Programme director
All members of the Mahlangu family present
Mr Achmat Dangor (National Monetary Fund)
A courageous combatant in our midst who was saved from the gallows of the apartheid regime - Mr James Mange
Mr Vuyo Mahlati (Post Office)
Mr Mandla Dube from Pambili Productions
Ms Joni Light from Pambili Producation
Ms Gugu Ngwenya the DEDET project manager on this project and all other departmental officials present
Ladies and gentlemen
It is part of an African tradition that when a historical event or an important occasion takes place that it should be commemorated, indeed celebrated in a befitting manner.
Because we understand that the collective memory of the people translates itself into mass consciousness, and historical memory, heritage and values being what is passed from one generation to another. Chairperson we are coming from an understanding which says the role of personalities in history and politics does influence the course of events.
One such personality is Nelson Mandela, who is celebrating his 93rd birthday this month. Madiba as he is affectionately called has been at the centre of political action all his youth and adult life and has been pivotal in all the innovations and developments within the ANC, South Africa and the world.
The first commander in Chief of Umkhonto Wesizwe, a people’s army wherein distinguished personalities like Solomon Mahlangu affectionately known as Kalushi like many before him and many since, emblazoned his life into the emblem of Umkhonto Wesizwe uncompromising motto: Victory or death!
Programme director let us, on the occasion of the 93rd birthday of the first commander in Chief of the people’s army, Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, a birthday which falls in a year which also marks the 50th anniversary of Umkhonto Wesizwe, salute those heroes and heroines who paid the supreme price, some of them like Kalushi, Mini, Mkhaba and Khayingo who went to the gallows singing defiantly because they refused point blank to sell the lives of their fellow combatants to the apartheid regime. The formation of Umkhonto Wesizwe and subsequent organised armed struggle epitomises the warfare principles and values embedded in:
- The battle of Isandlwana in 1879
- Bambatha uprising in 1906.
To wage a just war in pursuit of freedom, democracy and peace.
The storylines of Solomon Mahlangu made into a drama series should be understood in this context.
Freedom, democracy and peace are values the Mpumalanga Provincial Government is prepared to take whatever measures possible to support them, hence our support to the Kalushi production.
You will recall that upon his release in February 11 1990 Nelson Mandela in thanking the contribution of everyone gave first mention to Solomon Mahlangu as an Umkhonto Wesizwe Cadre.
This production (which is a Private Public Partnership) comes at a point when as a country we are faced with critical challenges inter alia:
- Low political consciousness
- Love for money and luxury
- Unemployment, poverty and inequality
These are some of the social, economic and political challenges that Kalushi and many others laid down their lives for.
Kalushi was a disciplined cadre of the left with a high level of political consciousness, money and luxury could not buy the freedom of his people.
The best way to commemorate his life is for us to continue fighting all forms of social and economic injustices such as unemployment, poverty and inequality. This brings me to the second reason for us supporting this initiative which talks to the economics of the film industry.
Ladies and gentlemen, the province of Mpumalanga views creative industries as a critical sector with the potential to create the much needed job opportunities. We have thus prioritised this sector – being the potential job driver – in the proposed New Growth Path for our province, to be known as the Mpumalanga Economic Growth and Development Path.
Creative industries are one of the few sectors with a potential to create employment and business opportunities to rural communities, women, poverty stricken communities, youth, indigent people and to the physically challenged.
Over the decades it was found that people increasingly travel to places that they have seen on television or movies.
The film and televisions sector in the province has a diverse cultural and social heritage which is a tourism niche that is untapped. The sector, moreover, is able to preserve heritage and communicate ideas, transform information and ideologies.
The British Tourism Authority Report estimated that locations featured on successful films can expect an increase in tourist of at least 54% in the following four years. I am therefore confident that aside from the potential for film to enhance the tourism potential of the province, its rich natural resources will serve as an important magnet for film producers and thus boost the number of tourist visiting the province.
We are ecstatic because our panoramic landscape will see Kalushi introduce cinema tourism as a service that enhances the liberation route that will follow Solomon Mahlangu’s heritage trail.
It is a fact that Solomon comes from the royal blood lines and we must acknowledge and thank his parents for handing over to the Nation, not a courageous cadre of our time, but a real martyre, we salute you Kalushi, Sithi Mahlangu, ebukhosini, Mndungwa. Isichaba Sesewula Africa Siyathokoza, Mndungwa.
We therefore believe that our involvement in depicting and immortalising the life of our own son and comrade, Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu, through a film, will not only preserve our history of struggle, but will also contribute in promoting our province, our culture and heritage, and more importantly, boost our creative industry by contributing towards the much needed job opportunities.
Programme director I must hasten to indicate that it is part of a broader vision to establish a film office that will pioneer the super hub.
The Production story of Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu is planned to be labour intensive. At least 500 youth will be directly employed and another 1500 indirectly employed as a result.
This production will provide the youth with job opportunities as freelancers, camera operators, sound and lighting technicians, caterers, plumbers, carpenters, stylists, make-up artist, graphic artists, photographers, painters, writers, actors and so on. The benefits and excitement of films such as this are that its spending is not confined to a narrow economic band, but rather impacts across a range of sectors.
Production budgets are spent on a range of products from hardware to props, plants to steel, paint to timber, draperies to carpets, furniture to portable dressing rooms and to generators. It is therefore my humble belief that successful films can promote a film industry that is able to draw on natural resources geared to assist in building the entire value chain of the economy.
Although film and television in Mpumalanga is relatively small and underdeveloped, opportunities with makers of films, commercials and other productions are abound and are attracted by the province’s natural beauty, developing infrastructure and availability of talent and skills.
It should be acknowledged that in the province majority of the service providers in the film and television industry are Small medium and micro enterprise (SMMEs), and operate under serious hurdles of access to public and private sector financial and non-financial support. It thus becomes clear that there is a need for government intervention through policy to encourage, support and create a conducive environment for SMME development and sustainability, particularly in the film and television industry.
This will make them more eligible in benefiting from the supply-side and measures to be developed for manufacturing and export assistance.
The cultural and creative industries need to be lifted out of its marginalised status in the economy. Internationally, it is precisely such industries that have grown the fastest in terms of employment creation and contribution to the GDP in the economies of North America, Canada and Europe. South Africa is yet to experience this growth for the film and television industry. South Africa has a vibrant, growing film industry that is increasingly becoming more competitive internationally.
Local and foreign film makers are taking advantage of the country’s diverse, unique locations, low production costs as well as the favorable exchange rate, which make it up to 40% cheaper to make a movie here than in Europe or the US, and up to 20% cheaper than in Australia.
The Creative South Africa Report states that “the South African entertainment industry is valued at approximately R7.4 billion and employs an estimated 20 525 people. Of this, the film and television is worth R5.8 billion and has proven to have a strong technical base of skills and infrastructure.
Ladies and gentlemen; Mpumalanga has a potential to become the next “Hollywood” of South Africa, given our scenic beauty, culture and heritage and its talent.
This is supported by films such as “Jock of the Bushveld;” “Ghost in the Darkness;” “Catch a Fire;” just to boast. The filming of these movies has placed our province on the world map, and could lead to rising number of international tourists.
Kumndeni Wakwa-Mahlangu sithi siyathokoza uzimu anitshudubaze (God bless you).
I thank you.
