On arrival at Pretoria, a jail for white political prisoners, both men were so focused on escaping they even asked relatives to smuggle in money for taxi fares once they broke out. But of course if you continue doing something long enough, you will make mistakes. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. folktandvrden karlskoga flyttar . In my early years I had learned to pick the back door lock at home with a piece of wire, he says. Messages were typed into a computer, encrypted and saved to audio cassette, then sent from a public callbox to an answering machine. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. [39], Harry Potter of Jailbreaking: Tim Jenkin on Freedom, first fully democratic elections in South Africa, "Talking to Vula: The Story of the Secret Underground Communications Network of Operation Vula", "Press Conference by O. R. Tambo, Introducing Alexandre Moumbaris, Stephen Lee and Timothy Jenkin who Escaped from Prison in South Africa", "Should communities be able to design their own currencies? why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoriabegagnad frtltsmatta why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria The leaflet bombs were effective in spreading the anti-apartheid message, Stephen says. We use cookies and similar tools that are . La historia del activista sudafricano Tim Jenkin inspira Fuga de Pretoria, . All of them imprisoned for underground work on behalf of the . [7] Goldberg distracted the warden while the three made their escape. I felt so elated. Locked up in a maximum-security jail for leaflets against apartheid, they embarked on one of the most audacious escapes in history. Written and directed by Francis Annan, the historical thriller sheds light on how Stephen and Tim managed to defy all expectations and escape from the Pretoria Central Prison. On 11 December 1979 the three escapees managed to execute their master plan, against all odds, and found themselves outside the prison, in civilian clothes. At night there were dogs in the yard, Stephen told The Mirror. Elated, they moved on to door three, which, incredibly, worked with the same key as the inner cell door. Submitted by Mary Christine Part 1: Intro Part 2: The wasteland Part 3: Societal collapse Part 4: Final outcome Part 5: Doing good 2. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. He also participated in a local parkrun, a hobby which he said stemmed back from his days of running to keep fit in prison. It couldnt be reached by his cell, so he had to gradually fit that second key to size doing stints cleaning the corridor during prisoners' chore times. [20] After a spell in the notorious John Vorster Square in Johannesburg, they were returned to Cape Town and after four weeks, allowed to see family, and held at Pollsmoor Prison as they awaited trial. The moment we heard the knocking on the door, we knew that was it, Tim told The Times. There was also a six-metre high barbed-wire perimeter fence. But we got away with it.. Tiene 72 aos y ha escrito varios libros. But when it comes to watching him break out of prison all over again, though, there is no stirring feeling, no rush of emotions that come back to Jenkin. We just hoped that nobody would see us.". Imposing: Pretoria Prison Speaking from his home in North London, dad-of-two Stephen, now 62, says they had been determined to escape from the moment they arrived at notorious Pretoria. A lot of people cant understand how we got the shape of the key, but if you break it down most of the dimensions you get from the lock itself, you measure the hole, Jenkin explains like its nothing. Upon legal advice, both pleaded guilty to all charges. There were a few worrying signs that Jenkin was being monitored, but he went to London to see Robin for six weeks and returned without incident. There was only one guard on duty and he was chatting to Denis, said Stephen, recalling how he kept him distracted. The movie begins with their early days spent planting harmless pamphlet bombs across Cape Town, before plunging us into the tepid everyday life of political prisoners. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. He would then lean out of the tiny opening next to the door of his cell, and get the key inside the lock with a broomstick and a mirror. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Daniel Radcliffe stars as inmate Tim Jenkin in new film 'Escape To Pretoria' about the famous South African prison break in 1979, The film is set during the during the Apartheid era in Capetown, South Africa, The Pretoria Central Prison divided up prisoners depending on their race, Its gallows, which are left untouched today, could end the lives of seven at once, Sitting on his bed in his jail cell, Tim realised he could fashion a key to unlock the door, Tim was sentenced to 12 years behind bars for supporting Nelson Mandela's ANC, His friend Stephen Lee received eight years for his political "terrorism" fighting apartheid, Once Tim had cracked the third door, inmate Alexis Moumbaris, pictured, joined the escape effort, After leaving South Africa via Tanzania, the pair - now in their 70s - settled in the UK, New Amazon Prime documentary explores the case of Oscar Pistorius who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, Inside audacious Escape From Pretoria where prisoners fled hellhole jail by carving wooden keys for ELEVEN metal doors, Kate and Rio Ferdinand had 'heated' rows over her pregnancy that ended in tears as she thought he 'didn't care', Ed Sheeran reveals wife Cherry 'had a tumour' that could only be treated after birth of 2nd baby as he announces album, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). He was accused of having published, in the Press Newsletter (BIP), the article "Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) 2010", summing up the activities and successes of the BDS campaign during 2010. Escape from Pretoria at IMDb "20 Films That Starred 3 Or More Harry Potter Actors". I made the first key in the first week. He was also influenced by the Vietnam War and the Greek coup of the colonels in 1967. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Nick Fentons editing, meanwhile, maintains a keen sense of physical space and strain, not least in one comically queasy scene where a dropped key must be retrieved with the aid of a broomstick and chewing gum. [21], Commenting on the 2017 French election, Moumbaris named Franois Asselineau as his favourite candidate, but he would vote for Marine Le Pen rather than Emmanuel Macron, purely based on protection of the nation against Macron's "financial fascism", but was still a staunch communist. He escaped with fellow activists Stephen Lee and Alex Moumbaris. [12], Moumbaris, although enrolled in university courses, did not undertake formal studies at all while in prison; it was a cover so extra books could be obtained from the university library for everyone to make use of; it was a way of keeping themselves informed about the world. Its surprising that its taken this long to reach the screen, given how sveltely his gripping story fits into a genre-film uniform. Tim did eventually carve a key to fit, but when he tried it the bolt jammed and he had to return to his cell. At first the wooden key didnt turn the inner cell door lock. A massive police operation was launched to recapture the convicts, but by that time Stephen and Tim were on their way out of South Africa, to safety in the UK. The French Communist Party published a press release in his support on 20 May 2011. This led him to learning more about the injustice in his own country. All Rights Reserved. Each night after lights went out, the trio sneaked out of their cells - once Tim had used the first key to unlock them all - to try and get through an extra door. [2], He and Jenkin carried out a first trial run of the escape plan, and were involved in a couple of scrapes which nearly led to discovery in the lead-up to the escape. [18], From there they were flown to Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, accompanied by MK commander, Joe Modise. and 1979 escape from, Pretoria Local Prison (within the Pretoria Central Prison complex) with Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee. Through reading material banned by the government, they came to see the "naked reality" of apartheid and the undemocratic behavior of the ruling party, and felt a burning desire to effect positive change, which, Jenkin concluded, was only possible using unconstitutional means under the current regime. The escape preparations brought some differences of opinion amongst the political prisoners, but they remained comrades and all contributed in some way to the escape effort. Similarly to American Animals, the fast-paced narrative is geared toward the great moment of liberation, showing how the prisoners ended up developing their invincible strategy. It took them months to crack the fourth lock. Following the. He moved frequently around the country while growing up and went to school predominantly in . [2], Moumbaris was still living in Normandy as of July 2017[update]. Tim Jenkin and his allies were imprisoned at Pretoria Prison in South Africa. For Jenkin, that cost is a 12-year prison sentence, handed down after he and his best friend Stephen Lee (Daniel Webber, tersely charismatic in a thin part) were caught planting a leaflet bomb to distribute ANC protest flyers in central Cape Town. Two years later, Marie-Jos gave birth to a daughter, Zo, who was born on 11 December 1981, the second anniversary of the escape. [21], Along with Lee, Jenkin was charged with "producing and distributing 18 different pamphlets on behalf of banned organisations" including the South African Communist Party, the ANC and its armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, from 1975 to 1978, and urging people to join the liberation movement. As Stephen explained in a previous interview with The Daily Mail, he came up with the solution to end all of their woes during a lonely, quiet night in his prison cell. To make this possible, they befriended another inmate, Alex Moumbaris. A guard who found it assumed a colleague was to blame. He is known for his political activism against the apartheid rgime in South Africa in the 1970s, and his subsequent incarceration in, and 1979 escape from, Pretoria Local . Stephen would wait until the guards had gone to sleep. We would spot the night warden and your heart is just pumping," said Tim. But, as Tim noted, they were escaping from an imprisonment they never deserved. The ol razzle dazzle where his journey looks nothing like how it has been portrayed on screen, In a way the real story is even more exciting, its just too long to fit into the 100 minutes, so theyve taken license to summaries a whole lot of events into one. I made that within a week or two of being there, it wasnt that difficult.. They had to leave it untested until the actual night of their escape, December 11, 1979 - 18 months after their conviction. [5] As Marie-Jos was pregnant at the time and under pressure from the French ambassador, she was not charged but instead deported back to France[3] after four months. [9] When an escape committee of three prisoners was set up, Moumbaris (and not Jenkin or Lee) was selected as he was "the most vociferous" and a good negotiator. So I wouldnt say its embellished at all, its quite accurate, he explains. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. [6], At the end of 1970 Jenkin enrolled at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science degree at the end of 1973. [14], Moumbaris was allowed to see the French envoy from time to time, who would assure him he was doing everything within his power to secure his release and persuade the authorities to let Marie-Jos visit him. The last 30-odd years have seen such a wealth of diverse, resonant personal histories emerge from the ashes of apartheid not least that of the actual, not-white Mandela that Escape from Pretoria could well have missed its moment entirely. Locked up in a maximum-security jail for setting off harmless leaflet propaganda bombs spreading dissent against the apartheid regime in 1970s South Africa, Stephen and friend Tim Jenkin were about to embark on one of the most audacious prison breaks in history. Jenkin was born in Cape Town and educated at Rondebosch Boys' Prep and Boys' High School,[2][3] matriculating aged 17. The pair, who are both now in their 70s, settled in north London, with Tim eventually relocating to Johannesburg years later. All Rights Reserved. The lifelong supporters of the Nelson-Mandela-led African National Congress, they strove to mobilize the people to abolish segregation. They were never told how the security police got onto them, and Jenkin concluded that it must have been the result of meticulous police work and long surveillance. [Part 1: Intro] South Africa is a beautiful country and home to many unique languages and cultures, such as the Afrikaner (or Boer). In the 1990s he and others created an association dedicated to the memory of Joseph Stalin, later dissolved but re-formed, for his role in creating socialism, with free health and education. Alexandre Moumbaris is a political activist and former political prisoner. [2] He worked for about nine years before becoming involved with the ANC [3] as one of the "London Recruits". [31][32] In 2013, the story of the prison escape was dramatised in the 7th episode of the 2nd season of Breakout, a television series made by National Geographic TV channel dramatising real-life prison escapes. [24], In May 2017, it was announced production would start on a film of Jenkin's book, produced by David Barron and starring Daniel Radcliffe as Jenkin and Ian Hart as Goldberg. I took the file that I brought, and I had the lock in front of me so I could keep testing it, he explained of the agonisingly slow process. Lying on his bunk one night, he gazed at the lock in front of him and had a flash of inspiration. "You are the white Mandela," says a ham-faced warden, all but spitting in the face of anti-apartheid activist Tim Jenkin upon his arrival at Pretoria Local Prison in 1978. Stephen began to experiment with wooden keys the exact replicas used by prison guards during his compulsory shifts at the prison's wood workshop. Jenkin worked as a researcher for the Institute for Social Development at the University of the Western Cape, a university for South Africans of mixed racial ancestry, or Coloureds. He successfully distributed leaflets this way on Cape Town's Grand Parade. Jenkin and Lee - joined by fellow inmate and French national Alex Moumbaris - decide to send the regime a clear message and escape. It was dangerous, they did have regular inspections. A third prisoner, Alex Moumbaris, was brought in to be part of the escape. Its not intended as a compliment: The most deluded of them all, the warden adds, lest it be taken as such. It's not intended as a compliment: "The most deluded of them all," the warden adds, lest it be taken as such. I was so worried it was making a tremendous noise. Escape from Pretoria airs on Saturday, 4 July, at 20:00 on TNT (DStv 137) We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred. Alex Moumbaris (section Escape) and 1979 escape from, Pretoria Local Prison (within the Pretoria Central Prison complex) with Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee. When he finally unlocked his cell door after two whole months of filing, he was overjoyed, Boom this thing just slid open, absolutely smoothly. Jenkins was not going to help the cause by sitting in prison, and he set about planning an escape. [10], Upon return to Cape Town in July 1975, Lee and Jenkin bought a typewriter, duplicator and stationery to print and post pamphlets and leased first a garage and then a tiny apartment. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. His wife was detained during the same period of his detention, but was later released without charge. In February 1974, Jenkin and Lee left the country in order to join the ANC in London, with the intention of helping to bring about change in South Africa. [9] His ongoing task of generating enthusiasm amongst the other inmates for the escape plan was onerous, and the stress affected his health. Together with his co-writers L.H. In front of him was a lock - and the sight of it was enough to propel him to his feet and set to work making a wooden key that would help him and fellow inmate Stephen Lee make it to freedom. [2] In 1995, Jenkin wrote a 6-part article series called Talking to Vula: The Story of the Secret Underground Communications Network of Operation Vula. [23], In December 1979,[7] Jenkin, Lee and fellow inmate Alex Moumbaris[24][17] broke out of Pretoria Central Prison using handmade keys to ten of the doors leading out of the prison, after several hair-raising moments when encountering unforeseen obstacles. 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