Dragons & Butterflies: Sentenced to Die, Choosing to Live (107 page)

Elisabeth Grimm. Our paths crossed for reasons I did not understand at first, but then with time I realised that you were another angel, whose extended love and friendship not only inspired me but carried me through in my darkest moments. You are always in my heart.

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Kantor. I would like to thank you not only for your friendship but for also being a spiritual mentor. Your visits were a source of strength on so many levels. May
Hashem
always be with you.

Morris Landsman (RIP), my best friend and brother, you were always there for me, no matter what. We brought out the worst and the best in each other. I miss you more than anything, although your spirit will always live on in those who had the privilege of having their lives touched by you. I’m so sorry that you aren’t here to enjoy my freedom with me.

Jackie Benjamin. We loved, we shared, we learnt – a time in my life I will never forget. Thank you for not only being an inspiration but also my number one fan.

To Jeremy Boraine and the team from Jonathan Ball Publishers, who had the foresight to approach me even before I had started writing my book. Thank you for having faith and believing in my story. Thank you Alfred LeMaitre, for your copyediting skills. It was great working with you, even though we only spoke on the telephone.

Thank you to Anne Brest, whose computer skills and assistance in putting the manuscript together were much appreciated.

To the following people, please know that the order of names does not diminish in any way the importance and gratitude I feel towards each and every one of you. I am touched in my heart beyond words. A big
‘Yasher Keach’
and sincere thanks: Adrian Rosenberg, Alik Dresner, Randy Shiff, Vicky Klevansky (RIP), Sandy Lipshitz, Rob and Sharon Nisbett, Beverly and Jon Davimes, Louise Fisher, Yvonne Ziegler, Gale Isobel Bailey, Bev Boulton, Rabbi Nechemya Wilhelm, Dr Henk van Staen, Leo and Jane Niedermayr, Alon Ossip, Tony Chaskelson, Adi Fredman, Monty Koppel, Brian Leftin, Shirley Roth, Joel Costa, Les Durbach, Sharon Friedman, Denis Rubenstein, Derek Rosmarin, Barry Aaron, Peter Aaron, Melvyn Gutkin, Neville Sacks, Peta Ann Cohen, Howard Sundy, Kelly and Marcia Schlesinger, Cato Pastoll, Grant Port, Mark John Sher, Gail Smith, Peter and Karen Hohenstein, Wendy Kirsch, Dr Dean Lutrin, Saul Colley and Susan Ruttenberg, Brett Schlesinger, Barbara Jochelson and Pam Burgess (RIP).

Kevin Port, Ilan Saffer, Larry Miller, Wendy Rosenberg, Riekie Robinson, Rabbi Shain, Ian and Lana Meltzer, Anke van Niekerk, Laurie Fineberg, Jules Gordon, Michele and Hans Roelofsen, Leanne and Ty Micinilio, Carmen Upiter, Barbara Gavin, Robyn Woolf, Malcolm Spence (RIP), Anna Marie de Ridder, Gavin Cohen, Benji Schleider, Gabriel Schleider, Carol Kirshon, Trevor Pearlman, Philippa Sklaar, Norma Payne, Douglas Cohen, Lauren Witkin, Roy Levin, Ellen Levy, Tony Mark, Sandy Meltz, Jenny Arkles, Christine Read, Ekie Litvin, Roy Lotkin, Florentina Savedra, Zsuzsi and Kristi Gurics, Zelda van Rooyen, Karen Lotis (RIP) and Katherine Sprietzer.

Hazel Friedman, Debora Patta, Dormer Csaba, Jane Abbott, Mark Franz, Laura Sher, Colleen Kanowitz, Sergio Nocera, Erwin Verhoeven, Bernadine Stein, Hilary Vogel, Selma Richter Habecker, Sue Wyche, Hilary Shill, Melanie Rosen, Elize Aimes, Derick Berold, Patricia Gerber, Belinda West, Lucy McDermid, Anton Schutte, Errol and Dianne Ballen, Paul Marc Ephron, Mike Leeb, Larry Wainstein, David Cato, Mandy Harnoy, Shelley van der Hoven, Juliana Sanviso, Denis Goffinet, Raven Randall, Trevor Romain, Karl and Anna-Marie Lechky, Levana Mizrachi, Salomie Green, Charlene Lewison, Robynne Pozniak, Carole Herson, Debbie Stein, Janine Goodson, Melanie Scheepers, Chris and Jackie Burgess, Charmaine Chatkin, Gil Lang, Stephen Sacks, Barbara Jochelson, Karen Page, Somchai, Alan Deshowitz, Athena Botolous, Danya Medow, Seline Kasner, Michelle Levenstein, Gisele and Beverley Winick, Aubrey and Heather Scheider, Myra Woolf, Howard and Gail Rybko, Coreen Lourens, Tanya Shenfield Schwartz, Anthony Mark, David Givechy, Nanda and Vidia Govender, Delene Kleyn, Irwin and Janice Schaffer, Salome Green.

Special thanks to the following: FW de Klerk, Pik Botha, Desmond Tutu, Tony Leon, Robert McBride, Aziz Pahad, Professor Harry Reicher, Harut Lapid (RIP), Ambassador Goris, Ambassador Douglas Gibson, Ambassador Pheto, Anna Mokoko and Jan Putter.

To all those people who took the time to write to me, I want to thank you. Your words of encouragement gave me the strength to endure those long lonely days that almost swallowed me alive. Sadly, it was impossible to reply to all of you who wrote to me – please forgive me.

Lastly, to all my friends in prison, keep your minds occupied, stay fit and know that dreams come true. Another day in paradise.

Shani Krebs

February 2014

At my most lovable age, surveying the world, around 1960. If I’d known what awaited me, perhaps I would have opted for another life.

My sister Joan’s controlling instincts surfaced early. What the hell’s she on about? Give me a break, sister.

My mother, Katalin, at the age of 16. This photo was taken in Budapest in 1940.

A happy moment for the Krebs clan. From left are my half-sister Marika, my father Fritz and Mom (holding me), with Joan in the foreground. The smiles hid the grim reality of our dysfunctional family, and my parents soon separated.

Katalin and Janos on holiday in Durban, early 1960s.

Early days at Arcadia: Joan and me with Zsuzsika (Zsuzsi), my niece, in the centre. This was taken during a family visit in early 1972.

At the annual Arcadia picnic, hosted by the Roth family, held in Vereeniging.

The original wild bunch: my Arcadia brothers, with me in the centre. This photo, which was used in a book called
100 Years of Arc Memories
, was taken on the Arcadia soccer field.

A friend and I with the young son of one of the household staff at Arcadia. This was taken when I was in Standard 9.