April 10th, 2009
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Interview with Mrs. Thobeka Mheshe
Click here to download the transcript of this interview.
General Topic of Interview: Health care under Apartheid
Date: 14 August, 2008
Location: Mrs. Mheshe’s residence, King William’s Town, South Africa
Narrator: Mrs. Thobeka Mheshe
Interviewer: Tiffany Mane
Transcriber: Unknown
Biographical Information:
Mrs. Thobeka Mheshe, who was Ryan Koons‘ host-mother, lives in King Williams Town. She works there as a pediatric nurse. Soon after becoming a nurse, she came into contact with Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, the founder of the Zanempilo Clinic. Mrs. Mheshe worked under Dr. Ramphele for a time when both worked in the same hospital.
Interview Information:
During her interview, Mrs. Mheshe describes her anger with the inhuman treatment of her grandfather after his death in a mine. She explains the positive influence the Black Consciousness Movement had on her and her self image, yet also describes her negative experiences as a black woman interacting with men. She thinks that informing modern South African youth of their Apartheid heritage is vital and that more monuments ought to be erected in order to memorialize the many stories of the various South African peoples. She describes how she got into nursing as well as the founding of the Zanempilo Clinic by Steve Biko and Dr. Ramphele. Mrs. Mheshe also discusses the roles of song and poetry in the Anti-Apartheid movement and the effect they had on Anti-Apartheid activists.