Liza Aziz and Piwe Mkhize
19 February 2007
Women have been called mothers of the nation but they are nation builders
themselves. Through the personal narratives and journeys of two women building
and repairing the nation's roads, this documentary celebrates the contribution
and courage of women in South Africa.
'Bongani Umama' is a 48 minutes documentary to be broadcast on Thursday, 22
February 2007, on SABC 2 at 21h00.
It is a remarkable story of two women who maintain and build South Africa's
roads. They are the beneficiaries of the innovative and pioneering programmes
and projects initiated and implemented by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of
Transport.
Doris Zethu Sikhakhane is one of 39 000 women currently contracted by the
Department of Transport's Zibambele Programme. She is the sole supporter of the
Sikhakhane household. After her husband died in 1999, Doris was forced to
support and sustain her five children. She does this by maintaining a length of
road close to her homestead digging, cleaning and picking up stones on the long
stretch of road in Denny Dalton, a rural village in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Her
life is one of survival and courage against almost overwhelming odds.
Thatheni Dulcie Zondi is slowly building her own empire. She has been
contracted by the KwaZulu-Natal's Department of Transport Vukuzakhe Programme
to build a bridge in Newcastle. The documentary follows this 50-year old
traditional woman's trials and tribulations on site in Newcastle at the Mbabane
Bridge.
The film traverses between the lives of Doris Sikhakhane and Thatheni Zond
and explores the problems and challenges they encounter in their day to day
lives. It is a story about real and resilient women, a tribute to our unsung
heroes; 'Bongani Umama' is a unique and reverent look into one of the most
marginalised groups of people in South Africa. The film is underscored with
original music by Sazi Dlamini.
Aziz's documentary credits include the nationally acclaimed 'Women on the
Beat,' an expose on women working in the South African Police Service (SAPS).
This was broadcast on e-TV. She has also produced a documentary for SABC 1 for
their Ten Years of Freedom project; Ikhaya (Home) premiered at the Sundance
Film Festival in 2004 and was subsequently chosen for eight other film
festivals including the Berlinale Film Festival 2004. Aziz was also associate
producer for the documentary Trancing in Dreamtime (SABC 1).
Mkhize, an emerging film-maker who facilitated the project with Aziz, is a
Communications Assistant Manager with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport
and a media master's student with the University of KwaZulu-Natal's
Pietermaritzburg campus. His master's project is making a film on the
challenges besetting the taxi recapitalisation process.
For more information about the documentary 'Bongani Umama' please
contact:
Liza Aziz
Tel: (031) 261 1154
Cell: 083 777 4468
E-mail: lisa@fineline.co.za
Issued by: Department of Transport, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
Government
19 February 2007
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport (http://www.kzntransport.gov.za/)
