Still no ‘Joe Mafela Studio’

THE SABC has yet to meet a request to rename its Studio 5 in honour of veteran actor Joe Mafela, four months after his death.

Mfundi Vundla, the creator of popular soapie Generations, asked for the renaming of the studio.

Mafela died in a car accident on March 18. He was 74.

“Joe Mafela built the SABC. He brought audiences to the SABC. Federico Fellini had a studio where he worked all the time and after he passed on the studio was renamed after him. So Studio 5 must be called Joe Mafela Studio,” Vundla said at Mafela’s memorial service.

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the public broad- caster has been preoccupied with “other matters”.

“The SABC can confirm that a suggestion was made by Mr Vundla for one of the SABC studios to be renamed after the late Mr Mafela,” Kganyago said.

“The SABC at this stage has not as yet engaged on this request, as the organisation is currently dealing with other matters.”

Mafela was an actor, songwriter, director and producer, and worked in the entertainment industry for several years. His song Shebeleza was used as the theme song for the 1996 African Cup of Nations.

He won numerous awards, including one for the best actor in a comedy at the South African Film and Television Awards. – ANA