Anti-apartheid activist and renowned journalist Raymond Suttner recently launched his new updated autobiography Inside Apartheid’s Prison.

First published in 2001, the book is a memoir of his time as an anti-apartheid activist, looking particularly at how he became involved in the struggle.

The book details the heavy prices he paid for his activism, the lengthy periods of imprisonment, torture and house arrest that he was subjected to.

As a white male political prisoner Suttner admits he existed in an unusual space.

“Our cells were much better than those occupied by Nelson Mandela and other black prisoners in places such as Robben Island. Ours were slightly bigger, were fitted with basins, and had hot water and flush toilets – which was not the case on the island.”

This new edition of Inside Apartheid’s Prison also includes fresh material describing the reasons why Suttner, who had formed part of the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP), broke with the movement following changes in political ideologies.

Here Raymond speaks to Nomboniso Gasa when the book was launched at the University of Cape Town recently.