THE SECRET LIVES OF SPIES

Jonathan Ancer, author

This lecture will discuss South African spies and explore how they managed to build relationships of trust and live between the shadows of two worlds, and how they maintained the boundaries between their real identity and their spy legend. The lecture is based on the recently released book Betrayal which documents the lives (and double lives) of spies on both sides of the apartheid divide which includes the reluctant conscript in military intelligence who spied for the ANC and the host of campus spies who betrayed their friends in the student movement. It will also include information about the people who were spied on and look at the triple themes of betrayal, repentance and forgiveness.

Recommended reading

Ancer, J. 2017. Spy: Uncovering Craig Williamson. Johannesburg: Jacana Media 

Ancer, J. 2019. Betrayal: The Secret Lives of Apartheid Spies. Cape Town: Tafelberg