E.tv walks tall with Madiba

NELSON Mandela’s legacy will be celebrated with the first free-to-air broadcast of Anant Singh’s Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom on Sunday at 8pm on e.tv and eHD.

Produced by Videovision Entertainment, the movie is based on Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk To Freedom, and spans his extraordinary life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

The film tells the inspirational story of an ordinary man, who rose to the challenge of his times and triumphed and is an intimate portrait of the making of a modern icon. In the film, three actors play Nelson Mandela: – Siza Pini plays the eight-year-old Mandela, while Atandwa Kani plays the teenage years, and Idris Elba plays the remaining years.

Key roles in the film include Naomie Harris, who plays Winnie Mandela, as well as Mzansi’s finest actors Terry Pheto as Mandela’s first wife, Evelyn Mase; Tony Kgoroge as Walter Sisulu; Riaad Moosa as Ahmed Kathrada; Jamie Bartlett as James Gregory; Deon Lotz as Kobie Coetzee; and Lindiwe Matshikiza as Zindzi Mandela.

Producer Anant Singh said: “The free-to-air broadcast of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom is important as it allows a wide audience to experience Madiba’s inspiring life journey.

“We are delighted to be partnering with e.tv to broadcast the film to honour Madiba and celebrate his life as we commemorate the third anniversary of his passing on December 5,” he said.

e.tv Channel Division managing director Marlon Davids said: “Nelson Mandela was a noble man of stature, with a living legacy.

“He embodied the spirit of Ubuntu and united the nation.

“His values resonate with our values at e.tv and we found it fitting to air his remarkable life story in December.” The film was released globally and has been lauded worldwide with prestigious awards recognitions, and received Academy Award and Bafta nominations, and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture.

Don’t miss Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom on Sunday at 8pm.