One Settler, One Bullet

The heart of Africa is its people. "I am an African. I am white. I, in my humble way, and others in their much more brave way, have earned that right." ¿ Nadine Gordimer, "One Settler, One Bullet" is the story of Jeanne Pickers and her husband, Don, intertwined with the history of South Africa. Sandwiched between two warring factions, stands the farm named Bloemendal where the author lived for twenty five years. These were the years from before the dismantling of apartheid until after the release of Mandela from prison and the anticipated birth of the Rainbow Nation. The story recounts tales of how they, and their extended family, loved and cared for each other. They shared their losses, their conflict and their courage and they all hoped that political differences could be addressed with the change in political power. But that wasn't to be. Their farming life became untenable due to the uncontrollable violence and farm murders all around, as political leaders incited their followers with slogans of "One Settler, One Bullet" and "Kill the farmer, Kill the Boer". Then Don had an idea which would alter the course of their lives forever, and inexorably allow them an escape route from the increasing danger that escalated alarmingly around them.