Untold Stories of Political Activists Executed During Apartheid
By Peter Auf der Heyde
Between 1960 and 1989 in South Africa, more than 130 people were executed for crimes that had a political motive. Who were they? What did they do, and why did they do it?
While many people have heard of Solomon Mahlangu, John Harris, or even Vuyisile Mini, the vast majority of executed activists remain unknown. This is despite the fact that they paid the ultimate price for their actions.
Death in Pretoria – startling miscarriages of justice
This book tells their stories. It draws on the author’s interviews with fellow activists, families left behind, lawyers on both sides, judges who passed sentence, death row warders and even the functionaries who informed the condemned of their impending fate.
Through these accounts, the book sheds light on forgotten aspects of South African history. It explores, for example, the actions of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC)/Poqo in the 1960s, which resulted in dozens of executions. Additionally, it recounts how some people answered the African National Congress (ANC)’s call to make the country ungovernable in the 1980s – only to be disowned later by the same organisation.
Moreover, the book reveals disturbing truths about the justice system. It uncovers cases where defence attorneys acted against their clients’ interests. It also highlights the post-apartheid state’s neglect of individuals who suffered because of political executions.
About the author
Peter Auf der Heyde is an award-winning South African writer and journalist. After working for many years as a sports journalist, he joined Southampton Solent University in 2015. Today, he teaches journalism and creative non-fiction writing.
He also serves as a senior research associate at the Centre for Sociological Research and Practice (CSRP) at the University of Johannesburg. His previous publications include Has Anybody Got a Whistle?: A Football Reporter in Africa, one of the first books written about African football. For more than twenty years, he has researched judicial injustices during apartheid.
- PUBLISHER | Penguin Random House SA |
- ISBN | 9781776391875 |
- Recommended Retail Price | R380.00 |
- Classification | History |
