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— rica Imagine this! ) | At the height of apartheid in mee ears Nou 1970s South Africa — Jennifer and According to government | Michael fell in love — but their love y was against the law! wttht Jaw, you are not allowed to date. You certainly can’t get married. You can’t even go to a movie or a restaurant together. Or be seen alone at the beach. You have to hide your relationship, spending most of your time together in a car, or exchang- ing letters. You are afraid to tell your parents. Under the Immorali- ty Act, you could face a seven- year jail sentence-- just for being in love. This is what life was like for Jen- nifer Paulse and Michael Graham, when they met in Capetown, South Africa, during the apartheid years. she was coloured; he was white. Under apartheid, there were strict segregation rules for white, black and coloured people. “White supremacy was based on fear,” Jennifer said. “The laws were diabolical.” When Michael suggested to Jennifer that they move to England to get married, in the eyes of South. African law, “this was an immoral proposal.” But leaving their family, friends and everything familiar behind was the only way that the couple could have an open rela- tionship. On Christmas Day, in 1975, Jennifer found herself on her first airplane ride, “so excited” to be travelling to England to join her true love, who went on ahead. About 100 family and friends came When Jennifer and ir ‘4 they woul F of d of hugging in public. Under apartheid, relationships between black, coloured and white per- Please turn to page 4 sons was strictly forbidden. Photo by J. Peter Hvidsten FOCUS - FEBRUARY 2014 3