Commentary by Commentary Hosted by Desmond Tutu

Nelson Mandela at the age of 19 On April 20, 1964, Nelson Mandela was in a stuffy When I heard that cough, suddenly I wasn’t just South African courtroom. Mandela and seven listening to the words. I could hear the echo and others were facing charges of treason. Everyone dimensions of the room. I could feel the stillness of thought he would testify in his own defense. In- the afternoon, the anticipation of the crowd. That stead, Mandela stood up in front of the judge… cough put me in the courtroom. and gave a speech. When Mandela spoke those now-famous words:

Foreword “I am prepared to die.” Those are the last five “I am prepared to die” in 1964, he was speaking words of the speech, and they are well known not only for himself, but for his seven co-defen- today. Less well known are the 10,693 other dants. And for a growing movement. In prison, words. The speech lasted four hours. Mandela became the symbol of the struggle A court stenographer made an audio recording against . After he was released in 1990, of the speech on a plastic dictabelt. The recording Mandela rarely spoke about himself as an indivi- was then lost…and forgotten. That may be why dual. He talked about a collective history. it survived — the apartheid government erased In this program, we set out to document that many of the trial recordings. Almost four decades collective history. later, an employee of the South African Broadca- Standing in that basement archive, surrounded sting Corporation found the speech in their base- by stacks of unmarked tapes, I remember thinking ment archive. about all the stories that have been lost. All the I know that basement well. I spent many weeks stories that were never recorded at all. there in 2003, surrounded by stacks of reel-to-reel So many of the people who fought against tapes, searching for sound to help tell the story apartheid are already gone. Some of them will you’re about to hear. be remembered in years to come. Others will be Many of those reels were in bad shape. One, I forgotten. had to tape back together so it would play. It was Mandela was the voice for all of them. thrilling…to hear the actual words, the actual sounds from Mandela’s trial. — Joe Richman And then, somebody in the courtroom coughed. Founder of Radio Diaries

MANDELA: An Audio History

INTRODUCTION by NELSON MANDELA My name is Nelson Mandela. I look back to the achievements, not of indi- viduals, but to the achievements of collective action — a group of men and women. That is the nature of our struggle. Without that struggle, we would still be under apartheid. It is always important to look at your history. You can’t really be proud of yourself if you don’t know your history.

PART 1: THE BIRTH OF APARTHEID 1944 – 1960

In the 1940s, Nelson Mandela was one of thousands of blacks who flocked to in search of work. In 1948, a new political party came into power with a new idea: the separation of whites and blacks. Apartheid was born, and along with it a half-century of struggle for democracy in . The Birth of Apartheid 1944 – 1960 ters. They were the nannies and the cleaners and the gardeners. ters. They were the nannies and the cleaners and the gardeners. domestic staff whowereblack,butthey livedintheirownquar Parliament: Itwasamaster-servant relationship. We had ,former oppositionMemberof cheap black labor. diamond mineswithhugeeconomicpotential,based onvery Thereweregoldminesand whites anddominatedeverything. Africa wasabouttenmillion.Two millionandabitwere DENNIS GOLDBERG,activist: The populationof South world. Blacks were just pushed out. desire. You hadoneofthehighest standardsoflivinginthe you status; youhadbeautiful schools, parks — everything EDDIE DANIELS,activist:Asawhitecitizenyouhadsocial happily. Truly, this is the finest of all the world’s golden cities. each year. Withthiswealth,thepeopleofcitylivewelland burg. MillionsofpoundsworthgoldcomesoutJoburg NEWSREEL 2:TheGoldenCity—SouthAfrica’s Johannes- the premiere industrial power on the African continent. South Africa. 1935… 1940… 1945… A nation develops into NEWSREEL: here, then, is andviolence.So South Africainthedaysofhatredandbigotry fromthoseofuswholivedandstruggledin heard thestory the mostdramaticstoriesofourlifetime.Butmanyhavenever Mandela’s journey, fromfreedomfightertoPresident,isoneof counted, NelsonMandelawasPresidentofanewSouthAfrica. country’s firstfullydemocraticelection.Afterallthevoteswere watched asmillionsofSouthAfricanscasttheirballotsinour DESMOND TUTU: This is Desmond Tutu. In 1994, the world . Mandela: An Audio History The programthatfollowsisaboutthepeopleof -

NELSON MANDELA: Iremember IcameoutofPark is to maintain domination. Simple as that. survive . Andthewayto here since1652—we have gottosurvive inAfrica—hereweare,andwe’vebeen If wearetosurvive so manymillions,andthe blacksnumberXtimesthatmillions. we areasmallminorityonblackcontinent,and wenumber Theappealwas: HELEN SUZMAN:Theappealwassurvival. to be South Africa’s last chance to remain a white man’s country. urgency. Iconsiderapartheid—that’s theseparation policy— The colorquestionisrapidlyincreasinginseriousness and PRIME MINISTERD.F. MALAN SPEECH(ARCHIVAL): white domination. called baasskap.BaasskapisanAfrikaanswordtoexpress The NationalistParty, underD.F. Malan,preachedwhat they DULLAH OMAR,activist:Atthetimeof1948elections, in at the beginning of a new chapter in South Africa’s history… South Africa’s newlyelectedPrimeMinister, Dr. Malan,wassworn NEWSREEL: NewsfromGovernmentHouse,Pretoria,where tough. government was becoming very power ofthewhitemaninhibitedusagreatdeal.And remember whenIarrivedinJohannesburg.Thefearofthe NELSON MANDELA:MynameisNelsonMandela.I was my goal in life, and I determined to be a good boy. little boy, sothatinmynextlifeIwouldbeawhiteperson.That better. IrememberpromisingmyselfthatI’mgonnabeagood young thatifyoudogoodinthislife,yournextlifewillbecome the whitesweresuperiorpeople.Andwetoldwhen SONNY VENKATRATHNAM, activist:We weretaughtthat (MUSIC FADES) (MUSIC: MIRIAM MAKEBA, “MAKE US ONE”)

look after their interests. themselves, who wouldfall to pieces if we were notthere to these underdevelopedpeople whoarenotcapableofgoverning A responsibilitywhichthe whitemanfeelsofhisdutytowards dous responsibilityuponthosepeoplewhogovern the country. GOVERNMENT MINISTER(ARCHIVAL): It lays a - tremen apartheid government came into power. frombirthtodeathwasdeterminedafterthe Everything the typeofjobsyougot,whereweregoingto beburied. lived, whateducationalsystemyou’regoingto go through, SONNY VENKATRATHNAM: Whereyoulived,how black. So all these things came in, one after the other. —white,colored, Indian, or your colorand category the colorline;raceclassification,whichlaiddownforalltime Immorality Act so thatyoucouldn’thavesexual relations across HELEN SUZMAN:TheGroupAreasAct;therewasan series of laws. heid governmentannouncedthatitwasintroducinganew DULLAH OMAR:Andimmediatelyafter1948,theapart- measures… circumstances, thegovernmenthasdecidedonfollowing GOVERNMENT MINISTER(ARCHIVAL): In these severe test. a very into power, itbecameclearweweregoingtobeputunder opportunity ofmobilizingourpeople.”Sowhentheycame an enemyinpower. AndIthinkwearegoingtohaveabetter said, “Well, Ilikethis,becausewenowknowthathave that theNationalPartyhadwon.ComradeOliverTambo Station thatmorningandboughtanewspaperlearned (MUSIC)

tightening. The situationwasbecoming somuchworse,yousee. EDDIE DANIELS:Inthe50s,apartheid structurewas singing: “Dr. Malan…” the other, in my own land. And people in the street would start strange rules.Heisstoppingmefromdoingthat and this DOROTHY MASUKA, singer: Dr. Malanhasgotvery were black, to get out of the white city. ring. Dong…dong…Andyouknewthatwasfor you,ifyou LUNGI SISULU,activist:Atnineo’clock,abigbellwould that you identify yourself. If you couldn’t, they locked you up. stupid youngsterinthepoliceforcecouldstopyouanddemand pocket. Ifyoudidn’thavethatpieceofpaper, someignorant, home youhadtomakesurehavealittlebookinyour NTHATO MOTLANA, activist: Eachtimeyouleftyour Bantu customs and languages. are employedheremusthaveathoroughknowledgeof GOVERNMENT NEWSREEL: being classified colored. you areblackorAfrican.Ifitfallsoff,you’vegotachanceof of puttingapencilthroughyourhair. Ifthepencilsticks,then AHMED KATHRADA, activist: Theyusedthis crude method the owner, his name, race, and particulars of employment. here forreferencebooks.Eachbookcontainsthephotographof Department ofNativeAffairs.Daily, alargenumberturnsup thesepasses. Photographsaretakenattheofficesof carry GOVERNMENT NEWSREEL: The colored man must always (SINGING ENDS) (SINGING: DOROTHY MASUKA, “DR. MALAN”) (BELLS) (MUSIC ENDS) Naturally, theofficialswho

Transcript NTHATO MOTLANA: The communities, they had been NELSON MANDELA: And for 8,500 people to be arrested, intimidated, cowed down. But we knew. The feeling among the at the time in 1952, was no small achievement. The mood had vast majority of people was that this system cannot continue. been created that our struggle was reaching a dimension where We must do something about it. it could not be crushed.

1944 – 1960 – 1944 NEWSREEL: In Johannesburg, premiere city of South Africa, (PROTEST ENDS) there was staged last weekend the first move in a cam- AHMED KATHRADA: In 1960, on the 21st of March, the paign that may lead to civil disobedience. Thousands of PAC, Pan African Congress, had made preparations to launch colored people went to attend a protest meeting called an anti-pass campaign. by the African National Congress. This is the most import- LUNGI SISULU: On this particular day, word went out that ant African organization in the union. And it called on all all passbooks must be burned — to light up these passes colored people to protest against the racial segregation laws. A and burn them. The slogan was, “Away with the passes!” The

A partheid of crowd of some thousands made their way to the meeting. atmosphere was electric. To join in the bonfire, you know, I NELSON MANDELA: We now began to feel that the time had remember that vividly. As a kid, you always love to see fire. come for the emergence of a mass organization to go out into It was fun. But, of course, later in the day we heard…news the highways and organize the masses of people. came over the radio…

B irth T he LUNGI SISULU: You needed somebody to lead the people. GOVERNMENT NEWSCAST: Here is a special announce- You needed somebody who could make the people believe in ment. The Governor General has proclaimed a state of the organization. Mandela had what it took to actually be out emergency in 80 of the 300 magisterial districts… there in the front, leading the movement. (SIRENS) NEWSREEL: Since then, the Congress leaders have announced NEWSCAST (WALTER CRONKITE): Several hundred that they will decide later this month whether to launch a civil natives gathered peaceably to protest the Pass Laws. Police, disobedience campaign. This would urge all colored people to mounted on tanks, opened fire. Sixty-nine natives were killed, break the unjust laws and to court arrest. 176 wounded. Most of the victims were shot in the back. Some NTHATO MOTLANA: The first thing we did was the Defiance of the dead were children, women, and elderly men. Campaign of 1952, when the ANC decided that all the unjust LUNGI SISULU: Here were people just marching to the police laws would simply be broken. station to hand over a passbook. And the police opened fire (PROTEST) on them. For the first time, it showed the world how brutal the NTHATO MOTLANA: You know to be part of that kind of apartheid system could be. movement, to defy the laws and be arrested and — Christ, it GOVERNMENT NEWSCAST: The Prime Minister assured the was exciting. We knew that we could do something. country that law and order would be maintained. If necessary, violence. We felt, you know, it just can’t continue. methods, othermeans.”Themethodsandmeanswas “How dowecombatsuchabrutalfoe?We mustconsiderother EDDIE DANIELS:Mr. Mandelathenmadeastatementsaying, apartheid state. with thearmedforcesofstate;might following theSharpevillemassacre,thatwehadtostartdealing DENNIS GOLDBERG:Therewasamoodamongpeople, the Defense Force would be called in. “ through yourhair.Ifthe pencilsticks,thenyou are blackorAfrican.If itfallsoff,yougota chance ofbeingclassified colored.” They usedthiscrudemethodofputtingapencil

Help! We sleep in the mountains. People are dying. Mandela, don’t let the whites undermine us. “WELELE” (sung in Xhosa): (MUSIC: “WELELE”) — AHMED KATHRADA

Transcript

PART 2: The Underground Movement 1960 – 1964

After the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960, with the African National Congress and other groups banned, the movement was forced underground. Facing increased government pressure, Mandela formed (MK), the military wing of the ANC, and the armed struggle began. Two years later, he was arrested and charged with high treason. In , Mandela and seven others were sentenced to life in prison. DESMOND TUTU: In the 1950s, South Africa began one of their areas, the whites had their areas. This is our only way of the most extreme experiments in racial separation the world survival: we maintain the army, the police, the vote. And we had ever seen. As the repression grew worse, Nelson Mandela keep it that way. and his comrades decided they must use new tactics to break the (SINGING: MIRIAM MAKEBA, “BEWARE, VERWOERD!”)

1960 – 1964 – 1960 white domination of the country. Here is part two of Mandela: MIRIAM MAKEBA, singer: Watch out, Verwoerd! The An Audio History. black man will get you! Watch out, Verwoerd! The world sings (MARCHING BAND) with me. GOVERNMENT NEWSREEL: The Prime Minister, Dr. H.F. EDDIE DANIELS, activist: The government was powerful. The Verwoerd, and Mrs. Verwoerd arrive for the Republic Festival government was strong. And the laws were becoming far more Parade at the Voortrekker Monument. stringent. ALLISTER SPARKS, journalist: was DENNIS GOLDBERG, activist: Political activity was getting generally regarded as the chief architect of this grand apartheid nowhere. In fact, the situation was getting worse. White South policy. It was his idea, in the late 50s, to separate the country Africa and its government simply determined it would crush the into a white nation and a series of independent states for the struggle. And they tried. various black tribes. NEWSREEL: Armored cars and armed police swooped down PRIME MINISTER VERWOERD (ARCHIVAL): My friends, to the Nyanga , ten miles from , aided by this Republic is part of the white man’s domain in the world. spotting aircraft. Fifteen hundred natives were arrested and (CHEERS) questioned, 162 were kept in prison. HELEN SUZMAN, former opposition Member of DULLAH OMAR, activist: There was a state of emergency

M ovement U nderground T he Parliament: When Dr. Verwoerd took over, there’s no doubt in the 1960s. Thousands of people were arrested. Many were there was a change. And he was an extremely impressive speak- detained. er, I must tell you. In fact, you used to listen to him speaking AHMED KATHRADA, activist: The ANC had been declared for three hours without a note, adding one thing after the illegal. So was sent out of the country and some other. And you sat there nodding your head like a zombie until of the other leaders followed. Mandela, it was decided, should it suddenly occurred to you it was all based on a false premise. stay in the country. And he carried on his work underground. PRIME MINISTER VERWOERD (ARCHIVAL): Our policy is But one of the things he had is a beard. So it was well-known one which is called by the Afrikaans word, apartheid. It could in fliers, on photographs, this man with his beard. It was a much better be described as a policy of good neighborliness. very nice little beard. And when he went underground, we (CHEERS) thought the first thing he had to do is to shave off his beard. He HELEN SUZMAN: He had convinced himself, and a large wouldn’t. He just refused. The only disguise he agreed to, he’d number of well-meaning , that there was nothing put on a cap and he’d wear overalls because now and then he repressive about the system. It was simply separation. They had administration could packupand gohome. But thatwould not couldn’t work inSouthAfrica.InIndia, theBritishcolonial DENNIS GOLDBERG:TheGhandianconcept, in ourview, non-violent and peaceful character, was somewhat startling. struggle, after a struggle that had been well known for its JOE MATTHEWS, activist:Theadoptionofanarmed other alternative. into thatsituation,becausethegovernmenthadleft uswithno tance from the leadership, but I believed that we were moving for armedstruggle.Naturally, therewasagreatdealofresis- NELSON MANDELA: applied so far are adequate. come forustoconsiderwhetherthemethodswhichwehave on anunarmedanddefenselesspeople.AndIthinkthetimehas olence againstagovernmentwhosereplyisonlysavageattacks is uselessandfutileforustocontinuetalkingpeacenon-vi- NELSON MANDELA: any likelihood of violence? you thekindofconcessionswantsometimesoon,isthere INTERVIEWER: IfDr. Verwoerd’s governmentdoesn’tgive basis of one man, one vote. They want political independence. NELSON MANDELA: TheAfricansrequirethefranchiseon asked him what it was that the African really wanted. is stillunderground.ThisMandela’s firsttelevisioninterview. I nationalists hadarrangedformetomeethimathishideout.He today. Thepolicewerehuntingforhimatthetime,butAfrican Nelson Mandela,themostdynamicleaderin South Africa INTERVIEWER: Iwenttoseea42-year-old Africanlawyer, acted as a chauffeur. (INTERVIEW ENDS) ARCHIVAL) ­­­ UNDERGROUND— (INTERVIEW WITH I had made a statement where I called I hadmadeastatementwherecalled There are many people who feel that it There are many people who feel that it nelson MANDELA WHILE

freedom fighter. As somebodyoncesaid: one man’s terroristisanotherman’s whole westernworld.They wouldhavenothingtodowithus. AHMED KATHRADA: We were branded terroristsbythe circumstances whatsoever. law and order in South Africa will not be tolerated under any government ofSouthAfricaisconcerned,thebreakdown of GOVERNMENT MINISTER (ARCHIVAL): Asfarasthe were our own people who were careless with their explosives. that organized armed resistance had started. The only deaths be. Therehadtobeanunderstandingbythemasses ofpeople weren’t justrandom,callousexplosionsthathappenedto Johannesburg —powerpylons,governmentpassoffices.They DENNIS GOLDBERG: There were explosions, many in of the passes they detest having to carry. NEWSREEL 2:Oneoftheirobjectswastodestroytherecords aim was to shock the government into negotiating. telephone booths,andpassoffices—objects,notpeople.The ed. Itstargets:telephonepoles,powersupplies,postoffices, NEWSREEL: Attheendof1961,bombingcampaignstart- (MUSIC) Nation.’ Umkhonto we Sizwe. Xhosa nameUmkhontoweSizwe,whichmeant‘Spearofthe What arewegoingtocallthismovement?Andhesuggestedthe JOE MATTHEWS: Mandelathenstartedlookingforaname. what’s going on. to make sure that South Africans, and the world, would know we setaboutcreatinganunderground,illegalfightingforce here solong.Thesepeoplewerenotgoinghome.SointheANC million whiteswhowerepartofSouthAfrica;theyhadbeen happen inSouthAfrica.Therewere,atthetime,twoorthree (SINGING: LUNGI SISULU)

Transcript DENNIS GOLDBERG: Of course it would have been naive for (COURTROOM SCENE) us to think we could stand in battle against an army, air force, PROSECUTOR (ARCHIVAL): Firstly, the state alleges the navy, police force, reservists of 400,000 people. But if you don’t planned purpose was to bring about chaos, disorder, and turmoil have crazy dreams, you do nothing. in a battle to be waged against the white man in this country.

1960 – 1964 – 1960 (SINGING ENDS) , defense attorney: They were called LUNGI SISULU, activist: We don’t care whether they arrest terrorists. We knew there was no hope of getting an acquittal. us, they torture us — we are prepared to fight for our freedom. The question was, “What do we do with the trial?” , activist: We used to sing a song, “One NELSON MANDELA: Our approach was one of defiance, stick, two sticks, six sticks of dynamite, we’ll take the country because we said, ”It is the government that is a criminal and the Castro way.” Now remember, Castro’s campaign was a very should be standing in the dock to face trial. We are not guilty.” short campaign. Within a space of two years they had overrun PROSECUTOR (ARCHIVAL): That, my Lord, is the case Cuba. So here we were, the comrades, we were all singing this for the State. song, as if to say in six months time we would be free. In six AHMED KATHRADA: When the defense case started, months time we were languishing in prison. Mandela, he was going to be the first defense witness. The pros- , activist: Mandela, he had addressed a ecutor, Dr. Yutar, he had prepared extensively to cross-examine meeting in Durban. He was coming back and the police stopped Mandela and break him down. And they all got a shock when him. And they asked him what was his name, and he said David. our lawyers announced that Mandela will not give evidence but And they said, you’re under arrest, Mr. Mandela. he’ll make a statement from the dock. (SINGING AND CROWD AMBIENCE) (COURTROOM SCENE) M ovement U nderground T he NEWSCAST: A remarkable demonstration by a crowd of several GEORGE BIZOS: The courtroom was absolutely packed. He hundred outside the courthouse in Pretoria. Nelson Mandela, his stood up and he proceeded to deliver this speech. wife you just saw, leader and founder of the sabotage movement, NELSON MANDELA SPEECH AT TRIAL (ARCHIVAL): I Spear of the Nation, and a leading member of the African have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. National Congress, accused, with the others, of plotting sabotage I know this sounds revolutionary to the whites in this country, to overthrow the South African government by force. because the majority of voters will be Africans. This makes the (SINGING FADES) white man fear democracy. AHMED KATHRADA, co-defendant: There were eight of us in AHMED KATHRADA: It was a four-hour speech. But that last the trial. And from day one of our arrests, the police drummed it bit where he said, “These are the ideals for which I am prepared into our heads, “You are going to die. You are going to hang.” And to die.” Just that last bit… the first day the lawyer said, “Chaps, prepare for the worst.” And DENNIS GOLDBERG, co-defendant: I knew what he was that remained their attitude right through the trial. going to say, because we had all seen the speech. Everybody sentence,” we thought, “Well, here it comes.” AHMED KATHRADA: Whentheysaid,“Stand upforyour altruistic as they wish the court to believe… means convincedthatthe motivesoftheaccusedwereas JUSTICE NICOLAASde WET(ARCHIVAL): Iambyno greater force as Mr. Justice de Wet was passing sentence. NEWSCAST: Thenextday, armedpolicemassedaneven he said, “I think you are right, they are going to hang you.” man, that can never happen.” But hebecame serious andthen agement fromhim.AndIthoughthewasgoing to say, “Agh to hangus.”Now, Iwasreallyexpectingsomeword ofencour happen toyouinthiscase?”Isaidhim,“Agh,theyaregoing asked methequestion,“Mandela,whatdoyouthinkisgoingto hotday—andafriendlyAfrikanerwarder — itwasavery course, worriedme.AndIrememberweadjournedforlunch NELSON MANDELA: The possibility of a death sentence, of court will then adjourn. JUSTICE NICOLAASdeWET(ARCHIVAL): Very well, the was a moment of history. He emerged then as a great leader. anything. Eventhejudgedidn’tknowwhattosay. Iknew it DENNIS GOLDBERG: Therewasdeadsilence.Nobodysaid die. to prepared Iam which for ideal an is it be, needs it if Lord, my But, for. live to Ihope which for ideal an is It opportunities. equal with and harmony in together live will persons all which in society free and ademocratic of idea the cherished have NELSON MANDELASPEECHAT TRIAL(ARCHIVAL): when he said it… say, ineffect,“Hangmeifyoudareto,Mr. Judge.”Butonly had madecommentsaboutit.AndIknewhewasgoingto (CROWD AMBIENCE) (COURT ADJOURNS) - I

there for 27 years. would not die in jail. We would return. (Laughs) But we stayed stronglythatwe spend yearsinprison.Butwebelievedvery Island, onetriedtoaccepttherealitythat we may, in fact, NELSON MANDELA:AswewerebeingflowntoRobben (AIRPLANE) end to apartheid — into the world’s consciousness. him —andtheAfricanNationalCongress,need toputan the world‘Iampreparedtodie’speech,whichsomersaulted was theresponsetohisRivoniaTrial speech,calledthroughout Mandela thehero,Nelsonhandsomeman.Butit identify withNelsonMandela:Mandelathelawyer, Nelson of thestruggleforliberationinSouthAfrica.Peoplecould DENNIS GOLDBERG: Nelson Mandela did become the symbol South Africa on Friday on this man, Nelson Mandela. the worldtodayatsentenceoflifeimprisonmentpassedin NEWSCAST: Therehavebeengrowingprotestsfromallover (SINGING) their life sentences. crowds gathertowatchtheaccusedbeingdrivenawaystart NEWSCAST: AtthebackentrancetoPretoriaCourt,large each other and laughed because we expected to be hanged. DENNIS GOLDBERG:And,um…welaughed.We turnedto accused will be one of life imprisonment. only leniency I can show. The sentence in the case of all the would usuallybetheproperpenaltyforcrime.Thatis not toimposethesupremepenalty, whichinacaselikethis JUSTICE NICOLAASdeWET(ARCHIVAL): Ihave decided (MUSIC: “WELELE”)

Transcript Hector Peterson, the first student to be killed by police in the uprising of 1976. (Sam Nzima) manual labor at . Robben at labor manual Nelson Mandela and fellow inmates doing inmates fellow and Mandela Nelson

Part 3: Robben Island 1964 – 1976 While Mandela and other political leaders languished in prison, the govern- ment continued to crack down. It seemed that resistance to apartheid had been crushed. But on June 16, 1976, a student uprising in Soweto sparked a new generation of activists. DESMOND TUTU: In June 1964, Nelson Mandela began man on the island was a book, so to speak. You could learn serving a life sentence in South Africa’s Robben Island Prison. from each and every one of them. Many of the anti-apartheid activists were also in prison or (QUARRY SOUNDS FADE) in exile. The movement was leaderless, until South Africa’s EDDIE DANIELS: Our universe was 30 people. We were

1964 – 1976 – 1964 children rose up to galvanize the struggle once again. Here is completely isolated.

part three of Mandela: An Audio History. SONNY VENKATRATHNAM: They put us into a section (WAVES) on the island called “the terrorist camp.” We were called NEWSREEL: This is the site of South Africa’s top security jail, “the terries.” Nelson Mandela, — people they Robben Island, a narrow pencil of land off Cape Town, seven identified as leaders. miles out in the South Atlantic. These watchtowers stand guard NELSON MANDELA: It was, to a very large extent, a over men whom millions of black South Africans regard as their mistake for the regime to bring us together. In spite of the government in exile. fact that we were in prison, we were able to stand away from I sland R obben (BIRDS) ourselves and to discover the weaknesses and the mistakes we EDDIE DANIELS, political prisoner: We landed at Robben made in the course of our struggle. Island…with these big iron gates. And every gate bangs SONNY VENKATRATHNAM: People say that life in prison is behind me and bangs behind me. Then the warder opened the very tedious. But nobody wandered around bored, doing noth- doors of one of the cells — a wooden door — then opened the ing. If I wanted to see you, talk to you, I needed to make an grill and just shoved me in. There was my bucket and a couple appointment with you. Can you believe that? In prison, I have of blankets. That was my first night. to make an appointment to see somebody when I am locked (MEN WORKING IN QUARRY) up with you for 24 hours a day? And people were pretty strict AHMED KATHRADA, political prisoner: We worked at the about it. I couldn’t go up to somebody and say, “Can we have lime quarry. We had never done pick and shovel work before. So a chat about this?” “No, I can’t. I am booked.” But I ended up every day we had bleeding hands and blisters. Very, very hot. being like that. Because if you didn’t have appointments your When we started working there we were told we would work for life would have been unstructured and meaningless. six months. We, in fact, worked there for over 13 years. (SINGING) SONNY VENKATRATHNAM, political prisoner: The lime NELSON MANDELA: My family lived under very difficult quarry. Most of the time you are leaning on your shovel or conditions without a head of the family who could support your pickaxe. But all of the time you are in a group of people them, give them the love and the security which they deserved. discussing things. (BIRDS) NEVILLE ALEXANDER, political prisoner: Every single ZINDZI MANDELA-HLONGWANE, daughter of Nelson has enjoyed a year of peace and tranquility… PRESIDENT FOUCHESPEECH(ARCHIVAL): Therepublic President, Mr. Fouche. opening ofParliament. Itwasopenedatnoonbythe weather today for one of its most colorful ceremonies, the GOVERNMENT NEWSREEL: forget us. of aprisoner. Theyhoped,thatway, thepublicwouldsimply us alive.Nonewspaperwasallowedtopublisha photograph nature oftheapartheidsystem,theyhadnooption buttobury MAC MAHARAJ,politicalprisoner:Well, Ithinkinthe (SINGING) idea even how tall he was. For him it couldn’t have been easy. would walkinthereandfindhimseatedalready. SoIhad no For many years I never saw my father standing because you that. Whosenameisthat?You cannottalkaboutthatperson.” interrupting theconversationsaying,“You cannotspeakabout through atelephone.Therewerewardersoneithersideofus, I hadtoseehimbehindthisglasspartitionandwespoke ZINDZI MANDELA-HLONGWANE: The reality was that obviously that didn’t happen. me, youknow, liftmeintheair, maybespinmearound.But ZINDZI MANDELA-HLONGWANE: I thought he would hold all visitors to Robben Island: no parcels or articles… WARDER (ARCHIVAL): Thefollowingrulesareapplicableto when I saw him for the first time. to prison, I was 18 months old. So I think I was about 13, 14 Mandela: MynameisZindziMandela.Whenmyfatherwent (MARCHING BAND MUSIC) (SECRET RECORDING OF MANDELA PRISON VISIT) Cape Town glowedwithsunny police brutality. There were somanyotherthings, youknow. overthepass laws,overtherepression, overthe the country… NTHATO MOTLANA: Therewasastateofunease throughout any normal human being has the right to do.” said, “No,thefirstthing is youstandup,speakyourmindas gonna comeblowyouaway. They’regonnakillyou.”Andwe older generationtouswas,“Areyouguysmad?Those guysare STRINI MOODLEY, studentactivist:Thereactionofthe father hastakenordoyoustandupforwhatthink isright? amongst blacktownshipsofself-definition.Doyoutake whatyour THANDI MODISE,student And this was a psychological feeling of inferiority. defeat theoneelementinpoliticswhichisworkingagainstthem. STEVE BIKOSPEECH(ARCHIVAL): Blackpeopleneedto with the spirit of black consciousness. leadership ofpeoplelikeSteveBiko,thereroseagroupimbued NTHATO MOTLANA:Thestudentmovement,underthe were the children. What are they doing? Mandela injail,buttheyhadn’tlookedaroundtoseewhere BONGI MKHABELA,studentactivist:Theyhadlockedup it continued to bubble. NTHATO MOTLANA,activist:Andyet,underthesurface, involved. scaredtoget had beenkilledindetention.Peoplewerevery MURPHY MOROBE, student activist: Anumberofpeople ment in South Africa. It was a bad period for us. AHMED KATHRADA: Theyhadvirtuallycrushedthemove- struggle, we were in the doldrums. wasquiet,ostensibly.banned. Everything Intermsofthe SONNY VENKATRATHNAM: Allpoliticalmovementswere There was an emergence activist: Therewasanemergence

Transcript Robben Island 1964 – 1976 that the oppressors stood for. This was a battle we had to fight. the entire school generation because it represented everything whole classesfailed.When theydidthat,actuallymobilized says, “You knowwhat,Idon’tknow.” Andthatdidn’twork, totranslate.Andincompleteexasperation theteacher trying ontheonehandandhewas he hasanAfrikaansdictionary hard; very about?” Andourteacherwasstandingtheretrying geskiedenis. Andwewerealllike,“Whatare you talking becomes taught inAfrikaans.Andtheteacherwalksin,history BONGI MKHABELA:Asoftoday, subjectwouldbe every Bantu children… to youaboutBantueducation,theeducationofamillion GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Iamgoingtospeak bly of all the kids. One day there was an announcement. schooldaybeganwithanassem- BONGI MKHABELA:Every language, pupils of the school present a play in Afrikaans. is exactly100yearsold.To payhomagetotheAfrikaans GOVERNMENT NEWSCAST: Itis1975,andAfrikaans and the black children hated Afrikaans with a passion. NTHATO MOTLANA:Itwasthelanguageusedbyrulers, isn’t it? RADIO BROADCAST: “lag,dag,andnag,”Thankyou,easy like, of Dutch. NTHATO MOTLANA:Afrikaansisahybridization,ifyou Afrikaans sounds — “lag, dag, and nag.” ning, listeners.Letusstartoffbygettingtoknowallthe RADIO BROADCAST: Teach yourselfAfrikaans. Goodeve- (MUSIC) it happened on June 16th. You could feelit.You couldfeelthatsomethinghadtogive.And

point thepolice triedtostopthemarch fromgoingonto seen of NTHATO MOTLANA:Thenitbecamereallya torrent, asea somebody’s hand, get worried because where is your partner? holding somebody’s handatalltimes. Ifyouarenotholding we thenhadchainsoffivekids.Andmakesure that youare mustbeaccountedforatalltimes.So about wasthateveryone to therewas of schoolkids.Andwethoughtkneweverything BONGI MKHABELA:We hadhundreds,probablythousands, meeting at the Orlando Football Stadium. in Soweto, intending to protest the Afrikaans issue in a mass to plan,students simultaneously marched out of five schools NEWSCAST: At8:15inthemorning,andpreciselyaccording at the time. tune to marchoutof the school premises. And wealljoined Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika,GodBlessAfrica.Whichwasoursignal come. Butonthisday, insteadoftheLord’s Prayer, wesang father whoartinheaven,hallowedbethyname,kingdom tradition has had it with the singing of the Lord’s Prayer:Our MURPHY MOROBE: Our school started at 8 A.M., and the day.as an ordinary much BONGI MKHABELA:Junethe16th,1976startsvery the township to the children and the teenagers. into whitehomes,officesandfactoriesinJohannesburgleaving tion ofoneandquartermillion.Everyday, Sowetanspour Southwest cornerofJohannesburg,withanestimatedpopula- NEWSCAST know aboutmanagingprotests.Thefirstthingwe worried young, blackfaces.Masses ofstudents,Imeanwe’dnever such ademonstration inmany, manyyears. Andatthat (SINGING: “Nkosi Sikelel : Soweto, acomplexofblacktownshipsonthe ’ iAfrika”) flying, youknow… youstandingon top ofanabandonedcar ship, youknow, youheardgunshots. Butthesoundsofbullets MURPHY MOROBE:Imeanhavinggrownup inthetown- people had always been cheap. can onlythinkitwasblack lifeanditdidn’tcount.LifeofAfrican BONGI MKHABELA:Idon’tknowwhythey decided toshoot.I on a crowd. years. Atleasttwoofthedeadfellwhenpolice openedfire erupted intotheviolencethatwhiteshavebeen fearingfor NEWSCAST: TheteemingblacktownshipofSowetohasfinally actually be killed on that day. had notplannedorthoughtthatit’s possiblepeoplewould for waterpipes,wehadplannedmayberubberbullets.We ning helterskelter, runningallovertheplace.We hadplanned BONGI MKHABELA:We hadhundredsofschoolkidsrun- And then you look around. You see girls running, screaming. MURPHY MOROBE:Your initialthoughtistosecureyourself. have stood firm on their feet and actually shot into that crowd. actually lookedcute!It’s unbelievabletothinkthatanyonecould And theyaresingingfreedomsongs,holdingoneanother. We shining blackshoesandlittlewhitesocksteenytunics. BONGI MKHABELA:I mean this is a groupof kids. Kids with and… Isawmomentsofrealcourage,especiallyfromthegirls. dogs. AndIsawthesepolicedogssetontokids,man, NTHATO by first of all,setting MOTLANA: They intervened Force. So you actually had the Army. didn’t onlyhavethepoliceatthattime,youhadDefense BONGI MKHABELA:I’veneverseenthatmanypolice.You Orlando Stadium. (GUN SHOTS, BREAKING GLASS, CROWDS) and policeopened fireonapeaceful schoolchildren’s demon- NEWSCAST: SinceJune the 16th,whenSouthAfrican troops gas —takeapieceofcloth, wetitandholdovertoyournose. of teargas.Andthekids gottoknowhowcounteracttear NTHATO MOTLANA: FordaysSowetobecame…thesmell with any persons who… Internal SecurityActs;strongpoliceunitswillbeon handtodeal activities immediatelywillbeplacedindetention termsofthe disorder willbetolerated;agitatorswhodonot ceasetheir the governmenthasdecidedonfollowingmeasures: No GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Inthesecircumstances to be terribly disorganized. Panic! occurred tomethattheregimewethoughtwaspowerfulseemed demonstrations werespreadinglikeaprairiefire,andit war. AndI’llneverforget…listeningtomyradioasthe JOHNNY MAKATINI, at activist:Itwaslikeacountry Claremont Native Township. needed tobreakupatwo-thousand-strongdemonstrationat NEWSCAST: HereinDurban,threepolicebatonchargeswere Africa was on fire. following day, itwentalloverthecountry. Andreally, South NTHATO MOTLANA:ThemayhemwentalloverSoweto. 250 injured. pupils inprotestagainstAfrikaans,29peopleweredeadand NEWSCAST: Within36hoursofthestartamarchby10,000 know, how are you going to deal with it tomorrow? just getasenseofhowfleetinglifecanbe…andyoufeel, Not knowing wherethe next oneisgoingto come from. You and suddenlyyouhearbulletsthuddingontheside,know. (GUN SHOTS)

Transcript stration, the white government has presided over the largest left South Africa for armed forces and for an armed struggle. massacre of its black population since South Africa came into THANDI MODISE: We the youth have gone into foreign lands existence… to learn how to fight. Mommy please keep quiet even if I die you (SIRENS) will know that I have died fighting for our country. THANDI MODISE: When you see your friends being shot (SINGING: “NELSON MANDELA”) at for just walking in the street, it does something to you. NELSON MANDELA: Information kept on coming through Therefore, you would look around. What are the alternatives? the prison walls about what was going on. The significance of Do I become like my mother, forever under the yoke of apart- the 1976 uprising was that the government actually produced heid? The alternative was for me to not be like my mom, great one of the most rebellious generations of African youth. They as she was, but to go and fight. were very militant. They were very brave. And there is nothing (SINGING) as encouraging to a political prisoner than to know that the NTHATO MOTLANA: And ‘76 really represented, in many ideas for which you are suffering will never die. ways, divorce between black children and their parents. STRINI MOODLEY: 1976 was the turning point. Black people BONGI MKHABELA: It was clear in all of us, kids, at that time, had made up their minds: we are not taking this any more. that peaceful struggle, negotiated settlements were totally out of South Africa was never the same again. the question. Many of the young people who were on that march (MUSIC: “WELELE”)

“I’ve never seen that many police... I mean, this is a group of kids — kids with shining black shoes and little white socks and teeny little tunics — and they are singing freedom songs, holding one another. We actually looked cute! It’s unbelievable that any- one could have stood firm on their feet and actually shot into that crowd.”

— BONGI MKHABELA Part 4: State of Emergency 1976 – 1990 Guerilla soldiers on the border, unrest in the townships, striking workers, and a wave of international attention were making South Africa’s system of apartheid unworkable. Something had to give. And it happened on February 2, 1990, when South Africa’s president, F.W. De Klerk, announced that the ANC would be unbanned and that Nelson Mandela would be freed after 27 years in prison. DESMOND TUTU: In the 1970s and 80s, world attention RADIO — ARCHIVAL) was riveted by the brutal images coming out of South Africa: WINNIE MANDELA: Hello? striking black school children braving bullets, and white DUTCH RADIO INTERVIEWER: Hello. security forces bulldozing homes in the black townships. WINNIE MANDELA: Can I help you?

1976 – 1990 – 1976 But throughout these years, the person who figured most DUTCH RADIO INTERVIEWER: Yes, I am calling from prominently in South Africa’s struggle was invisible. Here is Holland. I would like to speak with Mrs. Mandela, please. I am part four of Mandela: An Audio History. calling from the Dutch Radio. (PHONE CALL FADES UNDER) (MK GUERILLA MARCHING SONG) NEWSCAST: Winnie Mandela is her husband’s voice in the ANC RADIO FREEDOM BROADCAST: This is Radio world outside. The government has tried to silence her. For Freedom, the voice of the African National Congress. nearly 20 years, she has been living under virtual house arrest. (RADIO FREEDOM STATION ID) (PHONE CALL CONTINUES) NEWSCAST: The South African Security Forces believe DUTCH RADIO INTERVIEWER: Your husband has been in there are over 4,000 guerillas under training in camps in prison now for 22 years. It is incredible that he is still the most

STATE OF EMERGENCY OF STATE Mozambique, Angola, and other frontline states. The guerillas popular leader in South Africa. sing of the man they regard as their leader, the jailed nation- WINNIE MANDELA: He is a symbol of the aspirations of the alist, Nelson Mandela. “Show us the way to victory,” say the black people of this country. words, “Freedom is in your hands.” (PHONE CALL FADES UNDER) (MARCHING SONG CONTINUES) GEORGE BIZOS, Mandela’s attorney: In the early 80s, HELEN SUZMAN, former opposition Member of the world, in some sense, became obsessed by this political Parliament: In the 80s, black resistance had grown enor- prisoner. mously. (PHONE CALL CONTINUES) AHMED KATHRADA, activist: The mass movement in this DUTCH RADIO INTERVIEWER: Our thoughts are with you. country, the political movement, the armed struggle, the world WINNIE MANDELA: Thank you so much for your solidarity opinion — was all turning against the government. DUTCH RADIO INTERVIEWER: We will meet in freedom! JOE MATTHEWS, activist: Uniquely in the world, the WINNIE MANDELA: Certainly. Amandla! struggle took on the character of a race issue, the issue of DUTCH RADIO INTERVIEWER: Amandla. Ngawethu! humanity itself. It made this a worldwide phenomenon. Thank you. (SINGING ENDS) (PHONE CALL ENDS) (PHONE CALL BETWEEN WINNIE MANDELA AND DUTCH NTHATO MOTLANA, activist: Sometimes I think the fact ROELF MEYER, formergovernment minister:Myrole to admit the truth to oneself. uncomfortable because weclosedoureyes, becauseitwasvery DENNIS GOLDBERG,activist: Andifwedidn’tknow, it was was going on. ever settingfootinthetownships.Sotheydidn’t knowwhat andnot segregated, cloisteredliveswiththeirblackservants stand whatwasgoingonbecausetheywereleading theirown HELEN SUZMAN:ManywhiteSouthAfricansdidn’tunder down in your bones, that this couldn’t go on for a long time. NTHATO MOTLANA:Itwasgreat!Becauseyoufelt,deep police enough. apartheid laws.Therewerenotjailsenough,there a greatdeal.Thepeopleinthemillionshadjuststarteddisobeying AHMED KATHRADA: Bythattime,thestrugglehadadvanced they didn’t know what would happen. way. Ontheotherhand,theywereafraidtolethimout,because they hadbumpedhimoff,assassinatedinsome be amartyrbutIthinktheyfearedthattheworldwouldbelieve rock andahardplace.Ifhediedinprison,notonlywould always terrifiedthathe’ddieinprison.Theywerebetweena ALLISTER SPARKS, journalist:Ithinkthegovernmentwas champion boxer, Mike Tyson, sent his gloves for Mandela… Holland weredeliveredtoNelsonMandela’s wife,Winnie.World NEWSCAST: Fiftythousandbirthdaycardsfromthepeopleof a favor by locking him up all those many years. could makenomistakes,it’s asifthegovernmenthaddoneus that hewasinprison,andcouldmakenospeechestherefore (PROTEST, SIRENS) (PROTEST CHANTS: “VIVA NELSON MANDELA”) - within theranks ofthecabinet,arealization grewslowlythat with America once they introduced that anti-apartheid bill. And that thiscouldsimplynot goon.We lostvirtuallyallourtrade clear to us by the whole world, including our trading partners, PIK BOTHA, former government minister:Itwasmade it’s been a year of almost continued racial violence. nationwide weekofgeneralprotestbeginningMonday, because NEWSCAST: Apartheidopponentshavenowcalledfora Youthis country! could see that something had to give. equipped withjetsforteargas.Itwasastateofutter chaosin NTHATO MOTLANA:Thepolicemovedaroundintanks measures have already been implemented… force atmidnightlastnight.Roadblocksandotheremergency within the first 12 hours after the state of emergency came into NEWSCAST: Goodevening.Securityforcesmade113arrests and we are determined to remain one. misunderstanding. SouthAfricaisadeveloping,stablecountry, accused insomequartersofbeingweak.Lettherebeno government displayedtheutmostpatience.Iwaseven PRESIDENT P.W. BOTHASPEECH(ARCHIVAL): The order in the prevailing circumstances. lawsofthelandwereinadequatetomaintainpublic ordinary Parliament thathe’dtakenthisstepbecausehebelievedthe been declaredthroughoutthecountry. TheStatePresidenttold NEWSCAST: Goodevening.Ageneralstateofemergencyhas the problem it might go away. [President] P.W. Bothaatthatstage,ifwewouldcontrol Because therewasthegeneralbelief,atleastonsideof as DeputyMinisterofPolicewastocalmthesituationdown. (PROTESTS, SIRENS)

Transcript STATE OF EMERGENCY 1976 – 1990 the year, 1990, wasthemostwell-kept secretinmywhole F.W. DEKLERK:Theopening speechinthebeginning of (APPLAUSE) President. ANNOUNCER: necessary. But I don’t think De Klerk was prepared to shoot. a longtime—ifyou’repreparedtoshoot,use violenceif power. onforquite Withthearmyandpolice,youcancarry HELEN SUZMAN: He knew perfectly well he could stay in little here, do a little thing there, and to just stretch it out. things out;tonegotiatebutreallynotnegotiate.To givea hold ontopower, suppress.Anotheroptionwouldbetostring option:hardfist,continue, limited. Oneoptionwasamilitary President, inthelatterpartof80s,optionswere F.W. DEKLERK,formerPresident:BeforeIbecame the concept of apartheid. that theyhavepoliciesforSouthAfricawhichwillforeverbury are faced with convincing a skeptical international community NEWSCAST: Botha’s successor, F.W. DeKlerk,andhisassociates a growing feeling that they had to move in some new direction. ALLISTER SPARKS: His own cabinet tipped him out. There was of state here for 11 years was made to step down. was arainy, gloomydayinCapeTown asthemanwhowashead Botha was forced from office today inadramaticcabinetcoup. It NEWSCAST: we adapt, unless we do something about it. somewhere aheadofusiscalamity…unlesswechange, within theranksofcabinet,arealizationgrewslowlythat (MARCHING BAND) ENDS­) (PROTEST After months ofbrutalin-fighting,PresidentP.W. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the State Ladies andgentlemen,I give youtheState the excitement isrunninghigh— people halfwayuptrees, NEWSCAST: You joinusattheVictor Verster Prison,where gized’ was the word they used. And all this was wrong. quickly be shown to be fallible. Old, out of touch, ‘demytholo- icon inprison,alivingmartyr—ifyoureleasedhim, hewould he believedthatifyoureleasedMandela,whohad becomean ALLISTER SPARKS: When F.W. De Klerk made that speech, (SINGING) released after 27 years behind bars. tomorrow, Johannesburgtime,NelsonMandelawillfinallybe from President De Klerk. He has announced thatat 3 P.M. NEWSCAST: IfImay, I’dliketorecapwhatwe’vejustheard negotiation has arrived. bringing thismattertofinalitywithoutdelay. Thetimefor Mandela unconditionally. Iamserious…seriousabout that thegovernmenthastakenafirmdecisiontoreleaseMr. DE KLERKSPEECH(ARCHIVAL): Iwishtoputitplainly, didn’t know this was going to happen. Member ofParliament:Itwasatotalstunningshock.They FREDERICK VAN ZYLSLABBERT, formeropposition organizations is being rescinded. and a number of subsidiary Pan AfricanistCongress,theSouthAfricanCommunistParty, following: theprohibitionofAfricanNationalCongress, ing decisions.Thestepsthathavebeendecidedarethe struggle fordecades.Today, Iamabletoannouncefar-reach- people havebeenembroiledinconflict,tension,andviolent DE KLERKSPEECH(ARCHIVAL):its andall country Our political career. (CROWD, HELICOPTER, CHEERS) (APPLAUSE, SHOUTS, CALL FOR ORDER)

this moment. wonders what must be passing through Mr. Mandela’s mind at Seventy-two yearsold,walkingstrongly, step-by-step.Andone people. Hisfirstpublicappearanceinnearlythreedecades. And asalutefromMr. Mandela,hiswifeWinnie,greetingthe man taking his first steps into a new South Africa. Mandela… There’s Mr. Mandela!Mr. NelsonMandela,afree best possibleview. Anymomentnow…IfwecanjustspotMr. togetthe standing ontheirtoes,clingingtothewires,trying (CROWD SCREAMS) “ released him,hewould quickly beshownto become aniconinprison, alivingmartyr—ifyou believed that ifyoureleasedMandela, who had the wordthey used.Andallthiswas wrong.” fallible. Old,outoftouch, ‘demythologized’was When F.W. DeKlerkmadethatspeech,he apartheid has no future… Amandla!… iAfrika!… Mayibuye! majority ofSouthAfricans,blackandwhite,recognizedthat NELSON MANDELASPEECH (ARCHIVAL): Today, the to go through the crowds just to get to the platform. rather tookmebysurprise.Ithinkitusmorethananhour them. Ineverimaginedthattherewouldbesuchcrowds.It that Ididn’thavethecourageandconfidencetospeak NELSON MANDELA:WhenIsawthatcrowd,mustconfess (MUSIC: “WELELE”) (CHEERS FROM CROWD) — Allister parksS

Transcript Voters queue to cast a ballot in the first democratic election in South Africa. (AP/Denis Farrell) (South/Graeme Williams) (South/Graeme

Part 5: Democracy 1990 – 1994 In April 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected South Africa’s first black president. But it didn’t come easy. The four years between Nelson Mandela’s release and his election were some of the most volatile and painful in the country’s history. DESMOND TUTU: Nelson Mandela was sent to prison in ALLISTER SPARKS, journalist: It was the work he’d done in 1964. When he emerged 27 years later, Mandela faced his this harsh prison of making it his business to get into the heart former captors, the white South African government, as a and mind of his adversary. And that’s the key to everything. political opponent, rather than an outlaw. Many hoped his You’ve got to understand your adversary. release would signal a quick end to the struggle for liberation. NEWSCAST: After three days of historic discussions, first 1990 – 1994 – 1990 But the next four years would be among the bloodiest and President De Klerk and then Mr. Mandela appeared to face the most painful for all South Africans — black and white — as press together, their handshake evidence of the progress made. they struggled toward the transition to majority rule. Here is ALBIE SACHS, activist: It didn’t come easily. We had the final chapter of Mandela: An Audio History. breakdowns. We had setbacks. People would storm out of NEWSCAST: For the first time in 78 years, the African meetings. But things seemed to be going well, until fairly National Congress is talking to the white minority govern- early in 1992 we had total breakdown. D emocracy­ ment. Its leader, Nelson Mandela, publicly welcomed by the NEWSCAST: Good evening. Prospects for peace are fading. President who freed him less than three months ago. At least 31 people have died since violence erupted in Soweto NELSON MANDELA SPEECH (ARCHIVAL): We are here yesterday. as fellow South Africans convinced that the system of white NEWSCAST 2: The most powerful image of violence in South minority rule must come to an end without delay. Africa is no longer a confrontation between black and white, but PIK BOTHA, former government minister: From the early between black and black. 60s, in the minds of most of the whites of this country, Mandela (PROTEST) was simply regarded as a terrorist. And now I must sit with his NEWSCAST 3: The more conservative Zulus, led by Chief men around a table. Buthelezi, challenged Mandela’s right to speak for all blacks. NELSON MANDELA: To start negotiations with a govern- Blacks are killing blacks in a steadily worsening tribal war. ment which had, throughout the years, repeated that they NEWSCAST 4: Cars and houses torched, an alleged Inkatha would never sit down and talk to a terrorist organization, was supporter necklaced with a burning tire. A policeman sobbed a highly sensitive matter. outside his blazing home, set alight by neighbors who accused PIK BOTHA: When we started negotiations, Mr. Mandela — the police of involvement in the massacre. his very first opening statement, for at least 20 minutes or more (PROTEST END) — he made a study of the Afrikaner history, merely telling us, AHMED KATHRADA, activist: There was widespread “Look, I know you and I respect what you’ve gone through.” violence. Many, many people were killed. He didn’t come up with a statement of bitterness, retribution. ALLISTER SPARKS: The military security forces and the police No. A man, after 27 years of being robbed of his freedom, and were engaged in this. They were providing weapons. They orga- to then come forward and start negotiations on that basis… nized raids. They constituted what Mandela called a ‘Third Force.’ remarkable. There’s no way you can argue against that. NEWSCAST: Nelson Mandela accused the government of Mandela included. would draw the biggestcrowdofany leaderinthecountry, the armedwingof ANC. Immenselypopularperson.He ALBIE SACHS:ChrisHaniwasthehead of UmkontoweSizwe, by a white man, at close range. moment another car stopped behind Mr. Hani. Shots were fired, Mr. Hanidroveuptohishouse,gotout,andatthesame POLICE STATEMENT: Atapproximately10:25thismorning, the whiterightwing,triedtodosomethingderail theprocess. this, sort of, slipping out of their hands. And some right-wingers, they had exercised for more than 300 years. And they could see simply wereafraidofgivingupthepowerthattheyhad, ROELF MEYER, former government minister: Whites majority who accept change, but are worried. Mandela’s ANC,butmostareinanexpandingcenter—the NEWSCAST: Many left-wing whites would now join Nelson Africans was, as usual, divided. NTHATO MOTLANA,activist:ThereactionofwhiteSouth economic future. Widespread violencetogowiththeirnowuncertainpoliticaland evenmoreanxious. bound tomakewhitesinthiscountry blacks hasbecome a lotdeadlierinrecentdays,andthatis NEWSCAST: That war between the Zulu tribe and left-wing (PROTEST) murdering our people. our peoplewhywecontinuetotalkagovernmentwhichis process iscompletelyintatters.Icannolongerexplainto NELSON MANDELASPEECH(ARCHIVAL): Thenegotiation announced that he’d suspended talks with the government. complicity inthekillings.ThelargerallycheeredasMr. Mandela (NEWS CAMERAS) (SONGS AND PROTEST) to bethe workofthe farright, which hasthreatened to disrupt REPORTER: Noonehasclaimed responsibility, butit’s assumed Congress. nearthe Johannesburg offices of theAfricanNational injury non-racial election,ahuge explosionhascauseddeathand NEWSCAST: On the final day of campaigning on South Africa’s President of the country. calm. That night, effectively,kept the country Mandela became AHMED KATHRADA: ontelevisionthat Itwashisintervention Hani gave his life for. freedomChris provoked bythosewhoseektodenyusthevery pain andangerisreal,yetwemustnotpermitourselves tobe South Africans,blackandwhite, this killingmuststop.Our NELSON MANDELASPEECH(ARCHIVAL): We saytoall for calm. appeal to the country night,Mandelawentontelevisionto situation. Andthatvery ment realizedthattheywerenowpowerlesstocontrolthe AHMED KATHRADA: PresidentDeKlerkandthegovern - NEWSCASTER: Hello, Dirk? out. They’ve got bullet-proof vests on… uh, an ANC… center ofDurbanrightnow. Hundredsofpolicemenarecoming riot. Policehavenowcockedtheirrifles.Thereischaosinthe REPORTER: InDurban,Iaminthecitycenterandthereisa have Dirk de Pienaar reporting from a portable phone. and otherviolence,toreportonthesituationinDurban,we NEWSCAST: Therehavebeennumerousincidentsofrioting country. That was a most terrible moment. eruptionofangerinthe jogging, therewasanextraordinary ALBIE SACHS:Whenhewasshotdownafterhadbeenout Hani has been killed instantly. POLICE STATEMENT: IamunfortunatetoannouncethatMr. (LINE GOES DEAD) ­­­

Transcript the election. The effects of this kind of action may well be to “What is it… about casting a vote?” deter people from voting. (SINGING FADES) ALLISTER SPARKS: It was a very explosive situation right in NELSON MANDELA, INAUGURATION (ARCHIVAL): the final days of the transition. I mean, nothing in South Africa I, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, do hereby swear to be faithful to has ever been dull. We went to the brink several times, but there the Republic of South Africa. was no way of going backwards. DESMOND TUTU: Huge crowds! The day when Nelson (NEWS STATION ID MUSIC) Mandela was inaugurated the first democratically elected NEWSCAST: It’s seven o’clock on the morning of the 27th of president of South Africa. April, 1994. Polling stations have opened, thousands of people NELSON MANDELA, INAUGURATION (ARCHIVAL): queue up to cast their vote at ballot stations. And we see that Mr. … and to devote myself to the well-being of the Republic Mandela is busy casting his vote at this moment. and all its people. (SINGING) INAUGURAL OFFICIAL: Will you please raise your right hand CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT: Vote ANC for peace in our and say, “So help me, God.” land. Now is the time. Vote Mandela for President! Vote ANC! NELSON MANDELA, INAUGURATION (ARCHIVAL): NEWSCAST: In many black and colored areas, queues began So help me, God. forming at four o’clock this morning, as first-time voters streamed (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) to the polls. Thousands of people were already queuing before DESMOND TUTU: And you sat there, and you looked at the seven o’clock outside polling stations near Pretoria and at benches of the newly elected legislators, and there were all these Soweto. The Red Cross said people should wear a hat, take a terrorists — as they had been regarded by the former apartheid bottle of water and some boiled sweets in case of long delays. government — and there they were sitting. (Laughs) Many had (CHEERING AND SINGING) been on Robben Island, many had been tortured. Many of us kept DESMOND TUTU: It was a crazy day. To think that I had to having to pinch ourselves to say, “No man, I’m dreaming.” wait until I was 62 years of age, Nelson Mandela was 76 years (INAUGURATION MUSIC AND JETS FLYING OVERHEAD) of age, before we voted in the land of our birth. AHMED KATHRADA: On that day, everyone who was at the NEWSCAST: A man of 101 years old voted for the first time inauguration will admit that the most exciting thing of that day at Addo in the Eastern Cape last night. Although unable to say was when the jets, just at the right time, they flew over that much, the man appeared jubilant. crowd. I think it was just the idea of people suddenly realizing, JOE MATTHEWS: It just was overwhelming to see all these en masse, that those are now ours. They don’t belong to the people in long queues, who couldn’t even complete their voting white apartheid regime any more. They belong to us, to all the in the one day — it had to continue the next day — and were people. We are the government now. prepared to stand there in the sun and rain and to travel miles, (MUSIC: “WELELE”)­­ to go and put an “X” against a name. And I wondered to myself, Mandela: An Audio History is the winner of the duPont-Columbia Award for excellence in broadcast journalism and the RFK Journalism Award. Originally broadcast on NPR, BBC World Service, CBC, and SABC. C redits Producers: Joe Richman and Sue Jaye Johnson for Radio Diaries Contributing Producer and Series Mix: Ben Shapiro Editor: Deborah George NPR‘s All Things Considered Executive Producer: Chris Turpin

Many thanks to all those who helped along the way: Dr. Nthato Motlana, Ahmed Kathrada, Angie Kapelianis, Allister Sparks, Zindzi Mandela-Hlongwane, Gail Berhmann, Rick Stengel, Jo Menell, Angus Gibson, Ilse Assman, Mike Roberts, Jenny Schmidt, Jason Beaubien, Lucinda Englehart, Kimberly Worthington, Rory O’Conner, Danny Schechter, Phyllis Richman, Tom Karis, Brian Tilley, Cliff Bestall, Sharon Gelman, Anant Singh, Ann Cooper, Sandy Rattley, Stephen Smith, Pieter Ferreira, David Fanning, John Matisonn, David Goldblatt, Indra deLanerolle, Graham Goddard, Christo Brand, Teal Krech, Willow Constantine, Lindie Mlanjeni, Lea Phayane, Zolile Mvunelo, Tshepo Moloi, and Elinor Sisulu.

For the use of their archives, we are grateful to: Mayibuye/Robben Island, South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), South Africa National Archives, National Film Archives, ITN, BBC, Globalvision, Afrovision, Bomb, and National Public Radio. All photos courtesy Mayibuye Archives unless otherwise noted.

Radio Diaries is a not-for-profit organization 153 West 27th Street, Suite 1104, New York, NY 10001, USA [email protected] www.radiodiaries.org For more information about the people and stories in this documentary visit: www.mandelahistory.org No. 792433 No.