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Beyond
Fear, by Jean Knighton-Fitt. Published
Pretext, PO Box 23199, Claremont 7735, South Africa
Beyond Fear narrates the life
of Theo Kotze, Regional Director of the Christian Institute in Cape Town.
Both Theo Kotze and the Christian Institute played significant roles in
the liberation struggle which followed the coming to power in South Africa
of the National Party in 1948 and the election of the African National
Congress (ANC) in 1994.
Theo was personally banned at the same time as the Christian Institute
was banned in October 1977, and suffered the many restrictions e.g. not
be allowed to speak with more than one person at a time.
"The saga of Theo and Helen Kotze could not have happened in normal, democratic
society," writes Tony Hear, a well-known South African journalist, introducing
Beyond Fear. "They would have lived the life of the Methodist manse and
church, raised their children and been somewhat radical on social issues.
But in South Africa they were destined for deadly earnest opposition to
an unjust regime."
In 1978 Theo had to flee the country-hidden and disguised, he escaped
through Botswana.
He only returned to South Africa in April 1993, one of an estimated 48,000
returning exiles, after the unbanning of the ANC and the beginning of
the end of apartheid.
Theo and Helen settled down to a low-key existence with Theo's health
deteriorating, until he died in Cape Town on 4 July 2003.
What merit is there in reading this book, for anyone not particularly
concerned with South Africa?
Theo and Helen were 'ordinary folk' who, because of their Christian faith,
found themselves pitchforked into the pains and distresses of their fellow
citizens who were suffering because of the viciously implemented policy
of apartheid.
Theo's and Helen's sufferings and deprivations enable ordinary folk like
you and me, though in a different country and a different time, to get
a window into what life is like living in an undemocratic state.
Philip Russell was Archbishop
of Cape Town from 1981-1986.
He now resides in Adelaide near his children.
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