Visit To The Border
primary_youtube_id: HmWwhX6eyfQ
Extract 2
Extract 3
1970s
0:18:00
South Africa
Propaganda film that focuses on the lives of South African soldiers fighting in the “operational area” during the South African Border War, also known as the Namibian War of Independence. The SADF (South African Defence Force) is fighting SWAPO (South West Africa People’s Organisation), which it characterises as a terrorist organisation.
Physical formats available:
VHS,
Mini DV
Digital formats available:
Quicktime (Pro Res)
Audio & visual:
Sound,
Color
Collection
South African Propaganda
(35)
During the apartheid era, the South African Information Service launched a campaign of propaganda and disinformation aimed at the Western powers, which it considered its natural allies against what it called the “Communist onslaught” to take over South Africa.
This campaign was both covert and overt, and ranged from what appeared to be straightforward tourist films to savage attacks on the ANC through a source apparently connected to the South African Information Service. The South African government spent millions of dollars to win support, with most of this effort being directed at the USA, where it had many influential sympathisers of the apartheid regime.
These VHS tapes represent an extremely rare collection of propaganda materials produced by the Information Service.
