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Jordan Meets Reporter at 'Creed III' Premiere Who 'Teased Him all the Time' in High School: 'I Was the Corny Kid, Right? In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. You hardly have to measure., He continued: The actual shape, we got by looking at their [guards] keys, as we had the overall height already, it was just a question of guessing how deep the cuts were and our guess was correct and the very first key was correct. The lifelong supporters of the Nelson-Mandela-led African National Congress, they strove to mobilize the people to abolish segregation. "We would go to crowded bus stations and markets and leave them. The movie begins with their early days spent planting harmless pamphlet bombs across Cape Town, before plunging us into the tepid everyday life of political prisoners. They then photocopied it and swapped it with other students. Tim, the technical expert of the pair, had devised a way of scattering banned leaflets by using explosive linked to a timer and detonator inside a carrier bag. Stephen and Tim had to open 11 doors in total, some right next to the guards' office. Escape from Pretoria airs on Saturday, 4 July, at 20:00 on TNT (DStv 137) We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred. He is best known for his 1979 escape from Pretoria Local Prison (part of the Pretoria Central Prison complex), along with Stephen Lee and Alex Moumbaris. Alexandre Moumbaris is a political activist and former political prisoner. I was so worried it was making a tremendous noise. [22], In 2013, the story of the prison escape was dramatised in the 7th episode of the 2nd season of Breakout, a television series made by National Geographic TV channel dramatising real-life prison escapes. Jenkin and Leejoined by fellow inmate and French national Alex Moumbarisdecide to send the regime a clear message and escape. If youve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with theMetro.co.ukentertainment team by emailing uscelebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page wed love to hear from you. In order to successfully escape from the prison in December 1979, Jenkin unlocked nine doors while Goldberg diverted the warden. "You are the white Mandela," says a ham-faced warden, all but spitting in the face of anti-apartheid activist Tim Jenkin upon his arrival at Pretoria Local Prison in 1978. It was hugely emotional, Stephen recalls. I loaned it to them for the film., No longer having any of the original keys, not even as a keepsake of another life, Jenkin says: I have replicas that look like them, but not the real ones. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. The prison, constructed from stone and steel, had gone down in prisoner folklore as being a fortress from which no one could ever hope to escape. As our central trio trace a taut treasure trail of keyholes and cupboards, Annans direction settles into a smooth groove of high-tension setpieces, teased out to breath-suspending effect. But near doors five and six was the night warders office. In the end, it was the selfless actions of a fourth prisoner, Denis Goldberg - who had been sentenced alongside Mandela, and who would ultimately serve 22 years - who made their bid for freedom a reality. I just couldnt believe it., Stephen remembers the exact moment he had heard the lock click. For three years they set off harmless leaflet bombs - explosive devices at the bottom of a shopping bag that could distribute 500 propaganda pamphlets in one 'bang' - spreading word of the liberation movement in public places. After hundreds of days of looking at the keys, he commits their shape to memory and successfully makes replicas for all nineteen doors that lead to the main gate of the prison. The escape preparations brought some differences of opinion amongst the political prisoners, but they remained comrades and all contributed in some way to the escape effort. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Alexandre Moumbaris is a political activist and former political prisoner.He was born in Egypt to Greek parents, grew up in Australia, lived and worked in the UK, was imprisoned in South Africa and now lives in France.He is known for his political activism against the apartheid rgime in South Africa in the 1970s, and his subsequent incarceration in, and 1979 escape from, Pretoria Local . It's not intended as a compliment: "The most deluded of them all," the warden adds, lest it be taken as such. skuggans caf lngtora. Written and directed by Francis Annan, the historical thriller sheds light on how Stephen and Tim managed to defy all expectations and escape from the Pretoria Central Prison. In my early years I had learned to pick the back door lock at home with a piece of wire, he explained. It's not intended as a compliment: "The most deluded of them all," the warden adds, lest it be taken as such. They were determined to fight the countys unjust apartheid regime which had enforced racial segregation since 1948. Just supporting the liberation movement was deemed to be terrorism.. This one actually has its roots in a real-life story, as it'll be based on Tim Jenkin's autobiography Inside Out: Escape From Pretoria Prison. Escape From Pretoria is in cinemas Friday. While cleaning their corridor outside, Tim got his second key to fit but the bolt became stuck. Lying on his bunk one night, he gazed at the lock in front of him and had a flash of inspiration. SLOUCHED on his bed in the small, dingy cell of the notorious jail where he was destined to spend the next 12 years, Tim Jenkin had a flash of inspiration. [18], From there they were flown to Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, accompanied by MK commander, Joe Modise. Stephen and Tim began devising ways to break out as soon as they arrived. Alex Moumbaris was born in Egypt to Greek parents and grew up in Australia. But when it comes to watching him break out of prison all over again, though, there is no stirring feeling, no rush of emotions that come back to Jenkin. "We were right underneath an armed guard but he didnt see us. After the escape, the prison was refurbished to improve security. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Together with his co-writers L.H. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. On 30 December they were flown to Zambia, where they were accommodated under armed guard in Lusaka and their presence was officially announced by the ANC in early January 1980. Radcliffe is playing a real-life person, Tim Jenkin, in a thrilling story based on a true story. We started just before the Soweto uprising in 1976 and carried on for three years. This was going to let us out of the cells into the corridor.. However, after the escape plan had captured his imagination, he cleaned up and changed his attitude, and was soon promoted to the "A" group. He successfully distributed leaflets this way on Cape Town's Grand Parade. 40 years after his mad dash for freedom with his collection of wooden keys and one chisel which was, unbelievably, successful Jenkins story is being told in the feature film, with Daniel Radcliffe playing the lead role. He was accused of having published, in the Press Newsletter (BIP), the article "Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) 2010", summing up the activities and successes of the BDS campaign during 2010. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The key, fortunately, also worked for the door of Stephen's neighbouring cell. In the 1990s he and others created an association dedicated to the memory of Joseph Stalin, later dissolved but re-formed, for his role in creating socialism, with free health and education. Banished to the vast prison complex of Pretoria, the countrys administrative capital, Jenkin and Lee are protectively counseled by veteran liberal political prisoner Denis Goldberg (British veteran Ian Hart, giving the character a geezer-y air), who advises them to keep their heads down and to serve their time with dignity as prisoners of conscience. The youngsters, countering that they are instead prisoners of war, immediately set about an escape plan regardless. It was dangerous, they did have regular inspections. We would spot the night warden and your heart is just pumping," said Tim. I got a piece of paper and, using a knife, pressed it into the lock. [2] In 1995, Jenkin wrote a 6-part article series called Talking to Vula: The Story of the Secret Underground Communications Network of Operation Vula. . why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria. Years later, while based in Camden, North London, he would set up a rudimentary computer that enabled coded messages to be sent from the ANC to their agents and even to Mandela in prison. He had big plans to shoot Escape from Pretoria in South Africa a couple of years ago, but the money fell through. Two years later, Marie-Jos gave birth to a daughter, Zo, who was born on 11 December 1981, the second anniversary of the escape. Jenkins book of the same title was published in 1987, when he was still living as a fugitive from nominal justice in London. While Tim - the technical mastermind - was sentenced to 12 years in jail, his friend Stephen got eight years. [23], In December 1979,[7] Jenkin, Lee and fellow inmate Alex Moumbaris[24][17] broke out of Pretoria Central Prison using handmade keys to ten of the doors leading out of the prison, after several hair-raising moments when encountering unforeseen obstacles. lindbacken fastigheter [2] However the boat had developed engine problems and had to return to Somalia. A guard who found it assumed a colleague was to blame. "After that I took a chance and took the parts we needed, including a file, back to my cell in a Thermos flask.. Fortunately marks on the wood showed where the key was jamming, so Tim knew which parts to file down. Stephen deliberately engineered a trip to the dentist that allowed him to pick up vital information for their potential route out. Given the limited backstory filled in by Annan and L.H. It took them months to crack the fourth lock. We were working in a carpentry workshop and I thought, I wonder if we can make a key out of wood. After leaving . You are the white Mandela, says a ham-faced warden, all but spitting in the face of anti-apartheid activist Tim Jenkin upon his arrival at Pretoria Local Prison in 1978. Sketchy as it is on human details, Escape from Pretoria gets by on such practical nuts and bolts. The pair, who are both now in their 70s, settled in north London, with Tim eventually relocating to Johannesburg years later. In 2015 he went on a national tour in Australia organised by Karel Boele speaking about his escape and community currencies. At night there were dogs in the yard, Stephen told The Mirror. He was born in Egypt to Greek parents, grew up in Australia, lived and worked in the UK, was imprisoned in South Africa and now lives in France. They were both found guilty on one charge, with Jenkin receiving a 12-year sentence and Lee eight. 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