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The London Recruits

1970: Apartheid grips South Africa. In London, volunteers are recruited by an exiled ANC activist for a covert mission to Cape Town. Based on true events. Written by Gregory Evans.

"If you're caught, you'll be tortured, and imprisoned for a very long time. Are you sure you want to go?"

It's 1970 and the South African regime has crushed all resistance leaving the black population intimidated and demoralised. Apartheid seems unassailable. In London, Bernie, an ANC exile, recruits white sympathisers to fly to South Africa to plant seeds from which resistance can grow.

In 2012, Ken Keable, one of the original London Recruits, edited a collection of first hand accounts in ‘London Recruits – the secret war against apartheid’. From the information gathered in the book, it is clear that the London Recruits did similar agitational work inside South Africa at least once a year from 1967 to 1973.

Written by Gregory Evans.

Annie Parker…Nicola Walker
Young Annie … Jordon Stevens
Peter … Fraser Wall
Bernie … Trystan Gravelle
Adelaide…Nkhanise Phiri
Customs Officer…Stewart Clegg
ANC Voice… Luvo Cornelius

Directed by Jeremy Mortimer

A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 4

Release date:

44 minutes

On radio

Thu 4 Jun 202614:15

Broadcast

  • Thu 4 Jun 202614:15

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