RICHARD RIVE - QUOTATION

I wanted to be in Johannesburg in order to meet some of the Drum magazine staff. I knew the editor, Sylvester Stein, quite well and used to go speardiving with Jim Bailey, the owner. I really wanted to meet Casey Motsisi, Bloke Modisane, Todd Matshikiza and especially Ezekiel Mphahlele. One the day I decided to visit their office in the city centre, I stopped at a chemist shop on the way and bought a comb in order to smarten up. When I arrived, Sylvester introduced me to Casey and Bloke and also to a bright young reporter, Lewis Nkosi, who I felt later developed into an over-enthusiastic critic. I was informed that Zeke Mphahlele was expected at any moment as he was covering a bus boycott in Alexandria. When he did arrive, he stopped to talk to someone at the door. Although we had never met I recognised him at once. He was short, slightly stout and had a deep, happy laugh. He seemed genuinely pleased to see me and dragged me away with him to pick up a second-hand car he had just bought. . . I enjoyed meeting the Drum staff. Casey was zany, Todd reserved, Lewis starry-eyed and opinionated and Zeke the Grand Old Man.

- Richard Rive, Writing Black (1981).