Nigel Wrench ZA86

ZA86 is a 25 year old radio reporter's personal journey in the final, most repressive moments of a hated regime. The last years of apartheid were the most brutal as a low-level civil war was battled out on the dusty streets of South Africa's black townships. Released on the 25th anniversary of the day Nelson Mandela walked to freedom, ZA86 is edited from 9 tapes in the unique cassette archive of Turnstyle News, unlocked for the first time from a Cape Town cellar. It takes the listener to a violent world with moments of great beauty. The reporter, far from being edited out, is very much present, as are the thumps and bumps he hears in his headphones. From a May Day call to arms by Winnie Mandela to the extreme views of white right wingers; from 19 year old platoon leaders to the aftermath of an attack by police and soldiers in Soweto; from the words of envoy Terry Waite to the funeral of a television cameraman and the Band Aid-like pop song released by the apartheid regime, ZA86 unflinchingly documents the disturbing reality of 1986 in South Africa. A journey into the heart of apartheid. 150 copies only.