Women work long and gruelling hours to grow the flowers sold across Europe.

In 1949, inter-racial marriage and relationships were banned by South Africa’s apartheid government.

In June 1985, the ban was lifted.

Suzanne La Clerc and Protas Madlala were the first couple to tie the knot under the new rules.

Ashley Byrne was speaking to them in 2015.

Protas Madlala died in 2023.

A made in Manchester production for the BBC World Service

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: The wedding of Protas Madlala and American Susan Leclerc. Credit: Philip Littleton/AFP/Getty Images)

His lawyers told the BBC that he was denied immediate care by the police.

The satellite internet company is expanding across Africa, but not without some controversy.

Gbemisola Yusuf, 21, has gone from selling drinks at football matches to refereeing some of Nigeria's biggest games.

South Africa captain Ronwen Williams hopes his Yashin Trophy nomination will be motivation to his compatriots.

Aid workers say it is increasingly hard to treat those affected because of the conflict.

The Pudemo party leader is among the organisers of pro-democracy protests planned for next month.

The former soldier made a video on Tiktok accusing senior officers of rape and harassment.

On the eve of the new Saudi Women's Pro League season, Al-Nassr and Tanzania striker Clara Luvanga discusses life at the same club as Cristiano Ronaldo.

Roland Cherry, 63, reflects on a close encounter that left him seriously injured.

A new BBC series follows lions, cheetahs and leopards in the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Tanzania's first female president is accused of reneging on her promise to free up political activity.

In 1969, a white man and an Indian woman were put on trial in South Africa for conspiring to have sex.

Dr Zureena Desai and Professor John Blacking were the most high profile couple to be arrested under the Immorality Act.

Their case made headlines all over the world and made a laughing stock of South Africa's ruling National Party and its racist regime.

Dr Desai tells Vicky Farncombe about the ridiculous lengths police officers went to in order to gather evidence against the couple, including climbing trees and listening at ventilation shafts.

“Young people born after 1994 don't remember what South Africa was like,” she says. “People died. And people were arrested for fatuous reasons.”

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Dr Zureena Desai. Credit: Abrie Jantjies)

Media personality Afia Pokua grovelled to the Ashanti king on her knees but it was not enough.

The Uganda-bound vehicle was targeted by rebels leaving one dead and several missing, the army says.

The three judges were among those set to decide whether ex-President Lungu can stand in next year's poll.

South Africa captain Ronwen Williams hopes his nomination for global football's Yashin Trophy will provide motivation to his compatriots.

The government aims to decongest Makala Prison where many died during a recent attempted jailbreak.

They are for TV and radio, border security and responding to natural disasters, a minister says.