South Africa - Apartheid Spy
Revelations of an ex-undercover agent within activist circles in South Africa
During the 1980's, Vanessa Brereton afforded a ray of hope to political detainees. As a human rights lawyer, she was one of the first on the scene during some of the country's worst political massacres. " She was a soft speaking lawyer, I trusted her with my life and my blood" says one detainee. But this trust was misplaced. Vanessa was simultaneously acting as a spy for the brutal Security Police. Her betrayal, she claims, was all for the love of a man - a police handler; " I was charmed, spellbound - he made me feel special. " Vanessa maintains that she knew nothing of the torture inflicted upon those she betrayed. But most find it hard to believe "She saw us bleeding, she saw us crying - she was the queen of hearts but now she's the queen of deception."