In 1937 , Fischer married Molly Krige , a niece of Jan Smuts ; the couple had three children . Their son , Paul died of cystic fibrosis at the age of 23 while Fischer was in prison . Molly became involved in politics and was detained without trial during the 1960 state of emergency declared after the Sharpeville massacre . In 1964 , Bram , Molly and a friend , Liz Franklin , were driving to Cape Town for daughter Ilse 's 21st birthday . Bram swerved the car to avoid hitting a cow that had strayed onto the road . The car veered off the road and overturned into a river , causing Molly to drown . Bram was devastated and inconsolable , devoting himself more than ever to his secret life as a leader of the South African Communist Party ( SACP )
Sharpeville massacre
Sharpeville massacre
Bram Fischer