By Tonisha Johnson

When you think of Apartheid you remember raised fists, chanting and marching. The images in your mind flash over Africans being beaten or simply shot without remorse or recourse. And you think of it being a tumultuous yet daunting time. Daunting because the fight was ongoing for decades. You thought that why do these people continue to react so? No one is going to help them. They just cry and cry like babies with bottle near but no one to insert it into their mouth.

So many stories told and untold. So much inspiration. So much anger. It isn’t equivalent to the lose and the ramifications aren’t nearly justifying. Forgiveness? How do you forgive someone who tortures people and disrespects you? How do you contemplate moving on with your life?

Life. The key. If you do not forgive and forget you will have no life of your own because you will spend it trying to find an absolution that will never come.

Patrick Chamusso spent 10 years behind prison walls for a crime he did commit. But was it a crime? Or was it protest? Motivation? Struggle? Freedom?

How do you feel about this film being done about you?

Patrick Chamusso: The reaction is huge because the story is being told while I’m still alive but the film itself I don’t enjoy watching it because it’s painful to me. You’re seeing what is real and happening to you. The tears are running.

With all that has happened to you, how do you ease your mind with forgiveness?

Patrick Chamusso: It isn’t that; it is because I told myself that; to forgive those people. And I forgot it.

And you forgot about it?

Patrick Chamusso: If you forgive somebody but you don’t forget about it then it will stick in your mind.

How did you get to that point after all of that?

Patrick Chamusso: It was a long process because I went to prison and after a long process I sat in prison. I used to discuss with the other comrades about what you are going to do. And then we’d say what we are going to do after that. And then we’d say what if you come across this man who broke your leg and did that and that and that…? Then we came together in one agreement that we forgive these people. We show them that we are not the kind of people that we think they are. We have to forgive them and then we forget what they have done. They can learn a lesson there.

The concept of forgiving is quite radical for us to think about.

Patrick Chamusso: Precisely. Our leader… everything that our leader does it comes from the top and they come through the grassroots and they contacted us. The instructions are there; then we discuss everything through and we agree everything. We agree that we are going to live with these people and we are going to stay with them. Nobody is going to take anybody’ house and nobody is going to take anybody’ farm. We are going to live with them and work together. But even though we have forgiven them, the trust is not there yet until they prove themselves.

So what is happening now in terms of the living together?

Patrick Chamusso: The living together is carrying on very well even though the majority is still very poor. We are coping together. Especially in the area where I live in is a place where I didn’t think I could come to and the orphanage is from that area. I did manage to break that area by going to that church and inviting them and they’ve responded very positively. They come and teach the children.

What do you think of Derek Luke’s portrayal of you?

Patrick Chamusso: Derek Luke was good but when they told me that an American was coming to play it I was expecting someone like Denzel Washington, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Samuel Jackson and other actors that I know. But 15 minutes after meeting Derek Luke and asking questions about me… and he wanted to get in Patrick’ life. And I did open the door for him to get in. I was worried about his American accent. But he did it.

Your wife Precious; how did you view her portrayal in the movie? Do you think she betrayed you? And what leaders do you admire?

Patrick Chamusso: When Mandela… we set a structure of sharing; togetherness with all the people that are there. Even with people who were from other movements, Mandela said this is the structure… that we must live together. We must look like a one man. We must look like one mans child. And we must live like brothers. And we did master that. That builds a strong bond between all of us. That builds a strong between all the leaders. That’s why I say we are trusted and tested. We build a structure which is grown up and they don’t do things alone. Even today they come to the grassroots consultant. From the grassroots to the top.

And your wife’ portrayal in the movie?

Patrick Chamusso: (laughs) what you see in the movie, I didn’t consult my wife that I was going to join the struggle. No, didn’t tell her. In the film that you see there, she was forced told lies. A comrade who infiltrated me was pregnant and took pictures. They said look Patrick has another wife and his wife is pregnant. What do you do? Come to us, you work with us. Without knowing and then really, women are jealous; they are very jealous species…

Not without probable cause. How did you come about forgiving her?

Patrick Chamusso: But I knew that they were telling lies. She didn’t betray me because it was true… no. she was told lies about me.  I also forgive her I know that she had lies from the cops and from that lies she did what she did.

Do you still see her?

Patrick Chamusso: Often. Very often. And the older children are still staying with her.

The grandmother, her eyes told it all. She didn’t have to speak a word.  What happened to her because in the film she was lost for awhile after you being arrested?

Patrick Chamusso: After I was arrested she was very broken hearted because she loved her son-in-law as much as her daughter. And that’s why she did something which nobody can do that. The woman I’m marrying now, her niece. The arrangement was done by her. When I came out from prison, she [grandmother] was already dead. But she left a note that I’m still keeping it in my diary. Connie, if Patrick ever comes out from prison and if you are not married, just go and marry Patrick. So when I came back…

She was so unique.

Patrick Chamusso: She was. And she was the only person who kept trying to force to visit me in the police. That women till this day I respect. Very strong woman.

What did she think of the separation between you two? And the decision that Precious made?

Patrick Chamusso: I think that she supported that decision because she once wrote me a letter. She couldn’t read and write so she asked somebody to write a letter to me, telling me that Patrick, don’t put your mind on Precious. Precious has gone mad and she’s got another man and has another children. Forget about that. But please don’t harm her. And I said no, I won’t be doing that. Even when I came back Precious came to the harbor and I said sorry. She said sorry too.