Following the Lives of a Diverse Range of South Africans for 21 Years

The South Africa ‘UP’ series follows the personal journeys of a diverse range of young South Africans who were born in the apartheid era, filming them every seven years as they grew up through the country's dramatic political changes.

We meet them first at age seven in 1992, two years before Nelson Mandela became president in the first non-racial elections in South Africa.

Every seven years since, the twists and turns of their personal lives have been charted against the backdrop of South Africa's recent history.

In this eight-part series, we see the raw innocence expressed at age seven give way to awkward teens at 14, and the weight of beckoning adulthood at 21.

Love, family, money, religion, race and identity are some of the themes underpinning the charming, lively, poignant and in some cases tragic stories, that unfold by the time they are 28 in 2013.

Read more about the making of the series here. 

Part 1: 7Up - In 1992 apartheid South Africa we meet 20 lively seven-year-olds who we will follow every seven years in times of change. (47mins)

Part 2: 14Up episode one - We revisit the 20 South African children first filmed in 1992, to see how love, money and violence colour their lives. 

Part 3: 14Up episode two - Now 14, they talk about race, relationships, fear of violence, and God.

Part 4: 21Up episode one - Now 21 and as young adults they are juggling work - or for some, the lack of it - families, as well as studies. .

Part 5: 21Up episode two - In 2006, 12 years after apartheid ended - poverty, race and violence are issues that many South Africans still face.

Part 6: 28Up episode one - We follow the now 28-year-olds into adulthood and gain extraordinary insights into South Africa in 2013.

Part 7: 28Up episode two - Now 28 years old, the South Africans we first filmed as children give a unique insight into their adult lives and relationships.

Each episode is 47 minutes.