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No Middle Road To Freedom
On Thursday December 9th, 1982 South African Defence Force Commandos attack Maseru, killing 42 civilians & African National Congress exiles.
Five months later, on Friday May 20th, 1983 the African National Congress detonates a 50 kg car-bomb in Pretoria killing 19 and injuring 217 people.
Overall the picture is one of potentially escalating civil war as prophetic voices against the inevitable violent outcome of the apartheid system continue to go unheeded.
In the words of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Bishop Desmond Tutu addressing the Maseru Massacre commemoration service held by the black community in Soweto on 16th December 1982:
“There are only two roads to freedom in South Africa - and there is no “middle road” - there are only two options - we either talk or we fight!
And I am still saying to the South African Government: ‘we want to help you to
talk’ - because there is absolutely nothing that can be done to stop us from being free !”
Set against the backdrop of the commemoration service held by the black community of Soweto to mourn the victims of the Maseru onslaught & to commemorate all those that have died in the struggle for liberation in South Africa.
“NO MIDDLE ROAD TO FREEDOM” - produced by independent South African Filmmaker Kevin Harris in 1984 - includes an intimate interview with Winnie Mandela banned & banished by the regime to Brandfort in the Orange Free State.
The documentary further gives expression to the collective outrage of the oppressed majority and reflects on the increasing violent tensions in a polarised South African community - with the White status quo - the victims of a mass deception propagated by the regime - basking in comfortable ignorance of the violent realities of the South African situation while the oppressed black majority struggle for liberation from the oppression of Apartheid.
(Previously banned by the Apartheid regime.
Re-released February 2023)