The Other Side of Freedom Stories of Hope and Loss in the South African Liberation Struggle, 1950-1994

After more than twenty years of democracy in South Africa, the history of the liberation struggle is losing relevance in the national consciousness as the country grapples with the pressing challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment. Nevertheless, the liberation struggle spawned many heroes and heroines, some whose contributions have been captured in autobiographies, biographies, book chapters, books and journal articles. The names of a larger number are not mentioned and do not feature even as footnotes in any publication on the history of the struggle. The book The other side of freedom: Stories of hope and loss in South African Liberation Struggle 1950-1994 presents a compilation of 26 profiles of a diverse selection of activists and leaders in the liberation struggle.

Mojalefa Dipholo is a researcher with the Human Sciences Research Council; Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery Unit and holds an honors degree in Political Science from the University of Johannesburg.Gregory Houston is a chief research specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council and research fellow of the History department, University of the Free State, and holds an MA in political studies from the University of the Witwatersrand and a PhD in political science from the University of Natal. Hangwelani Hope Magidimisha is the first black woman to be awarded a PhD degree in Town and Regional Planning from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Shepi Mati worked for 11 years as producer and later manager of the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA). Elmé Vivier is a researcher looking at issues of local governance, service delivery and public engagement.