Date & Time: Thursday, 11 September 2025, 13:00–14:30
Venue: University of the Western Cape, School of Government Building, Room 1C
Host: Mr. Yunus Carrim
Enquiries: Ms. Eden Jacobs — edjacobs@uwc.ac.za
About the Book
For over three decades, the remarkable story of Umkhonto we Sizwe’s Special Operations Unit has remained largely untold. Formed under the direct command of ANC president Oliver Tambo and senior ANC and SACP leader Joe Slovo, this elite unit executed some of the most daring and high-profile attacks against the apartheid state in the 1980s. From the spectacular 1980 Sasol bombings to the 1988 attack at the Witbank security police offices, Special Ops was at the forefront of the armed struggle, targeting strategic economic and military sites with precision and determination.
This groundbreaking book brings the history of Special Ops to life through the voices of its surviving participants. Based on interviews with 48 individuals conducted over nearly ten years, this oral history offers an intimate and comprehensive look at the unit’s operations, challenges, and achievements. Drawing on press reports, TRC records, and official documents, the narrative provides a balanced assessment of the political context, role, and significance of Special Ops within the broader ANC-led national liberation struggle.
Attacking the Heart of Apartheid is an essential read for anyone interested in the history of the anti-apartheid struggle, the dynamics of armed resistance, and the power of collective action in the pursuit of justice and equality.
