[3][5] Benson became acquainted with the author Alan Paton, and read his novel Cry, the Beloved Country (1948), the main theme of which was racial discrimination in South Africa.
[8] In 1961, Benson took on another secretarial role, moving to Natal to assist Chief Albert Lutuli when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
She assisted Nelson Mandela's escape from South Africa in 1962,[8] and interviewed several prominent figures in the ANC, including Walter Sisulu and James Calata.
[4][5] Her papers, including correspondence with Semane Molotlegi and those relating to her biography of Tshekedi Khama, are archived in the Bodleian Library of Commonwealth and African Studies at Oxford.
[5] Other papers, including material relating to her biography of Nelson Mandela and correspondence with fellow anti-apartheid activists, forms part of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies archive collections held at Senate House Library.