From exile to diplomat: South African High Commissioner to Jamaica Faith D'Radebe. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Faith D'Radebe, South African high commissioner to Jamaica, has experienced a lot of strife in her country. First, there was Apartheid, the legal segregation of races which restricted socialisation, education and economic opportunities for blacks and persons of mixed races.

The social upheaval which preceded the imprisonment of then African National Congress (ANC) leader Nelson Mandela was the turning point in her life. She left home in the 1970s while in her 20s, and went into exile in nearby Swaziland with no word to her parents. It would be the last time she saw her mother, a teacher, whose funeral she was unable to attend.

The South Africa D'Radebe grew up in is vastly different from the one she lives in now. Living in the mainly black township of Soweto with her parents and eight siblings, she remembers a town full of activity, bubbling with competitive spirit and a high level of pride.

During exile, she served her people through journalism. D'Radebe survived South Africa's political obstacles to tell the story of her country through diplomatic service. Her first assignment would be Jamaica, a country which strongly backed the struggle to liberate South Africa.

Living here since 2006 with her husband and two of her three sons, she says there are many similarities between the countries in terms of landscape and people.

"It feels like home," she said.

What influenced you to get into diplomacy?

To tell the story of South Africa in other countries and also, to get from these countries aid, investment and strengthen relations. Like in Jamaica, I'm strengthening relations because, since a long, long time ago, we've had relations; we can only enhance it. It was one of the countries that was in the forefront for the liberation of South Africa. To be brought to Jamaica is a blessing.

What was it like growing up in Soweto?

It was very interesting. Soweto, despite the Apartheid regime, was a very pleasant place to grow up. We had challenges. We had only one hospital, which is the biggest in the whole world in terms of space. We had about 100,000 people who were serviced by only three police stations.

We did not have a lot of social entities that could actually assist us in our social behaviour. Our schools had competitions; actually, Jamaica now reminds me of South Africa when I was growing up. I will tell you something that I always remember when growing up, cleanliness of our streets. We used to take competition, who has planted good, green grass? Who has planted good flowers? Whose house was painted good? Communities loved it. Then the struggle began.

What was that like?

It was on a Wednesday, I was coming from my typing classes at Speedy Centre. We just saw smoke. They just had guns, but we still were not afraid. It was police and students, we started joining and all hell broke loose. We were not afraid, so we were telling the Boas, 'you can shoot you'll never kill us', and yet, people were falling and dying.

So why were you not afraid?

I don't know. I was just not afraid. When they would be coming in herds with guns pointing out, we would pick up stones, throw at them and then they'd start firing and we'd start running. It was sort of like a game. People were arrested in hundreds, in thousands. Children were arrested, children were killed. When you passed the police station you just find bodies lying around. That was when most of my generation left South Africa and joined the ANC.

How did you go into exile?

I left through Swaziland. We left at night. I told my mother I was going to the shop. After a while, she was like, 'why are you packing?'. They organised our passports, we crossed over to Swaziland, handed ourselves over to the police. I spent about 14 and a half years. We were stateless people living under the ANC which provided everything for us, clothing, food, housing, you name it, and I seized the opportunity. I did journalism first, I did my law degree and I did my Masters.

Why did you choose journalism?

In exile, I was fortunate enough to have Radio Freedom. Radio Freedom was a station that was broadcasting from two countries: Lusaka, Zambia and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. We were broadcasting straight to South Africa. When they talk about the Al Qaida and the Al Jazeera, ours was Radio Freedom. In South Africa, if you listened to that, you would get arrested because it was banned.

What were your duties at the radio station?

I spoke about South Africa. Spoke of the atrocities which the government was linked with. Mainly, it was to tell the truth about what was happening at that time in South Africa.

What was the reunion with your family like?

My mother died in 1980, I was fortunate enough that I found my father when I returned in 1991. I found all my brothers and all my sisters. Many didn't find any of their family. Apartheid was still governing the country, all that mighty machinery they oppressed us with was still in place. We reached the airport of Johannesburg from Zimbabwe, I'd never been so scared. The airport was blue, blue was what the police wore. At that time, people were getting assassinated, they were getting arrested. All sorts of atrocities. By that time, Mandela was released, we'd met him in many countries which he visited and he said, 'you can come back home now. Stop your exile life, your people are waiting for you'.

What did Mandela's release mean to you?

To us, it meant freedom at last. In the past (the government was saying to him) 'we can release you if you renounce the struggle' and he said no. It was an amazing moment in our lives when Mandela walked out of that prison. We had people in our camp who already went 30 years in the struggle, who said, 'I never thought freedom would come. I thought it would come for my children'.

Has there been a marked transition over the years?

Yes, South Africa is counted among the developing countries. South Africa was colonised over 300 years, now to undo that in a mere 13 to 14 years (is impossible). However, South Africa is counted among the top 10 of the developing countries in terms of our economy. We have challenges of employment, health and AIDS but definitely, the life of the people of South Africa has changed for the better.

What types of music plays on (South African) radio?

All of them. There's a music called Quito, there's hip hop. All the music we listen in Jamaica. Rumba from Nothern Africa, oldies and jazz. I listen to jazz.

Any favourite artistes?

Kenny G, Sibonegile Khumalo and Sipo Kumete. Lucky Dube. South Africa is comprised of 12 nationalities but 11 official languages. We have a very rich culture, the singing has always been an African thing, the dancing has always been an African thing. There's not much difference in the dancing here.

Do you have a favourite place in South Africa?

My favourite place is where my father (and mother) were born, in Kwazulu—Natal. It's mountainous. It's got valleys which are called the Valleys of a Thousand Miles, because you look and look and look and it's just valleys.Yet, it is coastal and green.

What do you think about Barack Obama, the fact that he is of African ancestry and will possibly get the chance to become president (of the United States)?

I cannot discuss politics of another country, it is not a part of my job. The only thing I can say is that I am monitoring the election trend of America. To me, if Barack Obama wins, it will be history made. However, Hilary Clinton is also very strong.

Tour of Duty with SACHA WALTERS