What road are you driving on?

I've become a permanent resident of Johannesburg for 3 years now and certain things about the city still make me wonder of their significance, an example of one of those is

Bram Fisher Drive

. Thank God my curiosity always manages to get the best of me, I wondered about Bram Fisher drive until i didn't have to wonder anymore.

Whilst hanging out at home and watching the idiot box I happened to come across a movie called Love, Communism, Revolution & Rivonia - Bram Fischer's Story.

I've never been a one of those people who truly understood how white folk played a pivotal role in the liberation of our country but have since changed my misguided thoughts. Unfortunately when I had the choose to study History I opted for science, not to take anything away from anyone who studied history but I figured science was right up my alley. So I'll be forgiven for not being fully aware of the white struggle stalwarts.

Before I delve too deep into my opinions and thoughts, I think I should educate some of us who have driven on Bram Fisher drive or given directions via Bram Fisher drive as to who the hell the man is in brief.

Abram Louis Fischer, commonly known as Bram Fischer, (23 April 1908 Bloemfontein - 8 May 1975 Bloemfontein) was a South African lawyer of Afrikaner descent, notable for anti-apartheid activism and for the legal defence of anti-apartheid figures, including Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia Trial. As Nelson Mandela has said in Long Walk to Freedom, Fischer was one of the bravest foes of apartheid because he gave up more than others: a life of privilege that would have resulted from his pedigreed Afrikaner birthright and a virtually guaranteed senior position in the apartheid government if he had wanted it. Instead, he chose a very different path as is described below. In Country of My Skull Antjie Krog writes, "He was so much braver than the rest of us, he paid so much more, his life seems to have touched the lives of so many people - even after his death.”

After having seen Love, Communism, Revolution and Rivonia I was astonished at the degree of my ignorance, not to be too harsh on myself because I do consider myself a well learned individual but I guess not where Mnr. Bram Fisher is considered.

It got me thinking how I could possibly get a street named after me in this day and age, I mean the struggle is over so what noble deed could you and I do that would make that possible for us normal folk.

The bigger lesson to take from this is the next time I drive around Johannesburg I’m going to make an effort to find out why a street name is named that street name, the next road I’m trying to find out about will be Beyers Naude hopefully its well worth it.

Source: wikipedia

Koo