‘Remarkable. Read it!’ – Jacob Dlamini

1986 was a pivotal year in South African history. It was the year of the vigilante, the year of the necklace – but also the year the talking began.

Drawing on newspaper articles, memoirs, and little-known histories, William Dicey presents a compelling diary of a very bad year.

He focuses on ordinary people, showing what life was actually like under an authoritarian regime – from the six hours a day that black workers in KwaNdebele spent on buses to the rebel sporting tours that provided a distraction for white South Africans.

Some stories foreshadow the miracle of 1990 – for instance, the deputy commander of Pollsmoor Prison takes Nelson Mandela on a scenic drive around Cape Town, years before his eventual release. Other stories shine a light on our current conflicts.

Written in crisp prose, 1986 is a model of historical excavation, deftly evoking the spirit of the times.

About the author

William Dicey is author of the critically acclaimed Borderline (2004). He has worked as a mathematics lecturer, a book designer and a farmer. He divides his time between Ceres and Cape Town.

Categories Non-fiction South Africa

Tags 1986 Borderline New books New releases Penguin Random House SA William Dicey