Benson, Mary (1919–2000)
Benson, Mary (1919–2000)
South African novelist, biographer, historian and anti-apartheid activist. Born Dorothy Mary Benson, Dec 8, 1919, in Pretoria, South Africa; died June 20, 2000, in London, England; never married.
Joined South African women's army (1941–45), becoming captain and serving as personal assistant to British generals in Egypt and Italy; became personal assistant to David Lean and secretary to Michael Scott (1950); was involved in anti-apartheid activities and founded, with Michael Scott and David Astor, the Africa Bureau in London; served as secretary to Treason Trials Defence Fund (1957) and helped to smuggle Nelson Mandela out of South Africa (1962); was served with a banning order and subjected to house arrest; left South Africa (1966) and continued to work in London against apartheid; writings include Tshekedi Khama (1960), The African Patriots (1963), Chief Albert Luthuli (1963), At the Still Point (1969), Nelson Mandela (1986) and A Far Cry: The Making of a South African (1989); edited Athol Fugard's The Sun Will Rise: Statements from the Dock by South African Political Prisoners (1974) and Notebooks: 1960–1977 (1983); also wrote radio plays on Nelson Mandela and Rivonia trial and scripted Winnie Mandela's Part of My Soul (1985).