Documentary celebrates Gugulethu’s 60th
WITH THE Gugulethu 60th anniversary celebrations concluded in December 2018, there are many tangible outputs that will be with us for a very long time.
is one of the outputs of the year-long celebrations held in 2018.
This documentary that has been commissioned by the Museum Services and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports in the Western Cape honours people of Gugulethu who have built a vibrant community against the backdrop of forced removals.
It also celebrates Gugulethu’s 60th anniversary celebrations and features a cast of characters who have experienced Gugulethu since its inception, as well as a young population who were born and raised in the area.
The documentary, produced by Plexus Films, a female-run Cape Townbased production company, features the likes of Dr Sindiwe Magona who grew up in Gugulethu and acted as a script adviser, as well as being the narrator and a character; Geoffrey Mamputa, a social activist and conflict resolution specialist; renowned businessmen Peter Motale; Patrick Duze, an ex-MK veteran and businessman; Thembele Terra Dick, a film-maker; Malusi Malefane, a young designer; and businesswoman Thuleka Duze.
“When people think of Gugulethu, they think about the killing of the Gugulethu seven by the apartheid government in the 1980s or they think about the murder of Amy Biehl. Gugulethu holds more than these two tragedies,” said Geoff Mamputa.
Three young film-makers were mentored during the making of the documentary, namely Athini Manona, Eeman Sing Lee and an up-and-coming Gugulethu film-maker called Dick, who was second cameraman on the production and also featured in it.
Big up to Hlahla Consulting team that assisted with research and content development for the documentary.
“We would also like to extend a special thanks to the African News Agency and the Independent Media Library at UCT; the Community Video Education Trust; UCT Library’s special collections; the Independent Newspaper archive and Black Sash Western Cape’s archive. Also, let’s not forget the music performed at the Mandela and Sisulu Centenary Concert at the Gugulethu Sports Complex in September in honour of the two political stalwarts, Tata Mandela and Mama Sisulu, presented by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and the Artscape,” the film-makers said.
The documentary is hosted by the Cape Town Museum website, www. capetownmuseum.org.za/updates/gugulethu-our-pride-60-years-on. |