760: Bradley Steyn | Undercover with Mandela's Spies Part One

PTSD Journey

Bradley Steyn's journey through PTSD began with the traumatic experience of witnessing the Strijdom Square massacre. As a teenager, he saw the chaos unfold and narrowly escaped death, an event that left him with lasting nightmares and emotional distress 1. Despite the passage of time, the memories remained vivid, and it wasn't until decades later that he found some closure by revisiting South Africa and confronting the past 2.

I've only really been able to tell this story only in the last 10 or 15 years because it was just so hard for me to talk about this story.

--- Bradley Steyn

Bradley's healing process involved opening old police files and acknowledging the systemic disregard for the victims of apartheid, a painful yet necessary step towards recovery 2.

   

Lessons Learned

The Strijdom Square massacre taught Bradley profound lessons about the nature of racism and humanity. He witnessed the brutal actions of Barend Hendrik Strydom, a man indoctrinated with hate, and realized that racism is a learned behavior 3. Bradley's encounter with "Kind Eyes," a victim of the shooting, highlighted the stark contrast between hatred and compassion, as he tried to save the man's life amidst the chaos 4.

Racism, you aren't born or racist. So, you know, because he could have been my brother, that guy, you know?

--- Bradley Steyn

This tragic incident reinforced Bradley's belief in the power of upbringing and the importance of teaching kindness over hatred 3.