South Africa was born in war, has been cursed by crises and ruptures, and today stands on a precipice once again. This book explores the country's tumultuous journey from the Second Anglo-Boer War to 2021. Drawing on diaries, letters, oral testimony and diplomatic reports, Thula Simpson follows the South African people through the battles, elections, repression, resistance, strikes, insurrections, massacres, crashes and epidemics that have shaped the nation.
Tracking South Africa's path from colony to Union and from apartheid to democracy, Simpson documents the influence of key figures including Jan Smuts, Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, P.W. Botha, Thabo Mbeki and Cyril Ramaphosa. He offers detailed accounts of watershed events like the 1922 Rand Revolt, the Defiance Campaign, Sharpeville, the Soweto uprising and the Marikana massacre. He sheds light on the roles of Gandhi, Churchill, Castro and Thatcher, and explores the impact of the World Wars, the armed struggle and the Border War. Simpson's history charts the post-apartheid transition and the phases of ANC rule, from Rainbow Nation to transformation; state capture to 'New Dawn'. Along the way, it reveals the divisions and solidarities of sport; the nation's economic travails; and painful pandemics, from the Spanish flu to AIDS and Covid-19.
Radio South Africa Actuality Helena Joe (Allan ) Hendrickse. An Actuality of the Reverend HJ (Allan Hendrickse) commenting on the meeting between Mr, Nelson Mandela and the State President Mr P W. Botha.
President P. W. Botha's speech concerning black people: In the speech, he mentions the possibility of Nelson Mandela's conditional release from prison- SA ambassador in London Dennis Worrall.
Nelson Mandela's secret meeting with President P.W. Botha. From l to r: General Williamsen, Nelson Mandela, Neil Barnard, Pres. Botha and Kobie Coetsee. Only photograph of the meeting that took place on 5 July 1989. Other people in the photo are General Johan Willemse (Commissioner of Prisons), Niel Barnard (Head of National Intelligence), and Hendrik "Kobie" Coetsee (Minister of Justice).
1 page of a printed desk calendar with handwritten notes covering the year of 1984. The calendar was used as a diary by Nelson Mandela while in prison and contains entries concerning matters such as visits, dreams, films, books, personal health and politics.
1 page of a printed desk calendar with handwritten notes covering the year of 1984. The calendar was used as a diary by Nelson Mandela while in prison and contains entries concerning matters such as visits, dreams, films, books, personal health and politics.
1 page of a printed desk calendar with handwritten notes covering the year of 1986. The calendar was used as a diary by Nelson Mandela while in prison and contains entries concerning matters such as visits, dreams, films, books, personal health and politics.
Photographs of events and people between the 1940s and and 1990s, such as Nelson Mandela addressing 21 women who were charged in taking part in the “boycott disturbance” as their lawyer. Nelson Mandela with family, comrades and attending campaigns.