York graduate's role in the fall of apartheid
Posted on 15 January 2010
Michael Young brokered secret talks between representatives of the South African Government and the African National Congress (ANC), which led to the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.
He worked for Consolidated Goldfields at the time, and in response to an invitation from Oliver Tambo, he set up a dialogue between the ANC and establishment Afrikaners.
The meetings, which involved Thabo Mbeki and Philosophy professor and Afrikaner social reformer Willie Esterhuyse, took place at Mells Park, the country house the Consolidated Goldfields owned in Somerset.
The centrepiece of Michael Young’s visit to York will be a screening of film Endgame (2009), starring William Hurt and Jonny Lee Miller, which tells the story of the talks, after which he will answer questions.
The film will be shown in PX 001 Lecture Theatre, in the Department of Physics at 5.30pm on 20 January. Admission is free but by ticket only. Call (01904) 432622 for tickets.
Since 1988 Michael has run his own management consultancy and geo-political risk business. He was awarded an OBE in 2002 for his efforts in ending apartheid.
ENDS
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