SOUTH AFRICA'S TV WEBSITE
SIGN IN SEARCH MENU
SOUTH AFRICA'S TV WEBSITE


A Pair of Boots and a Bicycle

Genres: Documentary, Specials

Rate:

8.2

Add to Show Favourites

About the Show

A Pair of Boots and a Bicycle is a South African dramatised documentary created by Vincent Moloi about black South African veterans of World War II who personally tell the stories of their lives and experiences in the war.

It premiered at the Edinburgh African Film Festival in 2007. The documentary is 80 minutes long and was produced by Edwin Wes for Rare Earth Films.

A Pair of Boots and a Bicycle aired in South Africa on SABC2 on Sunday 24 February 2008, at 21h00.

Synopsis

Why would men who are repressed at home valiantly fight in the war of their oppressors? And what did the triumphant victors give them, upon their return, for their "gallant and distinguished service"?

In this very personal, fascinating investigation, South African documentary maker Vincent Moloi journeys from the Soweto sitting rooms of veterans to El Alamein to find the answers, and in doing so unearths the significant contribution of South Africa's black soldiers to the Allies' North Africa campaign.

Told with poignancy, the irony of their situation is slowly revealed through the life and actions of one soldier: Job Maseko. Job received the Military Medal for a heroic and ingenious sabotage of a German supply ship while a prisoner of war in Tobruk.

The documentary honours those who participated in a war never intended to honour them.

Mapping a time line that spans the period from before the war into modern day democratic South Africa, the documentary points to the simplistic efforts of these soldiers which reverberate and live on in the construction of democracy.














LATEST ARTICLES

New on TV today: Wednesday 2 July 2025

SharkFest 2025 kicks off on Nat Geo Wild and millennial rom-com Smothered begins on M-Net.


Soapie Digest: July 2025

Stay cosy, stay tuned in with this wrap of all the teasers on TVSA in this TV luvvas month.


Sweet Diva Teasers - July 2025

Téo and Agno convince Jô to invest in risky investments to make her lose all her money.


Muvhango Teasers - July 2025

Order in court! Imani's lawyer turns the tide and sentiment against Ndemedzo and paints her as the victim instead.


Kelders van Geheime 2 Teasers - July 2025

Veronique and Tjoppie's relationship is disintegrating and Marco is caught in the middle.


New on TV today: Tuesday 1 July 2025

An actor and a detective team up in Death Valley on BBC Brit and Nadiya shares meal hacks on BBC Lifestyle.


Trailer: South Africa's Jessie van Niekerk rides the crest in Surf Girls: International

She's one of five surfr grlz from round the world in Prime Video's Season 2.


Inimba Teasers - July 2025

Hearts are broken as the Mabandlas struggle to get through without Thumeka.


Koel Kop, Warm Hart Teasers - July 2025

A woman is murdered, but the DNA points to a jailed man. Signs of a cunning serial killer.


Sibongile & The Dlaminis 2 Teasers - July 2025

Series finale! Look into Nomalanga's eyes and what do you see? D.A.N.G.E.R. The end is nigh.

LATEST SITE ACTIVITY


More activity at TVSA Central



LATEST SOAPIE TEASERS



LATEST SOAPIE TEASERS





×
×

You browser doesn't have Flash, Silverlight, Gears, BrowserPlus or HTML5 support.