A journalist in apartheid South Africa (173)

Apr 16, 2021

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John Matisonn is a South African journalist who grew up in the suburbs in Johannesburg. In 1979 he was sentenced to jail for refusing to reveal his news sources.

Matisonn describes life as a journalist in apartheid South Africa as well as his meetings with some of the key South African personalities of that period. He met with several South African Prime leaders including John Vorster, PW Botha and FW de Klerk who eventually oversaw the end of white majority rule. Also included are details of several meetings Matisonn had with Nelson Mandela the first black President of South Africa.

We also hear about Soviet training for African National Congress leaders and the South African nuclear weapons programme.

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Peter Ryan is our interviewer today and I am delighted to welcome John Matisonn to our Cold War conversation…

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0:00 Introduction of guest John Matisonn

2:02 Sponsor: Request for listener support and acknowledgments

2:34 Matisonn's experience as a journalist in Apartheid South Africa

7:00 Interplay of Cold War dynamics in South Africa

10:03 Nelson Mandela's relationship with Communism and the Soviet Union

14:27 ANC leaders' training in Soviet Union and GDR

21:02 South African collaboration with Western intelligence services