LUKANYO MNYANDA: Matthew Buckland will be remembered for his passion, drive and insight
I remember the first time I met Matthew Buckland as if it was yesterday. The first time I saw him is probably a better description as we didn’t actually talk to each other that day. We were in a history seminar at Rhodes University and the discussion was about how the subject was taught. We should learn more about normal people rather than stupid politicians, this white boy from across the room blurted out. How typical, was my initial thought, not exactly motivated by a sense of admiration. Since hearing of Matthew’s death on Tuesday, I’ve been thinking about this and how it wasn’t the most conventional way to start a friendship, but then he was not very conventional. By coincidence, on Freedom Day, April 27, I went to see the movie about Bram Fischer and the Rivonia Trial. While it was well made and compelling, I couldn’t help thinking that it had one key weakness. Perhaps it’s because as a history graduate I’d read countless Nelson Mandela biographies and literature on the tria...
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