Senzo Meyiwa movie in the pipeline
A movie about Senzo Meyiwa, which will highlight the issues of gun violence in South Africa, is in the pipeline. Up-and-coming actor Pius Ntabeni, who is the brain child of the movie and who had a feature on Rockville season three, spoke to ZAlebs about why he and his team have decided to create a movie about one of the most publicised and controversial deaths in recent South African history.
Pius mentioned that he is fully aware that the movie can either be a great success, or it can easily be frowned upon by the public.
“I get the idea of people frowning upon the idea, but there’s a real issue here, people have forgotten that someone died and they died in the most tragic way and something needs to be done. We are so afraid of being labelled as sell outs, I personally refuse to accept that after seven months of Senzo’s death no one really knows what happened that night,” Pius said.
With the movie idea still on paper, we asked Pius if he has already been in contact with Senzo’s family and what is the general consensus from the Meyiwa family.
“We have approached the Meyiwa family. I unfortunately cannot speak much on it because understandably it’s still a sensitive subject to them, but they really seemed to understand where we’re going with the vision and motivation and intention of the movie. We’re not trying to be malicious to the deceased but honouring his life and memory. We’re trying to ensure that his name lives on and to also highlight the global issue of gun violence in our societies.”
Pius has also got in contact with the likes of Athandwa Kani and radio personality, Kuli Roberts, to be part of the movie. Both personalities have shown great interest in being a part of this great cause.
“Athandwa Kani has shown interest and we thinking of him playing the main role. Kuli Roberts was also keen because her cousin was also a victim of gun violence as he was being hijacked. For Kuli to share her own story with me I was touched and she was very vocal in her support for the film.”
He also mentioned to ZAlebs that he was also in contact with Kelly Khumalo’s camp.
“Kelly’s team heard about the project and we got an e-mail from her camp and the e-mail was trailing along the lines of them hoping that the project doesn’t damage their image in such a way that will force them to take any legal action against us. But I explained to them that we’re not trying to be malicious to anyone, yes it is a bio of Senzo but it’s really about highlighting the effects of gun violence in the country.”
According to Prius, should all things go well and the movie comes to fruition, it shall be titled 'The Birth And End: T'was iSenzo That Led To Where We Are'.
