Frontline back then

Thabo Mbeki puffs his pipe as he walks freely in Zambia. A young Thandi Modise is a military commander, and Margaret Thatcher dances with Kenneth Kaunda in Lusaka.

These are among scenes that flash across the screen in a new documentary, Frontline States, which pays tribute to neighbouring countries that provided sanctuary, support and funding for South Africa's apartheid exiles.

The documentary makes its television premiere on SABC2 this weekend.

The 53-minute film is narrated and presented by Shaka Sisulu, the son of former speaker of the National Assembly Max, and grandson of ANC stalwarts Walter and Albertina.

Using rare and never seen before footage, the film tells how countries like Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe put themselves in harm's way to help bring democracy to this country.

Sisulu, who also shares personal memories in the film, held a private screening at The Bioscope in the Maboneng Precinct in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

It was attended by Simphiwe Dana and Hlomla Dandala.

The film had its world premiere at the 35th Durban International Film Festival in July.

Producer and archive researcher Nhlanhla Mthethwa came across the unseen footage while he was working on the award-winning documentary Plot for Peace .

What followed was a team of researchers combing through old news footage from Botswana, Cuba, Angola, Mozambique and Russia.

The SABC, the South African National Archives and the Times Media library were also valuable sources for the film .

"I felt there was a story to be told," Mthethwa said.

"When Nelson Mandela was released he immediately went on a tour of the frontline states because he knew the importance of their role, and I always felt we have not been grateful enough.

"It's always noted in passing, but we don't know how these countries suffered housing our exiles."

Sisulu said the countries involved had "never asked for anything in return".

He said when he was collecting footage, especially in Mozambique, it was difficult to locate specific films because the archival system is in disarray.

"It's a mess. It is not digitised so you can't transfer. I hired a camera and had to shoot the footage off the projector. I spent perhaps two weeks just doing that."