Season 1
Have You Heard from Johannesburg? is a South African documentary series produced and directed by Connie Field chronicling the history of the global anti-apartheid movement that took on South Africa's entrenched apartheid regime and its international supporters, who considered South Africa an ally in the Cold War.
It made its world theatrical premiere at New York's Film Forum in April 2010. There are seven episodes in the series, totalling more than eight-and-a-half hours.
The series originally aired on South African television on SABC2 from 5 September to 17 October, 2010, on Sundays at 21h00. It later aired on SABC1. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Have You Heard from Johannesburg? premiered on SABC1 on Tuesday 15 May 2012, at 21h00. New episodes broadcast weekly.
Synopsis
Almost 50 years ago, South Africans began to realise that their freedom struggle had to be built in four arenas of action: mass action, underground organisation, armed struggle and international mobilisation.
These documentaries take viewers inside that last arena, the movement to mobilise worldwide citizen action to isolate the apartheid regime.
Inspired by the courage and suffering of South Africa's people as they fought back against the violence and oppression of racism, foreign solidarity groups, in cooperation with exiled South Africans, took up the anti-apartheid cause.
Working against heavy odds, in a climate of apathy or even support for the governments of Verwoerd, Vorster and P.W. Botha, campaigners challenged their governments and powerful corporations in the West to face up to the immorality of their collaboration with apartheid.
This was not just a political battle; it was economic, cultural, moral and spiritual. The struggle came to many surprising venues: it was waged in sports arenas and cathedrals, in embassies and corporate boardrooms, at fruit stands and beaches, at rock concerts and gas stations.
Thousands died, but in the end, nonviolent pressures played a major part in the collapse of apartheid and thus in the stunning victory of democracy in South Africa.
The combined stories have a scope that is epic in both space and time, spanning most of the globe over half a century.
Beginning with the very first session of the United Nations, and ending in 1990 – when, after 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela, the best known leader of the African National Congress (ANC) toured the world, a free man.
Seasons
There are seven episodes in one season
Season 1
Channel: SABC2 | Premiere: 5 Sep 2010 | Finale: 17 Oct 2012 | Sundays, 21h00
Channel: SABC1 | Premiere: 15 May 2012 | Finale: 26 Jun 2012 | Tuesdays, 21h00