Patric Tariq Mellet is a heritage researcher whose search for his father roused his curiosity to find out who he was, and where he comes from. This journey has resulted in him becoming a subject matter expert on matters relating to the history of South Africa. In this interview, Diana Morat gets to know more about his book entitled, The Lie of 1652. Diana is a presenter at Eldos FM in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, South Africa. Eldorado Park is a township where people of Indigenous as well as slave heritage have been relocated to, approximately 50 years ago, during the time of Apartheid. During this regime, descendants of Khoe and San ancestry, people of slave heritage, as well as mixed-race people were grouped under one race, called ‘Coloured’. This conversation, and indeed this book will go a long way in debunking some of the myths, secrets and lies told in the past.
Producer: Shaldon Ferris
Interviewer: Diana Morat
Interviewee: Patric Tariq Mellet
Music: Eldos FM Jingle by Cresswell Lennets
'Burn your village to the ground' by a Tribe called Red, used with permission.