A KGB trained spy in Cold War South Africa (294)

Cold War Conversations Podcast

Ian Sanders

Society & Culture, Documentary, History

4.8 • 758 Ratings

🗓️ 9 June 2023

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

South Africa in the 1980s is a brutal, racist regime. Those who oppose it risk their lives. Sue Dobson, was a young white South African woman who was also a spy for the banned African National Congress. The ANC was a liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid In the 1980s she built a legend, a fake persona where she pretends to conform, moving easily through the echelons of the racist government in her work as a journalist, whilst concealing her espionage and military training in the Soviet Union, and her intelligence work. We begin with her childhood and what life was like under apartheid. Sue then describes her journey to joining the African National Congress, her recruitment into the armed wing, and her training in the Soviet Union. 0:00 Introduction and brief history of apartheid 0:31 Sue Dobson: Life as a spy for the ANC 8:35 Geopolitical outlook of South Africa during the Cold War 15:40 Sue Dobson's initial contact with the ANC and her training 24:38 Living a lie permanently and returning to London 27:43 First impressions of the Soviet Union 32:57 Building strong bonds with the training team 39:55 Shocking news upon return to South Africa and becoming a spy 44:31 End of part one and preview for next week Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨ Buy the book here and support Cold War Conversations Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll become part of our community and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link. Enter our book giveaway here https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/ Episode extras including videos and photos https://coldwarconversations.com/episode294/ Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
0:05.9	Timothy Shalame is Bob Dylan and a complete unknown.
0:09.4	If anyone who's going to hold your attention on the state, you have to kind of be a freak.
0:13.9	Critics agree it's outstanding on every level. Five stars.
0:19.1	Shalemay is a revelation.
0:20.8	What do you want to be?
0:21.9	Whatever it is, they don't want me to be.
0:23.8	Now nominated for the Golden Globes for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor, Edward Norton.
0:29.3	A complete unknown.
0:30.6	Ladies and gentlemen, Bob Bill!
0:32.5	In cinema's January 17, rated 15.
0:56.0	This is Cold War Conversations. If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts. Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app or join our emailing list at cold warconversations.com.
1:05.9	South Africa in the 1980s is a brutal racist apartheid regime. Those who oppose it risk their lives. Apartite was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that exist in South Africa from
1:13.6	1948 to the early 1990s.
1:16.6	Sue Dobson was a young white South African woman, but she was also a spy for the banned African National Congress.
1:25.6	The ANC was a liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid.
1:31.3	In the 1980s, she built a legend, a fake persona, where she pretends to conform, moving easily
1:38.1	through the echelons of the racist government in her work as a journalist, whilst concealing
1:43.4	her espionage and military training
1:45.6	in the Soviet Union and her intelligence work. Sue has written a book about her experiences
1:51.9	called Burned, the spy South Africa never caught. There's links in the episode notes for you to
1:59.5	purchase the book and support Cold War
	...

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