JAMES LA GUMA

James Arnold La Guma did not dies a disappointed man. He had seen the Non-European people's movement grow to strength and the ideas of Socialism adopted by many young people. He lived to see the advance of Socialism across Europe and Asia, and the emergence of new independent states in Africa. Of these things he often spoke during the latter years of his life, and he was infinitely proud of the contribution he had made to the political struggle in South Africa. Throughout his life he was a man who loved simple things, the common people, books and singing, all children and the workers of the world. A political fighter to the end, his last discussion was with a young white hospital nurse who supported the Progressive Party's policy of qualified franchise. Addressing political workers at a reception given in the honour of Chief A. J. Luthuli who had occasion to visit Cape Town, Jimmy La Guma's advice was, 'Love the people, love your leaders and work hard.'

-Alex La Guma, Jimmy La Guma: A Biography (written in the early 1960s and published in 1997).