can [picks up a letter]: Wait a minute, here's a letter addressed to me.

A letter from the Transvaal Department of Education? They must be responding to the submission of the results of my teacher's diploma. Let's see if they’ll finally recognise me as a fully fledged teacher.

I can't believe this! They don't … [He stammers, and throws his hands up as he walks up and down.] This is despicable! Can you believe it? What's wrong with these people? Listen to this.

Dear Mr Themba,

Thank you for sending us your results for the temporary teacher's diploma certificate which you submitted to the Department. However, we regret to inform you that for as long as you do not have the certificate, the Transvaal Department of Education cannot recognise you as a fully fledged teacher. In the meantime, we have written to Rhodes University asking them to furnish us with the details of your diploma: the date of attainment as well as the conditions attached to the University Education Diploma that you claim to have done. We therefore encourage you to wait for the graduation ceremony before approaching us again.

What a load of bull! Don't these people know how universities operate? Actually, what did I expect from high-office illiterates who thrive on unearned privileges on the basis of their skin colour?

The relationship between Fort Hare and Rhodes University complicates things even further. I enrolled for the University Education Diploma, which is offered at Rhodes, but because my kind was not allowed there, I had to be stationed at Fort Hare as a native college. Now I cannot go to Rhodes and tell them to give me the certificate for my diploma. I have to communicate with them through Fort Hare in order to get my certificate. If I ever get it.