Axel-Ivar Berglund - Nordic Documentation on the Liberation ...

Bertil Högberg: So there was a difference in how different missionaries
reacted to apartheid. Was there a difference between the Head Office in
Uppsala and the missionaries in South Africa around this issue as well?
<strong>Axel</strong>-<strong>Ivar</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong>: That is a very difficult question because one would have
to go to the library here in Uppsala and look up stands and resolutions taken
by the governing board, but I do know that some staff members in Uppsala
supported the missionaries who integrated themselves into Zulu Society. One
of the strong people in that move was Holger Benettsson; he is late. I
remember him very well, because I went to the Umphumulo Theological
Seminary and became rector at a very difficult time, and he paid annual visits
to us and we would spend hours talking about these things. In Uppsala he
placed before me the support that I wanted from the Church of Sweden.
Holger Benetsson was one of the strong people.
Bertil Högberg: I think there was one issue around in the 1950s when Bantu
Education was introduced and the Church was challenged around the running
of its schools. Do you remember that conflict?
<strong>Axel</strong>-<strong>Ivar</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong>: Yes, I remember it very clearly, and my father revolted
against it.
Bertil Högberg: Can you say what the conflict was around?
<strong>Axel</strong>-<strong>Ivar</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong>: The South African Government was taking over the
payrolls of teachers and they just forced that move upon the schools that were
now to be called Government Schools for blacks. In my home there was no
such thing as apartheid, we had no servants in our home, we would do
everything ourselves. Except when there were large conferences, then local
people would be hired to assist, but they were paid good salaries. Don’t ask
me what a good salary was in those days, but they were paid handsomely
and people lined up for jobs of that nature. Now that was an expression
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