Dive into South Africa’s intriguing history with Des Latham
East
Coast Radio is excited and proud to be supporting and introducing our audience
to the ‘History of South Africa’ podcast – one of the country’s most popular
podcasts.
I have been a long-term listener to East Coast Radio all the way back to when it used to be called Radio Port Natal, a boarder at Durban High School in the 1970s. So to be featured now is an honour. I'm flattered to be selected to be part of a group of podcasters like Gcina Mhlophe who is a national treasure.
Launched in 2021, the series is hosted by historian and former investigative journalist, Des Latham. Each episode is a deep dive into the past – and as usual the past provides a pointer to the future.
The History of South Africa podcast covers the period from ancient times in a chronological manner.
From the first pre-San hunter-gatherers - who have left incredible evidence of their presence in caves on the southeast coast of South Africa - to the arrival of the Bantu people from Central Africa and through to the colonial period to modern events, the history of the region is vast and crucial to the development of human beings on planet earth.
“This is the story told from each point of view, avoiding the usual simplifications that obscure real history,” says Latham.
Fortunately for historians, there is a complex web of oral history woven through all our storylines and Latham tries to bring these to life by honouring the original poets and griots, the folks who sat their grandchildren down in a hut, or a wagon, to tell them a true story about the characters that pop up throughout the History of South Africa.
Dive into the series below:
More about Des Latham:
Des Latham has a BA Honours in African History from Rhodes University and began his broadcasting career as a Radio 702 News Reporter in 1987. He speaks a number of South African languages and was a reporter during the latter phases of the struggle against apartheid.
Des has worked in various positions in media, including online editor at Business Day/Financial Mail, editor-in-chief at GCIS, Manager of BDFM Business Radio, and editor for Business Day television. He is currently CEO of frayintermedia based in Johannesburg.
He began podcasting in 2017 with the successful Anglo Boer War podcast, and followed this up with The Battle of Stalingrad podcast and Falklands War podcast. Des currently produces three podcasts, including the ‘History of South Africa’, ‘South African Border Wars’, and ‘Plane Crash Diaries’.
He is married to Paula Fray and has three children. Des spends his time traveling, flying aeroplanes, and rehearsing and performing music as a guitarist.
