Through The Cracks - The untold story of Mbuyisa Makhubu

Follow Through The Cracks - The untold story of Mbuyisa Makhubu
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Do you know who Mbuyisa Makhubu is? His tortured face stares out from Sam Nzima’s famous photograph of the 1976 Soweto Uprising but little is known about the tall, lanky man in dungarees carrying a wounded Hector Pieterson. This four part podcast series investigates his journey from the most wanted…

Primedia Broadcasting


    • Jun 10, 2016 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 37m AVG DURATION
    • 4 EPISODES


    More podcasts from Primedia Broadcasting

    Search for episodes from Through The Cracks - The untold story of Mbuyisa Makhubu with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Through The Cracks - The untold story of Mbuyisa Makhubu

    Episode 4: Lingering Mystery

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2016 33:55


    Is it him or isn’t it him? Some members of the Makhubu family and some politicians still maintain Victor Vinnetou is indeed Mbuyisa Makhubu. Others rubbish the suggestion. Episode Four investigates by weighing up the facts and through the interpretation of forensic experts. It also explores why no one – absolutely no one – in government will speak about this story. There are even allegations of death threats and cover-ups.

    Episode 3: Mbuyisa Discovered?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2016 38:45


    After nearly forty years of mystery and intrigue about what may have happened to Mbuyisa Makhubu, new hope is rekindled in 2013. A man is discovered languishing in a Canadian prison and authorities suspect it may be the iconic June 16 hero. Episode Three follows the dramatic rollercoaster ride of the Makhubu family as they try to establish whether the man known as Victor Vinnetou is their long-lost relative. This journey is dictated by buried family skeletons, political shenanigans and deceit. It includes exclusive transcripts detailing the testimony of Vinnetou at a hearing in December 2015.

    Episode 2: Walking to Jamaica

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2016 34:17


    As a result of Sam Nzima’s photograph, Mbuyisa Makhubu became the most wanted man in Soweto. He fled into exile to Botswana and then on to Nigeria where he disappeared. Episode Two tracks Makhubu’s journey between 1976 and 1978 through the voices of those who were with him at the time, his handwritten notes and other documentation that paint a picture of his poor health, mental instability and desperate homesickness. The speculation about his fate, from drowning to walking across oceans and voodoo, is also explored.

    Episode 1: The Hell Was Loose

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2016 41:18


    During the Soweto Uprising on 16 June 1976, photographer Sam Nzima captured the iconic image of 18-year-old Mbuyisa Makhubu carrying a dying boy, Hector Pieterson. While the photograph has endured, little is known about Makhubu and what became of him. Episode One in this series revisits the Soweto Uprising through the voices of the student leaders, Pieterson’s sister and the photographer who captured the image.

    Claim Through The Cracks - The untold story of Mbuyisa Makhubu

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel