During the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa, John Harris – [no relation to the Producer / Director of this documentary] – one of a total of 2 949 people executed for opposing the regime – was the only white person to be hanged for fighting Apartheid.
A teacher by profession, John Harris was Chairman of
SANROC – the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee – an
organization fighting racism in sport in South Africa in the 1960s.
In 1963 his efforts in lobbying the International Olympic
Committee were successful and South Africa’s “all-white” teams were
banned from the Tokyo Olympics of 1964.
A member of the clandestine “all white” African Resistance
Movement [ARM], John Harris was left the “last man standing” after a
nation-wide crack-down by Apartheid security police on the 4th July
1964 saw all members of ARM either detained or fleeing the country.
Married to Ann – with a son only six weeks old, in a final
desperate statement against Apartheid, on 24th July 1964 John
Harris placed a bomb on a “Whites only” platform at the
Johannesburg Station.
To avoid casualties, Harris telephoned an urgent warning to two
major newspaper offices and the Railway Police instructing them to
immediately clear the concourse of all commuters.
In spite of Harris’ warnings the authorities did nothing to clear
the station and the explosion left twenty-three injured and one dead.
On 1st April 1965, at 5.30am, John Harris – aged 27 – softly
singing “We shall Overcome”, was executed by hanging in Pretoria.
“True Patriot” – a 90 minute intimate docu / drama feature –
tells the remarkable & little-known story of the life & times of John
Harris & those closest to him.
In the process, the narrative reveals the remarkable backstory
of Lynn Ballen-Harris – the hidden & unknown daughter of John &
Ann Harris, given up for adoption at birth in 1961 – & her passionate
quest to identify & find her birth-parents & family on discovery – at
age 25, in 1984 – of her adoption.
The life-journeys of John Harris and his forsaken daughter Lynn
Ballen-Harris are finally requited in the resolution of the documentary with the fulfillment of John Harris’ modest last request before his execution.
John Harris’ last wish on the way to the gallows was that one
day in a future liberated democratic South Africa, the inscription on
his tombstone should read: “John Harris – True Patriot”.
It took 44 years for his wish to be fulfilled and Lyn Ballen-Harris
was there – re-united with her family – to witness the fulfillment of
John Harris’ final request.
At a ceremony held at Freedom Park, Pretoria in 2009, John
Harris’ name was officially entered into the “roll of honour” of those
who sacrificed their lives fighting against Apartheid.
After the ceremony, Lynn-Ballen Harris together with family &
close friends moved to his grave-side in Pretoria where his tombstone
was inscribed,
“John Harris – True Patriot”.
This is their story.
