Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omnibus | 20211217 | Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former president, believes the world is out to poison him. He's claimed that the CIA, MI6, local traitors, and perhaps even one of his wives, have tried to kill him. No wonder he has ordered toxicologists to test everything he eats. But is Zuma the victim of an elaborate international conspiracy that has its roots in the Cold War and South Africa's liberation struggle? Or is he simply trying to distract attention from a mountain of corruption allegations? In this documentary the BBC's Africa correspondent, Andrew Harding, digs into a mystery that links a case of poisoned underpants, to a plot to kill Nelson Mandela, to this year's riots that left 300 South Africans dead.
'Poison' is the story of one man's toxic obsession and the battle for South Africa's future.
Presenter: Andrew Harding
The story of one man's toxic obsession and the battle for South Africa's future. Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former president, believes the world is out to poison him. | ||
| 01 | Episode 1: The Chuckling Pensioner | 20210927 | South Africa's President Jacob Zuma believes he has been poisoned, repeatedly. He claims to be the victim of a long, sophisticated, and unfinished plot to assassinate him. But who would want to kill a man still celebrated for his role as a fighter in the struggle against apartheid? Could it be linked to the allegations of massive corruption against him? Or is there a broader conspiracy at work - an international plot to silence a man who claims to be speaking up for South Africa's neglected poor? In this five-part series the BBC's Africa correspondent, Andrew Harding, digs into a mystery that links a case of poisoned underpants, to a plot to kill Nelson Mandela, to this year's riots that left 300 South Africans dead. In this episode, Zuma's early years.
'Poison' is the story of one man's toxic obsession and the battle for South Africa's future.
Presenter: Andrew Harding
South Africa's Jacob Zuma - liberation hero and ex-president believes he's being poisoned. Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former president, believes the world is out to poison him. | |
| 01 | Episode 1: The Chuckling Pensioner | 20210927 | 20211011 (R4) | South Africa's President Jacob Zuma believes he has been poisoned, repeatedly. He claims to be the victim of a long, sophisticated, and unfinished plot to assassinate him. But who would want to kill a man still celebrated for his role as a fighter in the struggle against apartheid? Could it be linked to the allegations of massive corruption against him? Or is there a broader conspiracy at work - an international plot to silence a man who claims to be speaking up for South Africa's neglected poor? In this five-part series the BBC's Africa correspondent, Andrew Harding, digs into a mystery that links a case of poisoned underpants, to a plot to kill Nelson Mandela, to this year's riots that left 300 South Africans dead. In this episode, Zuma's early years.
'Poison' is the story of one man's toxic obsession and the battle for South Africa's future.
Presenter: Andrew Harding
South Africa's Jacob Zuma - liberation hero and ex-president believes he's being poisoned. Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former president, believes the world is out to poison him. |
| 02 | Episode 2: A Pinch of Paranoia | 20210928 | South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma is convinced he's been the target of repeated poisoning attempts. But why? In this episode we dive into the murkiest corners of the long struggle against racial apartheid to uncover Cold War paranoia, toxic underpants, and the origins of Zuma's fixation with poison.
'Poison' is the story of one man's toxic obsession and the battle for South Africa's future.
Presenter: Andrew Harding
From poisoned underpants to Cold War paranoia \u2013 South Africa\u2019s murky liberation story Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former president, believes the world is out to poison him. | |
| 02 | Episode 2: A Pinch of Paranoia | 20210928 | 20211012 (R4) | South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma is convinced he's been the target of repeated poisoning attempts. But why? In this episode we dive into the murkiest corners of the long struggle against racial apartheid to uncover Cold War paranoia, toxic underpants, and the origins of Zuma's fixation with poison.
'Poison' is the story of one man's toxic obsession and the battle for South Africa's future.
Presenter: Andrew Harding
From poisoned underpants to Cold War paranoia \u2013 South Africa\u2019s murky liberation story Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former president, believes the world is out to poison him. |
| 03 | Episode 3: How Do You Like Your Tea? | 20210929 | Home after years in exile during the liberation struggle, South Africa's future President Jacob Zuma is quickly engulfed in corruption scandals. But when one of his wives is accused of trying to poison his tea, Zuma suspects that a foreign government may be plotting to kill him.
'Poison' is the story of one man's toxic obsession and the battle for South Africa's future.
Presenter: Andrew Harding
The wife of South Africa\u2019s former President is arrested for trying to poison him - why? Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former president, believes the world is out to poison him. | |
| 03 | Episode 3: How Do You Like Your Tea? | 20210929 | 20211013 (R4) | Home after years in exile during the liberation struggle, South Africa's future President Jacob Zuma is quickly engulfed in corruption scandals. But when one of his wives is accused of trying to poison his tea, Zuma suspects that a foreign government may be plotting to kill him.
'Poison' is the story of one man's toxic obsession and the battle for South Africa's future.
Presenter: Andrew Harding
The wife of South Africa\u2019s former President is arrested for trying to poison him - why? Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former president, believes the world is out to poison him. |
| 04 | Episode 4: The Russian Antidote | 20210930 | When South Africa's President, Jacob Zuma, falls ill from what he suspects to be poison, he flies to Moscow for treatment. But why the need to go abroad? The implication is that Zuma believes Western spy agencies are trying to kill him. But is he now using the Russians, or are they using him for their own strategic purposes?
'Poison' is the story of one man's toxic obsession and the battle for South Africa's future.
Presenter: Andrew Harding
Why would a South African president seek a cure for poisoning at a clinic in Moscow? Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former president, believes the world is out to poison him. | |
| 04 | Episode 4: The Russian Antidote | 20210930 | 20211014 (R4) | When South Africa's President, Jacob Zuma, falls ill from what he suspects to be poison, he flies to Moscow for treatment. But why the need to go abroad? The implication is that Zuma believes Western spy agencies are trying to kill him. But is he now using the Russians, or are they using him for their own strategic purposes?
'Poison' is the story of one man's toxic obsession and the battle for South Africa's future.
Presenter: Andrew Harding
Why would a South African president seek a cure for poisoning at a clinic in Moscow? Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former president, believes the world is out to poison him. |
| 05 | Episode 5: A Toxic Aftertaste | 20211001 | In July this year South Africa's former President, Jacob Zuma, was jailed for contempt of court. The 79-year-old is now facing trial for corruption. But Zuma insists he is a victim of a vast, international conspiracy to poison him and silence him. And when his arrest triggers an orchestrated campaign of violence, fears grow that Zuma's conspiracy theories and populist rhetoric could threaten the democracy he once fought to build.
'Poison' is the story of one man's toxic obsession and the battle for South Africa's future.
Presenter: Andrew Harding
Jacob Zuma\u2019s conspiracy theories have taken on a dangerous life of their own. Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former president, believes the world is out to poison him. | |
| 05 | Episode 5: A Toxic Aftertaste | 20211001 | 20211015 (R4) | In July this year South Africa's former President, Jacob Zuma, was jailed for contempt of court. The 79-year-old is now facing trial for corruption. But Zuma insists he is a victim of a vast, international conspiracy to poison him and silence him. And when his arrest triggers an orchestrated campaign of violence, fears grow that Zuma's conspiracy theories and populist rhetoric could threaten the democracy he once fought to build.
'Poison' is the story of one man's toxic obsession and the battle for South Africa's future.
Presenter: Andrew Harding
Jacob Zuma\u2019s conspiracy theories have taken on a dangerous life of their own. Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former president, believes the world is out to poison him. |