Denis Goldberg
Encyclopedia
Denis Goldberg is a South African social campaigner, who was active in the struggle against apartheid and was imprisoned along with other key members of the anti-apartheid movement.
Denis Theodore Goldberg grew up in Cape Town and studied for a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Cape Town
. As member of the South African Communist Party
, an organisation which was suppressed by the apartheid regime which came to power in 1948, he joined other leading white members in forming the Congress of Democrats, of which he became leader. This in turn allied itself with the African National Congress and other 'non-racial' congresses in the Congress Alliance
. He was detained in 1960 and spent four months in prison without trial.
When the underground armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe
was founded in 1961, Goldberg became a technical officer. In 1963 he was arrested at the Rivonia headquarters of their army. He was sentenced in 1964 at the end of the famous Rivonia Trial
to four terms of life imprisonment. He was the only white member of Umkhonto we Sizwe to be arrested and sentenced in the Rivonia Trial to life imprisonment.
Goldberg described the issue of being white and involved with the armed struggle as follows: "Being black and involved (in the struggle) meant you had support of many people and it meant you got to be part of a community. Being white and involved meant being isolated." http://www.radiodiaries.org/mandela/mpeople.html
He was sent to a white prison
in Pretoria
. Whilst in prison he took degrees in Public Administration, History and Geography, and in Library Science. He was halfway through a law degree when he was released.
He was released in 1985, after 22 years in prison. Despite Israel, which enjoyed good relations with the apartheid regime, having interceded on his behalf, he was vehement in his criticism of its treatment of the Palestinians and cooperation with apartheid South Africa. After first visiting his daughter, then living in an Israeli kibbutz, he went into exile in London
where he joined his family. He In London he resumed his work in the African National Congress (ANC) in its London office from 1985 to 1994. He was a spokesperson for the ANC and also represented it at the Anti-Apartheid Committee of the United Nations
. A large group of US organisations presented Denis Goldberg with the Albert Luthuli Peace Prize in recognition of his work against apartheid. His exiled family had been active for many years in Woodcraft Folk, a British movement for children and young people committed to fostering equality and cooperation, and he became its president until the position was abolished at his request.
After the first non racial elections in South Africa Goldberg founded the development organisation Community H.E.A.R.T. in London in 1995 to help to improve the living standards of black South Africans. With the support of German friends he established Community H.E.A.R.T. e.V. in Essen
in Germany
in 1996. He was involved in the early days of Computer Aid International
in London
, and is now CAI's Patron and Ambassador.
Goldberg returned to South Africa in 2002 and was appointed Special Adviser to Ronnie Kasrils
MP, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry until 2004. In 2010 he published his autobiography, The Mission: A Life for Freedom in South Africa (STE Publishers, Johannesburg).
Goldberg first married Esme Bodenstein, a London-trained physiotherapist who was herself briefly held in solitary confinement in 1963 before going into exile in London with their young children Hilary and David. Only allowed to see Denis twice in twenty years, Esme's house in East Finchley in north London provided a haven for many South African political refugees and a wide variety of other itinerants. When her husband was released she refused to return to South Africa and he remained with her in London until her death of a stroke in 2000. In 2002 Goldberg married Edelgard Nkobi, a German journalist and widow of the late ANC Treasurer General Thomas Nkobi
. Just days later his 47-year-old daughter Hilary died suddenly of a blood clot as he was preparing to return to South Africa. Goldberg was again widowed in 2006 when Edelgard died after a long battle with cancer. He lives in Hout Bay
, a suburb of Cape Town.
Denis Theodore Goldberg grew up in Cape Town and studied for a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
. As member of the South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party is a political party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa by the joining together of the International Socialist League and others under the leadership of Willam H...
, an organisation which was suppressed by the apartheid regime which came to power in 1948, he joined other leading white members in forming the Congress of Democrats, of which he became leader. This in turn allied itself with the African National Congress and other 'non-racial' congresses in the Congress Alliance
Congress Alliance
The Congress Alliance was an anti-apartheid coalition formed in South Africa in the 1950s. Led by the ANC, the Congress was a multi-racial alliance committed to a democratic South Africa.- Congress Alliance, multi-racial struggle, and the Freedom Charter :...
. He was detained in 1960 and spent four months in prison without trial.
When the underground armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe
Umkhonto we Sizwe
Umkhonto we Sizwe , translated "Spear of the Nation," was the armed wing of the African National Congress which fought against the South African apartheid government. MK launched its first guerrilla attacks against government installations on 16 December 1961...
was founded in 1961, Goldberg became a technical officer. In 1963 he was arrested at the Rivonia headquarters of their army. He was sentenced in 1964 at the end of the famous Rivonia Trial
Rivonia Trial
The Rivonia Trial was a trial that took place in South Africa between 1963 and 1964, in which ten leaders of the African National Congress were tried for 221 acts of sabotage designed to overthrow the apartheid system.-Origins:...
to four terms of life imprisonment. He was the only white member of Umkhonto we Sizwe to be arrested and sentenced in the Rivonia Trial to life imprisonment.
Goldberg described the issue of being white and involved with the armed struggle as follows: "Being black and involved (in the struggle) meant you had support of many people and it meant you got to be part of a community. Being white and involved meant being isolated." http://www.radiodiaries.org/mandela/mpeople.html
He was sent to a white prison
Pretoria Central Prison
Pretoria Central Prison is a large prison in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. The prison was the official site of capital punishment in South Africa during the apartheid era...
in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
. Whilst in prison he took degrees in Public Administration, History and Geography, and in Library Science. He was halfway through a law degree when he was released.
He was released in 1985, after 22 years in prison. Despite Israel, which enjoyed good relations with the apartheid regime, having interceded on his behalf, he was vehement in his criticism of its treatment of the Palestinians and cooperation with apartheid South Africa. After first visiting his daughter, then living in an Israeli kibbutz, he went into exile in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he joined his family. He In London he resumed his work in the African National Congress (ANC) in its London office from 1985 to 1994. He was a spokesperson for the ANC and also represented it at the Anti-Apartheid Committee of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. A large group of US organisations presented Denis Goldberg with the Albert Luthuli Peace Prize in recognition of his work against apartheid. His exiled family had been active for many years in Woodcraft Folk, a British movement for children and young people committed to fostering equality and cooperation, and he became its president until the position was abolished at his request.
After the first non racial elections in South Africa Goldberg founded the development organisation Community H.E.A.R.T. in London in 1995 to help to improve the living standards of black South Africans. With the support of German friends he established Community H.E.A.R.T. e.V. in Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1996. He was involved in the early days of Computer Aid International
Computer Aid International
Computer Aid International is a not-for-profit organisation active in the field of Information and Communication Technologies for Development. A registered charity, Computer Aid was founded in 1998 to bridge the digital divide by providing refurbished PCs from the UK to educational and non-profit...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and is now CAI's Patron and Ambassador.
Goldberg returned to South Africa in 2002 and was appointed Special Adviser to Ronnie Kasrils
Ronnie Kasrils
Ronald Kasrils is a South African politician. He was Minister for Intelligence Services from 27 April 2004 to 25 September 2008...
MP, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry until 2004. In 2010 he published his autobiography, The Mission: A Life for Freedom in South Africa (STE Publishers, Johannesburg).
Goldberg first married Esme Bodenstein, a London-trained physiotherapist who was herself briefly held in solitary confinement in 1963 before going into exile in London with their young children Hilary and David. Only allowed to see Denis twice in twenty years, Esme's house in East Finchley in north London provided a haven for many South African political refugees and a wide variety of other itinerants. When her husband was released she refused to return to South Africa and he remained with her in London until her death of a stroke in 2000. In 2002 Goldberg married Edelgard Nkobi, a German journalist and widow of the late ANC Treasurer General Thomas Nkobi
Thomas Nkobi
Thomas Titus Nkobi was a senior leader of the South African African National Congress and a key figure in the Anti-Apartheid movement...
. Just days later his 47-year-old daughter Hilary died suddenly of a blood clot as he was preparing to return to South Africa. Goldberg was again widowed in 2006 when Edelgard died after a long battle with cancer. He lives in Hout Bay
Hout Bay
Hout Bay is the name of a coastal suburb of Cape Town, South Africa with a mix of neighbourhoods from the very rich to the very poor. It lies in a valley on the Atlantic Seaboard of the Cape Peninsula and is twenty kilometres south of the Central Business District of Cape Town...
, a suburb of Cape Town.