History of South Africa podcast podcast

History of South Africa podcast

A series that seeks to tell the story of the South Africa in some depth. Presented by experienced broadcaster/podcaster Des Latham and updated weekly, the episodes will take a listener through the various epochs that have made up the story of South Africa.

A series that seeks to tell the story of the South Africa in some depth. Presented by experienced broadcaster/podcaster Des Latham and updated weekly, the episodes will take a listener through the various epochs that have made up the story of South Africa.

 

#273

Episode 272 - The Boers wring Major General Colley’s Column at Laing’s Nek

Weather, some say, is fickle. Of course nature is just nature but when you’re on high grou... more

Yesterday

19 MINS

19:56

Yesterday


#272

Episode 271 - Basutoland Gun War, Gold Coast and Ottoman Empire

The British had instigated a war in the Transvaal which fired off in early 1881, but they ... more

19 Apr 2026

22 MINS

22:23

19 Apr 2026


#271

Episode 270 - Kruger vs Black Michael and Courageous Women at the Battle of Bronkhorstspruit

The approach by the English political parties of the time to the young Boer Republics was ... more

12 Apr 2026

21 MINS

21:18

12 Apr 2026


#270

Episode 269 - Bapedi Chief Sekhukhune’s Cruel Fate and the Afrikaner Paradox

The Bapedi have a rich and textured history, as with most of South Africa’s past, where re... more

05 Apr 2026

20 MINS

20:12

05 Apr 2026


#269

Episode 268 - The Theodolite and the Hardepad: Thomas Bain’s Silent Mountain Pass Artisans

There is something magical about mountain passes, weaving through majesty, each corner bec... more

29 Mar 2026

21 MINS

21:04

29 Mar 2026


#268

Episode 267 - Betrayal at the End: Mnyamana, Cetshwayo’s Dutchman, and the Crushing of the Zulu King...

Cornelius Vijn had made a few bad decisions in his life as we all do at some point. Born i... more

22 Mar 2026

21 MINS

21:56

22 Mar 2026


#267

Episode 266: The Wakkerstroom Boer-Zulu Alliance and the death of Prince Napoleon

As the British tried to wrap up their war against the Zulu in South Africa, further afield... more

15 Mar 2026

21 MINS

21:00

15 Mar 2026


#266

Episode 265 – John Dunn’s MI5 Connection, Gingindlovu, and the Relief of Eshowe

The last quarter of the 19th Century was in some ways, like the first quarter of the 21st ... more

08 Mar 2026

18 MINS

18:23

08 Mar 2026


#265

Episode 264 - The Forgotten Battle of Khambula (1879): The Turning Point of the Anglo-Zulu War

The twenty thousand strong Zulu army was camped near Nseka Mountain south of the British c... more

01 Mar 2026

22 MINS

22:42

01 Mar 2026


#264

Episode 263 - How Black Voters Helped Elect Cecil Rhodes: Kimberley and the Cape Franchise, 1879

The battles are coming thick and fast because this is the end of the seventh decade of the... more

22 Feb 2026

19 MINS

19:38

22 Feb 2026


#263

Episode 262 - The Battle of Hlobane – Cowardice, Confusion and the Reckoning at Devil’s Pass

By mid-March 1879, Cetshwayo kaMpande made another attempt to open talks with Chelmsford, ... more

14 Feb 2026

24 MINS

24:15

14 Feb 2026


#262

Episode 261 - Zulu War: Ntombe River Massacre & Prince Hamu’s Defection

Colonel Rowland’s number five column had been sent to guard the roads and garrison the Boe... more

08 Feb 2026

20 MINS

20:44

08 Feb 2026


#261

Episode 260 - Touring South Africa pre-1880, the Tangled Tale of Woolworths and Disraeli Gears

We’re touring the sub-continent today, choose your mode of transport — Cape Cart, ox-wagon... more

30 Jan 2026

19 MINS

19:40

30 Jan 2026