beautifully written and makes riveting reading.' FATIMA MEER

'A compelling and inspiring story of the life journey of a talented and courageous woman who, with her husband, was victimised but not defeated by political pettiness and intrigue.' LORD JOEL JOFFE

'Just as it used to be illegal to speak the truth in the old dispensation, it should be illegal not to speak the truth in the new era that we are all part of in the New South Africa. Zarina Maharaj's memoirs, not just of her tortuous years in the struggle with her husband Mac, in exile and during the perilous times back "home", but also of her early life, complicated racial and religious family dynamics, and a reluctant departure from the Native Land, are compelling, and remind us all that we have a duty to future generations to tell it like it was, and like it is.' JOHN MATSHIKIZA

Index:

Abdullahjanie 63,64
Abrahams, Archie 157,162,
166
Adam, Dr Enver Cassim
75-6
Adam, Duria 76
African Christian
Democratic Party 182
African Communist 86
African National Congress
see ANC
Ahmed, Hanifa 76
Alexander, Ray 141,142-3
AUende, Salvador 35
alliance 38,174
Alvez, Senhora 99,100,
104,105,109
ANC 4,6,7,8,10,15,19,
20,21,22-3,24,25,
26,27,28,29,30,31,
36,37,38,72, 75,
76-8,82,83,87,97,
99,102,103,107,
109,110,114,115,
116,117,122,123,
124,125,127,128,
129,133,136,137,
145,146,149,150-51,
152,153,158,165,
169,171-3,174,175,
177,178,181,182,
183,185,187,189,
191,193
ANC Women's League 163
ANC Youth League 87
Anglo-Boer War 46
Anthony, Alee 62
Anthony, Naomi 62, 66
Anti-Apartheid Movement
19,23,30,32,77,163
apartheid 4,6,7,8,29,31,
40,72,83,123,125,
137,147,172,175,
176,178,181,189
AWB 180
Ayob, Ismail 24-5
Bain, Christine see Medell,
Christine
Bain, Sarah 45
Banda,Mr 147,149
Baragwanath Hospital
52,53
Barca, Hamilcar 146
Basie, Count 49
BBC 11,20,22,24,25,72
Becker Street Boys 56
Beirao, Professor 87, 90,
95,96,100-102,104
Bellow, Saul 59
Bernstein, Hilda 89
Bezuidenhout, Jessica 186
Biko, Steve 17
Botha, PW 115,117
Braam, Connie 30,163
Buttner, Gerda 137-9,
141,143
Buttner, Hans 137-9,
141,143
Buttner, Olaf 138
Buttner, Vera 138
Byron, Lord 39
Cabral, Amflcar 146
Cambridge University
136,139,143-4,145,
147,149
Cardoso, Carlos 122,123
Carim, Adam [brother] 52,
53,56,58,61,72,85
Carim, Amod Abdul (Ami)
[father] 46-7,51-2,
53-4,55-6,57-8,
59-60,61,62,63,64-5,
66,71,73,85,148
Carim, Doolie [brother]
54-5,56,61,72-3
Carim, Enver [brother] 72,
74,92
Carim, Jo [mother] 9,41-2,
45-9,51-2,53-4,55-7,
58-61,62,63,64-5,
66-7,69,70,71-2,
73-4,75,76,84-6,90,
92,103,147,148
Carim, Mac [brother] 60
Carim, Shirene [sister] 52,
53,58
Carlin,John 10
Centre for Applied Legal
Studies (CALS)
180,182
Channel 4 37
Chapman, Tracey 26
Chiba, Chips 74, 75, 76,77,
84,89,90-92
Chiba, Laloo 74-5,76,84,
89,90,91
Chimowitz family 144,
145,160
Chimowitz, Marje 162—3
Chimowitz, Simone 111
Churchill, Winston 165
Citizen 175
CODESA 178
Cohen, Percy 77, 82
Cole, Nat King 48-9
Commission for Gender
Equality 182-3
communism 82,105,
119-20,125
Constitutional Court 128
Coovadia, Jerry 158,160
COSATU 38,174
Daily Telegraph 134
De Angelis, Daniel 120
De Angelis, Vanda 118,
119-20
DeKlerk,FW 19,22,23-4,
25,28-9,30,31-2,
171,172,174
De Kock, Eugene 123
Democratic Party 182
Department of Transport
187
Development Bank of
Southern Africa 185
Dhlomo, Bongi 84
Diamond Board 183
Dikeledi, Paul 122,123
Dimbleby, Richard 86
Dollie, Farida 91-2
DOS Santos, Pam 109
DOS Santos, Vice-President
Marcelino 109
Eduardo Mondlane
University, Maputo 87,
90,95,128
Elizabeth II 181-2
Ellington, Duke 49
Feinberg, Barry 84
feminism 79, 81-2
First, Ruth 103,118-19,
122,123,176
First Rand Bank 184-5,191
Fischer, Bram 176
Fitzgerald, Ella 49
Fraser, Nancy 79
FRELIMO 87,96,99,100,
115,129
Gallico,Paul 59
Ganhao, Professor 103
Gebuza see Nyanda,
Siphiwe
General Electric 77, 84, 86
George V 46
Gillespie, Dizzy 49
Ginwala, Frene 114
Goldstone Commission 175
Gordhan, Ketso 12
Gordhan, Pravin 4,12,
170,174
Govender, Savi 56, 57
Groote Schuur negotiations
4,20,25
Group Areas Act 59
Hani, Chris 178
Hannibal 146
Harding, Sandra 80
Havel, Vaclav 82
Hefer, Judge Joos 190-91
Hefer Commission 189-90
Hekman, Susan 80
Hemingway, Ernest 59
Hintze, Henning 144—5
Hitler, Adolf 138
Hodges, Johnny 49
Holiday, Billie 49
House of Orsini 45
Huddlestone, Father Trevor
19,20
Hurd, Douglas 19,22
IBM 117
Ibrahim, AbduUah 135
ICL 117
Infrastructure Finance 185
Inkatha 182
Internal Political and
Reconstruction
Department (IPRD)
114,133,150
Internal Security Act 5,
29,30
Jackson, Nicola 11
Jara, Victor 35
Jenkin,Tim 7,153-4,163,
164,166,168,169
Joffejoel 169
Jordan, Pallo 77,82,
119,149
Joseph, Paul 77
Kabwe Conference 150
Kadji,Pal 162
Kahn family 176
Kajee, Amin ('Doha') 120
Kapesi, Paulo 105
Kasrils, Ronnie 84
Kathrada, Ahmed 27,31
Kaunda, Kenneth 140
Kebble,Brett 194
Khan, Sharif 55
Kimathi, Dedan 146
Kinnock, Glynis 19
Kinnock.Neil 19
Kodesh,Wolfie 77
Kuhn,TS 78
Labour Party (UK) 19
Lagu, Lennox 99,106
La Guma, Alex 77
Lapsley, Father 125
Latib, Hallima 54
Latib, Mr 59
Lee, Stephen 7
Macala,Ben 10
Machel,Graca 113
Machel, Samora 96,113
Machi,Bob 124,125
Macmillan, Harold 66
MAGIC 87,90
Maharaj, Joey (Sekai Jo)
5-6,7,8,9,10-11,14,
16,20,21,22,23,24,
27,28,32,33,35,36,
38-9,40,138,147,
148,151,152,154,
155,157,160,161,
163,166,171,174,
176,177,178,179,
180,181,185-6,187,
191-2,193
Maharaj, Kithar 34-5,
36,124
Maharaj, Lily 124-6
Maharaj, Lucky 155,
160,162
Maharaj, Mac
on Robben Island 4, 75
meets Zarina in England
89-90,91
with Zarina in
Mozambique 105—6,
107,109-10,113,115,
119,121,122
and communism 105,119
engagement to Zarina
128-30
wedding 139—43
with Zarina and family in
Zambia 133,136-43,
144-5,146,147-9,
154-5
underground work 3,5,
6-9,10,13,16,20,
26,28,35,36,39,80,
119-21,147,153-5
arrest and imprisonment
in South Africa 3-7,
10-11,12,15,19,24-5,
27-9,34-6,138,170
campaign to release 15,
19-26,27-32,33-8
terrorism charges 38, 42,
171-4
Minister of Transport
181,186,187,188
and First Rand Bank
184,185,191
corruption charges
186-91
see also Operation Vula
Maharaj, Mayna 36,124,
169
Maharaj, Milou (Amilcar)
5-6,7,8,10-11,14,
15-17,20,21,22,23,
24,27,32,33-4,35,
36,39,40,123,146,
148,151,152,154,
155,157,160,161,
163,166-7,168,
169,171-2,174,177,
178,179,180,181,
185,191-3
Maharaj, Shanthee 155,
160,162
Maharaj, Tim 91,105
Maharaj, Zarina
birth 47
childhood in South Africa
41,48-9,51-67
in England (1960s and
1970s) 41-2,67,
69-92
and Mayibuye 83-4
in Mozambique 95-111,
113-24,126-30
engagement to Mac
Maharaj 128-30
in Zambia 15,133-59,
163
wedding 139-43
car crash and medical
treatment 157-66
in Soviet Union 9, 37-8,
163-5
in England (1989/90)
3-17,19-29,33-40,
165-70
and Mac's arrest 3—17,
170
campaign to release Mac
15,19-32,33-38,172
back in South Africa
171-95
Mahomed, Yusuf 177
Makana, Simon 164
Mandela, Nelson 8,26-9,
31,32,34,37,38,172,
174,181-2,184,192
Long Walk to Freedom 91
Mandela, Winnie 26,27,29
Mandela, Zenani 182
Mangezi, Alfeus 103
Marcus, Gill 77
Marx.Karl 79
Marxism 78-80,82,119
Masekela, Barbara 151
Matolaraid 123
Matshikiza,John 84
Mau-Mau 146
Mayet,Mr 55
Mayibuye 30,83-4
Mbeki,Thabo 77,184,189
Mbeki,Zanele 159
Medell, Christine 45,60,
62-3,65,69
Medell, Joseph 45
Mhlongo, Nascimento
116-17
Mhlongo, Raoul 121
MI5 149
Michelangelo 84-5
Miller, Arthur 59
MK see Umkhonto we Sizwe
Modisejoe 111
Mokgabudi, Motso
('Obadi') 122,123
Molefejackie 159
Momoniat, Ismail 'Momo'
159
Moonsamy, Sarojini 60
Motsabi,John 150
Motsepe, Godfrey 77,84
Moumbaris, Alex 7,153
Mozambique, Angola and
Guinea Bissau
Information Centre
see MAGIC
Msibi, Mandia ('Blackman')
122,123
Msimang, Mendi 19
Mthetwa, Melody 84
Naidoo, Beverley 14-15,
23,123
Naidoo, Indres 89,105
Naidoo, Maya 13-14,19,
21,23,167
Naidoo, Nanda 13-15,123
Naidoo, Ramni 77
Nair, Billy 30,170,174
Nannan, Billy 77, 83, 84
Nashjohn 86
Natal Indian Congress
158,160
National Executive
Committee 151,172,
173,182
National Party 25,178,182
National Prosecuting
Authority (NPA)
186-7,188,189,190-91
National Roads Agency 187
Ndlovu, Theresa 121
NeviAge 59
New Left 82
Ngcuka, Bulelani 189-90
Ngoma, Jeffrey 48-9,58
Ngoma, Sam 49, 58
Nicholson, Linda 79
Nkadimeng, John 107
Nkobi, Thomas 15,
136-7,146
Nkomati Accord 130
Nomvete,Bax 156,157,
160,165,169
Noticias 97
Nyanda, Siphiwe ('Gebuza')
4,6-7,12,13,35,37,
38,110,122,154,159,
170,174
Nyanda, Zwelakhe
('Douglas') 122-3
Obadi see Mokgabudi,
Motso
Observer (London) 40
Operation Vula 5-8,10,12,
20-23,28,29,31-2,
37,40,147,151,154,
157,159,162,163,
164,169,170,171-4,
175,178,191
Overseas Development
Administration (ODA)
139,144,149,151,
152,153,154
Pahad,Aziz 77
Pahad, Essop 77
Palo Alto Research
Laboratories 88,102
Parker, Charlie 49
Parra, Isabella 35
Parra,Violeta 35
pass laws 72
Pasternak, Boris 59
Permian, John 188
Pillay,Anand 24
Pillay, Bobby see Singh,
Sonny
Pillay, Ivan 5,156,160,
162-3,166
Pillay, Patsy 19,23-4
Pillay, Vella 19,23-4
Pinochet, Augusto 35
Playboy Club 76,84
Pohl family 64,70
Pollsmoor 27
Preferential Trade Area
(PTA) 153,156-7,
167,169
Presley, Elvis 51
Pretoria Agreement 28, 38
Pretoria Central Prison
7,153,176
Pretoria Minute 172
Professional Women's
League of KwaZulu-
Natal 184
Rabilal, Krishna (Ashwin')
122,123
Rajah, Dr 51,53,54,55
Rantao, Jovial 188-9
Rapport 83
Reagan, Ronald 117
Reserve Bank 77
Revolutionary Council
133,139
Rex, Doctor 75
Rilke, Rainer Maria 86
Rivonia Trial 151
Robben Island 4,26,27,75,
84, 89,90,91,105,114,
124,151,170
Rolls-Royce 76,90-91
Roosevelt, Franklin D 165
Rubin,Gayle 80
Sachs,Albie 99,103,105,
113,128
SAfm 188
Schoon, Fritz 176
Schoon, Jeannette 176
Schoon, Katryn 176
Schoon, Marius 176-7
Scorpions 187,189,
190,191
September, Dulcie 77
September, Reg 76,77,83
Shaik, Schabir 186,187,
188,190
Shapiro, Boris 57-8
Sharpeville massacre 72
Shope, Ma Gertrude 163
Simmons, Mr 86
Simonsjack 141,142-3
Singh,Abdul 158
Singh, Madhuri 178
Singh,Sonny 105,
114-15,128
Sisulu, Walter 29,31,172
SlovoJoe(JS) 5,6,7,9,
11,21-2,25,29,31,
148,154,157,158-9,
162-4,166,167,168,
171,172,173,178,179
Smit,Basie 172
Solomon, Andrew 37
Solomon Mahlangu School
102,103
Solzhenitshyn, Alexander
59
South African Communist
Party 5,25,38, 77-8,
82,87,119,174
South African Defence
Force 109,123,137
South African National
Defence Force 7
South African Revenue
Service 12
Soweto Uprising 30, 84,
103,122
Stalin, Josef 165
Stalinism 78,119
State Tender Board 187
Steinbeck, John 59
Stone, Irving 59, 84
Strachan, Garth 133,134
Sunday Independent 10
Sunday Times 186-8,189,
190,193,194
Sussex University 5,12,
80,167
Tambo, Adelaide 37
Tambo, Oliver (OR) 4,5,
6,7,9,11,21-2,29,
37,109,147,148,
151,154-5,157,159,
163-4,166,167,168,
171,173
Terreblanche, Eugene 180
Terry, Mike 23
Thatcher, Margaret 19,117
'third force' 178
Tizard, Humphrey 88
Tizard, Sir Henry 88
'total onslaught' 137
Transvaal Indian Congress
59,158,160
Truth and Reconciliation
Commission 176
Tshwete, Steve 159
ubuntu 58
UDF 171,182
Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK)
75,109,123,149,150
UN Commission on Human
Rights 23
Unilever 72,73,74,84
United Nations 5, 7,23,
151,153,156,158-9,
161,163,165
United Nations Centre
for Trade and
Development in
Geneva (UNCTAD/
GATT) 156
University of the
Witwatersrand 64,180
University of Zambia 136,
145,149
Valli Moosa, Mohammed
3-6,16,35,41,170
Van der Merwe, Fanie 178
Vick, Ingeborg 32
Vlakplaas 123
Wa Afrika, Mzilikazi 188
Walusz, Janus 179
Wessels, Elsabe 35
Westhuizen, Rudi
99-100,121
Williamson, Craig 176
Winfrey, Oprah 192
World War I 46
World War II 47,70,165
Xavier, Senhor 113-14,115
Xerox 86,87-8
Yalta Conference 165
Zuma, Jacob 97-9,116
Zuma.Kate 98
Zungu, Cab 77