SABC 1 will broadcast the latest film, Betrayal, by the South African international award-winning documentary filmmaker Mark Kaplan on the 12th of April at 9 pm.
In August 1983, a 23 year old student, Nokuthula Simelane, disappeared without a trace while acting as a courier for the ANC’s armed wing, MK.Twelve years later, masked by a balaclava, a member of the unit that abducted her, agreed to be filmed. A year later he and eight other members of the Security Police applied for her abduction and torture, exposing the role of informers and double agents in Nokuthula’s disappearance. Betrayal lies at the heart of her story.
But the Security Police offered conflicting accounts of her ultimate fate. Where are her remains? What have we learnt from Nokuthula’s story about the conflicts of the past? What can be done to trace and memorialize the hundreds of South Africans who, like her, are still missing?
The film grippingly portrays the underground activities of Nokuthula Simelane and her family, in particular concerning the elite MK task force, Special Ops, whose field commander was Barney Molokaene, Nokuthula’s cousin. Nokuthula was a courier while her father and uncle would plan the routes to and from the targets and provide shelter to the MK fighters.
In dramatic counterpoint, the film also depicts the covert activities of the Security Police, in particular the Soweto Intelligence Unit who infiltrated the ranks of the ANC and kidnapped Nokuthula.
As filmmaker Mark Kaplan retraces Nokuthula’s capture and delves into the mystery of her whereabouts, the film noir styled dramatic reconstructions, the superb camera work, haunting music and polished editing, ensure that the film to attain levels of intensity and mood similar to that of a psychological thriller. Watch out! This film makes a deep emotional impact on the viewer.
This story is significant as it pays tribute to the unsung heroines, the black women who joined the liberation forces while it also poignantly reveals the predicament of thousands of families who have a loved one who has simply vanished off the face of the earth.
This film is the product of years of filmmaking, which began before the inception of the TRC. For his documentaries,Where Truth Lies and Between Joyce and Remembrance Mark Kaplan has previously won numerous international awards, including Best International Documentary 1999 at the One World Media Awards in London, Best of the Fest at the Vermont International Film and TV Festival 2000.
Betrayal is jointly narrated by Mark Kaplan and psychologist and academic, Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela who was the consultant in the making of the documentary. The song, ‘Sikulindile’ which is based on Nokuthula Simelane has been specially produced for the film by John Turest-Swartz and written and performed by Freshlyground musicians, Aron Turest-Swartz and Zolani Mahola. Principle cameraman was Matthys Mocke and the Editor was Izette Mostert.
Funding for the film has come from SABC, the National Film and Video Foundation and The Foundation for Human Rights in Pretoria which is funded by the European Union.
For further information on the film contact:
Mark Kaplan
Grey Matter Media
Office: 021 689 29 54
Cell: 082 563 99 68
E mail: markk@voffice.co.za
