Free At Last: Unresolved Stories of Apartheid

Paul Burgess is editor of this three-part documentary series, winner of the Award for Outstanding Documentary Series at South Africa’s National Arts and Culture Awards, 2025.

In 1994, Nelson Mandela was sworn in as South Africa’s first black president. With three unforgettable words, “Free at Last”, the oppressive Apartheid regime that held the country in its grip for 46 years, finally came to an end. With Mandela taking office, there was hope. A Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up under the leadership of Desmond Tutu, with the goal of unifying the nation. Amnesty for the perpetrators who were prepared to give testimony, recognition for the victims. The world was told that all the horrors of Apartheid would be forever consigned to the history books.

But today, 30 years on, hope has given way to disappointment and frustration. The wounds of Apartheid are proving difficult to heal. Families of the many victims have been fighting for decades to bring those responsible to justice. Around 25.000 people were killed in political violence between 1960 and 1994, but no politicians have been punished and only two state-employed killers have been jailed.

Free at Last is the epic re-telling of the story of Apartheid in South Africa, the TRC and its’ aftermath. What really happened, who was responsible and why haven’t they been held accountable? Spanning years of research and featuring unprecedented access to archive and key figures, the series unearths the truth about the Apartheid regime, examining its brutal legacy and ongoing impact on South Africa today.

Through the dramatic stories of both victims and perpetrators, it sheds light on what has remained hidden for so long. This series is a genuine attempt to unpack the collective trauma of a nation that has overcome extraordinary challenges, but in order to move on, must now truly confront its troubled past.

Paul shared his reflections on editing the films…

“Back in 2003 I edited the BBC series Mandela: The Living Legend and, like many others,  I was convinced that thanks to Mandela’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the future for South Africa was heading in a positive direction. So last year, when I began work on Free At Last, I underwent a rude awakening.

I was deeply shocked to realise that the country is still suffering the trauma of the Apartheid years, and the wounds are still so raw. The personal testimonies from victims, perpetrators, and key political figures were amongst some of the most extraordinary and powerful I’ve ever worked with. The challenge was to do justice to each of them, in the hope that by bringing these stories into the open, in a compelling and sensitive way, the series would play its part in bringing awareness, healing and eventually justice to this troubled nation.”

Directors Thomas Blom and Misha Wessel commented on their experience working with Paul…

“Editor Paul Burgess was instrumental in shaping our three part series ‘Free at Last’. His deep understanding of the subject matter, strong creative perspective and ability to strike a powerful balance between delivering information and evoking sincere emotion, lifted our storytelling to a much higher level.”