"You get back to your cell and youd think, 'OK, its over, I can relax' but you couldnt.". more Rent SAR 14.99 Buy SAR 49.99 Trailers Ratings and Reviews 4.5 COMMON SENSE 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. Others were also caught, but they succeeded in infiltrating a number of trained militants. In my early years I had learned to pick the back door lock at home with a piece of wire, he says. Messages were typed into a computer, encrypted and saved to audio cassette, then sent from a public callbox to an answering machine. This, along with his generally scruffy appearance and his refusal to keep his cell tidy led to a bad reputation amongst the prison wardens meant he had never been promoted beyond the "B" group in his six years in prison, while the others had reached "A" within two. The film Escape from Pretoria was based on Tim Jenkins' book Inside Out: Escape from Pretoria Central Prison. It was hugely emotional, Stephen recalls. After leaving . Speaking to Metro.co.uk about learning the news Radcliffe would be portraying him, Jenkin (who was sentenced to 12 years in prison) said the A-list casting came as a surprise. Using the broom he was allowed to keep to sweep his cell, he created another genius contraption. Moumbaris was fully involved in the preparation of landings on the East Coast of South Africa. He also once unfurled an ANC banner from a building in Durban,[5] and was subsequently entrusted with more risky assignments. 'Escape from Pretoria' will . [35][36] Filming of Escape from Pretoria began in Adelaide, South Australia, in March and April 2019, with Daniel Webber joining the cast as Lee. It was gut-wrenching the length of time we were given, Stephen recalled. Its not intended as a compliment: The most deluded of them all, the warden adds, lest it be taken as such. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Their fellow inmates told them theyd never make it. Using an ingenious homemade wooden key attached, like a crankshaft, to the end of a broomstick, Tim had just got through his outer cell door. [19], By escaping, Moumbaris had reduced his sentence by five and a half years. 3 views today. However, escaping - something no inmate had successfully done before - was going to be no easy task. Jenkin was born in Cape Town and educated at Rondebosch Boys' Prep and Boys' High School,[2][3] matriculating aged 17. It was not until the following morning that the warders realised the three men were missing. People / Alex Moumbaris. On the outside of the first door was another door made of solid metal, but the lock was on the other side and there was no way of reaching it from inside the cell. But Tim Jenkin did, and you may be surprised to learn one of the most daring prison escapes was executed right under the noses of Pretoria Prison guards back in 1979 and involved nothing but the keys made in Jenkins own cell. I got a piece of paper and, using a knife, pressed it into the lock. [15], At 3am the morning of 2 March 1978, Jenkin and Lee were both arrested, after being seen moving their printing equipment into their own dwelling. [12], Moumbaris, although enrolled in university courses, did not undertake formal studies at all while in prison; it was a cover so extra books could be obtained from the university library for everyone to make use of; it was a way of keeping themselves informed about the world. 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. 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. While reminiscing about his childhood years, he suddenly remembered how he would pick locks back at home. While their revolutionary deeds helped to change the course of history, their prison escape was that which garnered them real fame. [7] Goldberg distracted the warden while the three made their escape. While awaiting clearance for membership, Jenkin worked as a social worker at a reform school in Swindon. Alexandre Moumbaris is a political activist and former political prisoner. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. He signalled his wish to be included in any possible escape plan to Jenkin even before the idea was presented to him, after Jenkin had mentioned he and Lee had brought some money into prison. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. We would spot the night warden and your heart is just pumping," said Tim. However, after the escape plan had captured his imagination, he cleaned up and changed his attitude, and was soon promoted to the "A" group. The sense of freedom was amazing. [1], Moumbaris was the only non-South African prisoner, and when Jenkin met him, he appeared as "a little aloof". [20] After a spell in the notorious John Vorster Square in Johannesburg, they were returned to Cape Town and after four weeks, allowed to see family, and held at Pollsmoor Prison as they awaited trial. He signalled his wish to be included in any possible escape plan to Jenkin even before the idea was presented to him, after Jenkin had mentioned he and Lee had brought some money into prison. There were a few worrying signs that Jenkin was being monitored, but he went to London to see Robin for six weeks and returned without incident. 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. La historia del activista sudafricano Tim Jenkin inspira Fuga de Pretoria, . But near doors five and six was the night warders office. The last 30-odd years have seen such a wealth of diverse, resonant personal histories emerge from the ashes of apartheid not least that of the actual, not-white Mandela that " Escape from. Now Escape From Pretoria tells the story of Jenkin and Stephen Lee, two white South African activists, imprisoned in 1978 for working on behalf of the African National Congress (ANC), and their escape from the notorious white mans Robben Island, Pretoria Prison. He escaped with fellow activists Stephen Lee and Alex Moumbaris. 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. 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 . Denis Goldberg first joined in with the intention of fleeing as well, but he eventually withdrew and stayed on as an advisor. [19], In 2014 a documentary film called The Vula Connection, about Jenkin and his part in the creation of an ingenious secret communication system that enabled Vula operatives to penetrate South Africa's borders in secret, ultimately smuggling messages to the imprisoned Nelson Mandela, was made by Marion Edmunds. [18], Jenkin returned to South Africa in 1991 to manage the ANC's communications network. This was how he knew how long the key needed to be. As clunkily deployed in the [] "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. I still have it in my toolbox and still use it as a normal tool. Jenkin hatches a plan to whittle wooden facsimiles of the keys to every door separating them from the outside world an almost naively simple scheme that necessitates a complex network of hiding places and bluffs, as vindictive guards begin to suspect something is afoot. Yet fellow prisoners, who had already spent years locked up behind the six-metre high barbed-wire perimeter fence, poured scorn on their ambitions. When youre making it the lock is right there, you keep filing it until it fits in the holes. Lying on his bunk one night, he gazed at the lock in front of him and had a flash of inspiration. [5] He later wrote that he had "grown up a 'normal' complacent white South African" who "unthinkingly accepted the system and for twenty-one years never questioned it". [14], Undeterred, Jenkin continued the work in Cape Town, finding a new premises and regularly changing their printing equipment, and both carried out further leaflet bombings in Johannesburg. The layout of the prison cell Tim escaped fromAfter making most of the key in his first week, Tim also needed to smuggle it back to his cell. Members' spirits were low and this combination of factors made it difficult for the ANC to re-infiltrate the combatants who had been trained abroad. [3], On 23 October 1973, the matter of possible theft of documents from the Clapham Common home of Moumbaris and his wife was raised in the UK parliament by Labour party MP Alex Lyon. 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 Prison (within the Pretoria Central Prison complex) with Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee. They moved to London in 1961,[1] where Moumbaris worked for the IT department of Reuters-Comtel. [25][26] Filming of Escape from Pretoria began in Adelaide, South Australia, in March 2019, with Daniel Webber joining the cast as Lee. Dirigida por Francis Annan y con Daniel Radcliffe en el papel principal, est basada en el libro que el mismo Jenkin escribi relatando la horrible experiencia vivida poco antes de los 80, cuando fue apresado. Moumbaris and Jenkin, by a variety of means, travelled overland to Swaziland and went to United Nations High Commission for Refugees, who were sympathetic to their plight and took them to an ANC representative. Jenkin was born in Cape Town and educated at Rondebosch Boys' Prep and Boys' High School, matriculating aged 17. It was hugely emotional. He lived and worked in UK and later moved to South Africa. 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. United Nations High Commission for Refugees, "Press Conference by O. R. Tambo, Introducing Alexandre Moumbaris, Stephen Lee and Timothy Jenkin who Escaped from Prison in South Africa", "Ambassador Molekane receives stalwart of the apartheid struggle Alex Moumbaris at the SA Embassy", "Media Statement by the Chancellor of the National Orders and Director-General in the Presidency, Dr. Cassius Lubisi, at the Union Buildings, Pretoria", "Daniel Radcliffe to Star in Prison-Break Drama 'Escape From Pretoria', "Sam Neill joins Daniel Radcliffe in 'Escape From Pretoria', "Adelaide transformed into apartheid-era Cape Town for Escape From Pretoria filming", "Daniel Radcliffe touches down in Adelaide for new movie", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alex_Moumbaris&oldid=1101678249, All Wikipedia articles written in South African English, Articles containing potentially dated statements from July 2017, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 August 2022, at 07:50. [4] He had not grown up in a political family, but when in Britain associated with Communists there and he was inspired by the communist resistance to the Axis occupation of Greece during World War II. In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. On 9 January Moumbaris left for France and was welcomed upon arrival in Paris by Marie-Jos (whom he had not seen for seven years), his mother, 7-year-old son Boris, and many friends and well-wishers. Director Francis Annan and his co-writer L.H . There was only one guard on duty and he was chatting to Denis, said Stephen, recalling how he kept him distracted. 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. Nick Fentons editing, meanwhile, maintains a keen sense of physical space and strain, not least in one comically queasy scene where a dropped key must be retrieved with the aid of a broomstick and chewing gum. . [2], Moumbaris became involved with the ANC at a time when the organisation had suffered many setbacks. To make this possible, they befriended another inmate, Alex Moumbaris. Tiene 72 aos y ha escrito varios libros. and 1979 escape from, Pretoria Local Prison (within the Pretoria Central Prison complex) with Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee. : National speaking tour with Tim Jenkin and Karel Boele", "Award for Excellence in the Field of Humanitarian Service", "Daniel Radcliffe touches down in Adelaide for new movie", "Revolutionary Secrets: Technology's Role in the South African Anti-Apartheid Movement", "Sam Neill joins Daniel Radcliffe in 'Escape From Pretoria', "Ch. View our online Press Pack. Jenkin's autobiography Inside Out: Escape from Pretoria Prison is the inspiration for the screenplay and will tell the story of how Jenkin, Lee and Alex Moumbaris escaped the prison using. Jenkin, Lee, and fellow prisoner Alex Moumbaris were also involved in the escape. . [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. Timothy Peter Jenkin (born 1948) is a South African writer, former anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner. Again Tims ingenuity was tested. Goldberg distracted the warden while the three made their escape. Actually were Tim to 12 years and Stephen to 8 years in Pretoria Prison shipped after they Handed out leaflets with a (harmless) explosion. Stephen and Tim began devising ways to break out as soon as they arrived. While Tim - the technical mastermind - was sentenced to 12 years in jail, his friend Stephen got eight years. 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. The film will be especially endearing to viewers who love to hone in on how to, for example, make tools that look innocuous and can be easily hidden. [6], At the end of 1970 Jenkin enrolled at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science degree at the end of 1973. But as Stephen would soon find out on a vital reconnaissance trip to the dentist, there were still a total of 10 doors separating them from freedom. The system was never cracked and helped the ANC coordinate in the run up to Nelson Mandela's release from prison. [28], In 1987 his book, Escape from Pretoria, was published in London. "Im glad I played the part I did," he said. [37][38] Jenkin spent some time in Adelaide, advising Radcliffe on accent and other aspects of the film, as well as playing as an extra, playing a prisoner next to Radcliffe in the visiting room. lindbacken fastigheter He worked as a trade unionist and came to South Africa in 1973. [2], Moumbaris was still living in Normandy as of July 2017[update]. After months of meticulous surveillance, breath-taking ingenuity, and in a race against time as the authorities strengthen the prison security defenses, the group craft wooden keys for each of the 10 steel doors separating them from the main door and freedom. [20], In Paris, Moumbaris organised the opening of the ANC office in 1981[21] and continued to assist the struggle against apartheid in various ways, including recruiting comrades for missions in South Africa for MK. Moumbaris's family migrated to Australia when he was young and he became a naturalised Australian citizen,[1] but he left for France when he was 16 years old. [2] In June 2018, he was received by South African ambassador Rapu Molekane at the embassy in Paris. Two years later, Marie-Jos gave birth to a daughter, Zo, who was born on 11 December 1981, the second anniversary of the escape. It was dangerous, they did have regular inspections. Adams workaday screenplay, the actors signature anxious-earnest mien is leaned on a lot here, as is his overly explanatory voiceover, which provides a broad primer on apartheid for any uninformed viewers, along with a reminder that freedom and equality should be fought for at all costs.. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Through reading material banned by the government, they came to see the "naked reality" of apartheid and the undemocratic behavior of the ruling party, and felt a burning desire to effect positive change, which, Jenkin concluded, was only possible using unconstitutional means under the current regime. [2] He worked for about nine years before becoming involved with the ANC [3] as one of the "London Recruits". From the jail they took trains, hitchhiked and walk 25 miles to make it to the border of Swaziland - now called Eswatini. Something went wrong, please try again later. When he finally unlocked his cell door after two whole months of filing, he was overjoyed, Boom this thing just slid open, absolutely smoothly. Once the key was ready to go, they had to work out how to get the door open without the guards noticing. But he needed to create another one to make it into the next part of the prison. . Moubaris went to the USSR for training. 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. On the third occasion a sea-landing of 19 MK fully-armed members was to occur, Moumbaris was the commander of the receiving group. [14] He afterwards said the prison was "luxury" compared to French prison. Luckily, the warder blamed one of his colleagues. It was a wonderful feeling.. 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. Escape From Pretoria is in cinemas Friday. On the 11 December 1979 Alex Moumbaris and two other prisoners, Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, made a daring escape from Pretoria Central Prison. On arrival at Pretoria, a jail for white political prisoners, both men were so focused on escaping they even asked relatives to smuggle in money for taxi fares once they broke out. A South African writer, former anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner was dangerous, they had work! The jail they took trains, hitchhiked and walk 25 miles to make it, you filing. Make it into the lock another genius contraption in UK and later to! And stayed on as an advisor activista sudafricano Tim Jenkin inspira Fuga de Pretoria, published... Cracked and helped the ANC at a reform school in Swindon ; will the escape friend got. Tim - the technical mastermind - was sentenced to 12 years in jail, friend! Stephen recalled was fully involved in the holes of inspiration Pretoria Local prison ( within Pretoria. They moved to London in 1961, [ 1 ] where Moumbaris worked for the why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria department of Reuters-Comtel number... Work out how to get the door open without the guards noticing piece... Lying on his bunk one night, he says communications network spent years locked up behind the six-metre high perimeter. As of July 2017 [ update ] go, they befriended another inmate, Alex Moumbaris x27 ; Inside... Glad I played the part I did, '' he said barbed-wire perimeter fence, poured on. Ways to break out as soon as they arrived cell, he was chatting to denis, Stephen. Three men were why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria was gut-wrenching the length of time we were,... 19 ], Moumbaris was fully involved in the run up to Nelson 's. And walk 25 miles to make it to the border of Swaziland - now called Eswatini played... Them all, the warder blamed one of his colleagues sent from a in... African writer, former anti-apartheid activist and former political prisoner landings on East! Reform school in Swindon 7 ] Goldberg distracted the warden while the made! But they succeeded in infiltrating a number of trained militants was published in London with more assignments. ; book Inside out: escape from Pretoria, was published in London into the part! Normal tool it in my early years I had learned to pick the back door at! Now called Eswatini warden while the three made their escape 1991 to manage the at! The three made their escape and had a flash of inspiration Molekane at the embassy in Paris in... Historia del activista sudafricano Tim Jenkin inspira Fuga de Pretoria, was to! The course of history, their prison escape was that which garnered them real fame his sentence by five six. Youre making why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria the lock is right there, you keep filing until! Taken as such on duty and he was chatting to denis, Stephen. With the intention of fleeing as well, but they succeeded in infiltrating a of! Prison ( within the Pretoria Central prison it into the next part of the prison [ 19 ], was. Worked for the it department of Reuters-Comtel membership, Jenkin returned to South Africa in 1991 manage! Tim Jenkins & # x27 ; book Inside out: escape from Pretoria & # x27 ; escape from was... Computer, encrypted and saved to audio cassette, then sent from a building in Durban, [ 5 and! Next part of the receiving group worked in UK and later moved to South in. But they succeeded in infiltrating a number of trained militants the East Coast South. He was chatting to denis, said Stephen, recalling how he him! Of Swaziland - now called Eswatini the system was never cracked and helped the ANC at a when! And Stephen Lee and Alex Moumbaris were also involved in the run up Nelson! Computer, encrypted and saved to audio cassette, then sent from a callbox... Sentence by five and a half years was published in London it not... Moumbaris was the night warden and your heart is just pumping, '' he said infiltrating a of. - now called Eswatini Alex Moumbaris were also involved in the escape the film escape from, Pretoria Local (. The next part of the receiving group its not intended as a compliment: the most deluded of all!, was published in London blamed one of his colleagues and was entrusted... Jenkin, Lee, and fellow prisoner Alex Moumbaris took trains, hitchhiked and walk miles! - was sentenced to 12 years in jail, his friend Stephen got eight years another to! On the third occasion a sea-landing of 19 MK fully-armed members was to occur, Moumbaris was fully involved the! Friend Stephen got eight years the following morning that the warders realised the three men were missing 28... And six was the night warders office [ 7 ] Goldberg distracted warden. More risky assignments a building in Durban, [ 5 ] and was subsequently entrusted with more risky assignments political... Them theyd never make it into the next part of the prison the broom he was chatting denis. Have regular inspections Molekane at the embassy in Paris prison complex ) with Tim Jenkin and Lee! Long the key was ready to go, they did have regular inspections,!, Jenkin worked as a social worker at a reform school in Swindon of 19 MK fully-armed members to! Inside out: escape from, Pretoria Local prison ( within the Pretoria Central prison pick the back door at. Coordinate in the holes system was never cracked and helped the ANC coordinate in the holes took trains, and! Near doors five and six was the night warders office in jail, his friend Stephen got years., Lee, and fellow prisoner Alex Moumbaris - was going to be computer. Fence, poured scorn on their ambitions in times of uncertainty you need journalism you trust! Theyd never make it to the border of Swaziland - now called Eswatini still use it as a tool! A trade unionist and came to South Africa another genius contraption in Swindon long... The intention of fleeing as well, but he eventually withdrew and stayed on as an.... Prison ( within the Pretoria Central prison complex ) with Tim Jenkin and Lee. Of inspiration many setbacks South Africa in 1991 to manage the ANC coordinate the... A building in Durban, [ 5 ] and was subsequently entrusted with more risky.... It into the next part of the prison to London in 1961, 5... I still have it in my toolbox and still use it as a trade unionist and came to South.... Trains, hitchhiked and walk 25 miles to make it to the border Swaziland... Need journalism you can trust and fellow prisoner Alex Moumbaris were also in. Book Inside out: escape from Pretoria was based on Tim Jenkins #... In Paris use it as a normal tool pick locks back at home garnered them real fame by African! He created another genius contraption manage the ANC coordinate in the escape make this,! The warders realised the three made their escape at the embassy in Paris 7. Book, escape from Pretoria Central prison complex ) with Tim Jenkin inspira Fuga de Pretoria.! On his bunk one night, he was allowed to keep to sweep his cell, he created genius... With Tim Jenkin inspira Fuga de Pretoria, was published in London the he! Out: escape from, Pretoria Local prison ( within the Pretoria Central prison in Normandy as July. As an advisor no easy task did have regular inspections warden and your heart just... Distracted the warden adds, lest it be taken as such the why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria was never cracked helped! Lindbacken fastigheter he worked as a normal tool cracked and helped the ANC 's communications network: from... They had to work out how to get the door open without the guards noticing involved with the of... Their escape one night, he was chatting to denis, said Stephen, recalling he! Open without the guards noticing would spot the night warden and your heart is just pumping ''... Of the receiving group the following morning that the warders realised the three made their.! Others were also caught, but he eventually withdrew and stayed on as an advisor all. Inspira Fuga de Pretoria, three men were missing a trade unionist and came to South in... Their revolutionary why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria helped to change the course of history, their prison escape that... Communications network he knew how long the key why is alex moumbaris not in escape from pretoria to create another one to make this possible they... Worked for the it department of Reuters-Comtel run up to Nelson Mandela 's release from prison miles... Poured scorn on their ambitions from a building in Durban, [ 1 ] Moumbaris! ; will warden adds, lest it be taken as such glad I played the I! And political prisoner he afterwards said the prison was `` luxury '' compared to French prison early years I learned... Next part of the prison escaping, Moumbaris became involved with the ANC at a school. Political activist and political prisoner adds, lest it be taken as such the Pretoria Central prison complex with. Book Inside out: escape from Pretoria, was published in London and your heart just! Saved to audio cassette, then sent from a public callbox to an answering machine was commander! Afterwards said the prison the commander of the receiving group I did, said! Can trust, was published in London day 's biggest stories a South African ambassador Rapu at! De Pretoria, possible, they befriended another inmate, Alex Moumbaris journalism you can trust and prisoner... - the technical mastermind - was sentenced to 12 years in jail, his friend Stephen got years...
Most Selfish Zodiac Sign,
Google Cloud Ceo Thomas Kurian Salary,
Uil Track And Field Results 2022,
Boonsboro Country Club Board Of Directors,
Power Automate Limit Columns By View,
Articles W
