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and finally, at eleven o'clock at night he is back at his home in .Also included are glimpses ofthe dailyroutines of members of his staff, amongst them his housekeeper, his private secretary and the administrative secretary atthe President's Office. Mandela/ producers,Jonathan Demme,Edward Saxon and Jo Menell; directors,Jo Menelland Angus Gibson. This biography takes the story from his youthintheTranskeitohisincarcerationon throughto his release from Compiled by JANINE DE VILLIERS and activists such as Steve Biko, prison and hisinauguration as president Promotions and Publications and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. after the firstdemocratic electionin South decade oftrue democracyis quite Africa.It received an Academic Award Nominationin1996 for Best Documentary an achievement on the African AdaywiththePresident/ producer, A continent.In 2004 the Republic of Feature. Harriet Gavshon; director,Nicolaas Other titles celebrates tenyears under a Hofmeyr. democratic governmentchosenin free and The first accused: an intimate portrait of Made by the team responsible for the Mandela fair elections by the whole nationthat Ordinary people series, this unique pro- Mandela: the man and his country serves as an example to the restofthe gramme spends a working day with Presi- Nelson Mandela and the rise of the ANC world.The roadtotrue democracy was not dentMandela.Startingatfouro'clockinthe Nelson Mandela: the struggle is my life. an easy one.Many South Africans contrib- morning at Qunu in theTranskei, where he uted to the establishment of a new democ- was on holiday with his family,it accompa- Steve Biko racy,unfailingly devoting theirlives to this nies him on his flightto and thento cause.Theycame from allwalks of life: law- Steve Biko: journey of the spirit/ his office atthe Union Buildings, where he is yers, clergymen, student activists - sharing producer,PeterTrehaeven; director, seen at a meeting with Minister , the vision of a true democratic country in Matsemela Manaka. giving aninterview to journalists of City which all would be equal. Made to commemorate the twentieth Pressand taking a telephone callfrom PW During 2004 librarians might receive anniversary of Steve Biko'sdeath, this pro- Botha, before going on to his official resi- requests formaterial aboutthis topicalissue gramme is not so much a biography as a tri- dence,Mahlamb'andlovu, forlunch with andtherefore a selection of videos fromthe bute to the blackconsciousnessleader's Minister Sidney Mufamadi and the swearing Central Video Collectionis highlighted social, cultural and politicallegacy.Itis in ceremony of Deputy Minister Brigitte here.This selection includes various titles structured aroundinterviews with a Mabandla. featuring the mostfamous South African of number of people who knew him person- Later thatday he flies to CapeTownto alltimes,Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and a ally, as well as with individuals who were accept a cheque on behalf of the Nelson host of other famous political role players influenced by his writings.Amongstthem Mandela Children's Fund in Stellenbosch are poet Don Mattera,Mpumalanga

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premier Mathew Posa,Biko's BPC collea- former comrades in arms.Comments from Another title gues Strini Moodley,Ben Khoapa and Saths prominent individuals like Jeremy Cronin, Bishop Desmond Tutu: in South Cooper,AZAPOs Lybon Mabaso, film- ,,, Africa. maker Glen Ujebe Masokoane, The ,Joe Modise,Tokyo Sexwale Sowetaneditor Aggrey Klaaste, artist and Essop Pahad are intercut with archival Other famous South Africans Charles Nkosi and Biko'seldest son, footage, aswellaswith extracts from ear- Albie Sachs/ director,Nicola de Chaud. Nkosinathi.Mostofthemrefer tohis lier recordedinterviews with Hanihimself. In1990, after 22 yearsinexileinEngland emphasis onthe need of black South Another title and Mozambique, lawyer, writer and ANC Africans to develop a sense of self-esteem MartinThembisile Chris Hani1942-1993. activist Albie Sachs returned to South and self-reliance, and pointoutthat his once Africa and, more especially,to hishome city revolutionary ideas are now generally Desmond Tutu of CapeTown.Inthis programme he talks accepted.There are also musicalinserts Man without fear: Desmond Mpilo about various things: the Maputo car bomb from the likes of Bheki Khoza,PhillipTabane Tu t u / producer and director,Hennie of 7 Aprill988 thatclaimed his right arm, his and Mara Louw. Serfontein. time of recoveryin England, his commit- Other titles In June1996,Desmond Tutu retired as mentto the freedom struggle, his yearsin Bantu Steve Biko: beacon of hope Anglican Archbishop of CapeTown, and Mozambique and hislove of CapeTown.He Biko: the spirit lives accepted a newrole as chairperson ofthe also discusses his writing, especially The jail The death of Steve Biko Truth and Reconciliation Commission. diary of Albie Sachs and The softvengeance The life and death of Steve Biko. WhileawinneroftheNobelPeacePrize of a freedom fighter,andexpresseshishope and aninternationallyrecognised figure, he for a democratic South Africa in which Chris Hani remains a humble, deeply spiritualperson everyone willbe able to embrace the cul- The life & times of Chris Hani/ with an intense love for his fellow human tureoftheirchoicewhilebeingopentothat producers, Shareef Cullis and Junaid beings and a wonderful sense of humour. of others. Ahmed; director,Ken Kaplan. This programme presents a portraitof Chris Hani @l942-1993) had been elected Desmond Tutu, charting the highlights of Beyers Naude¨ :pilgrimageofan General Secretary ofthe South African his ecclesiastical career, while atthe same Afrikaner prophet/ director,Hennie Communist Party when, in April1993, he time discussing his confrontations with the Serfontein. was assassinated.Thisprogramme presents apartheid state.Structured around A biography of the Reverend Beyers a portrait of the man and pays tribute to his extracts from a lengthyinterview - during Naude¨ , tracing hislife and ministry from an memory.It starts with his childhoodinthe which he talks about his family background, unquestioning acceptance ofthe political rural and his student years at his entryinto the priesthood, the meaning heritage of having been born an Afrikaner, Lovedale College and Fort Hare University, ofprayerinhislife, etcetera -itincorporates through his growing conviction that the before following his political career through filmfootageshotoveranumberofyears government'sapartheid was morally the ranks of the SACP and the ANC - andin various countries.In additionthere wrong, to his final commitment to the including his activities as a combatant - are comments from his wife Leah, his freedom struggle.Based verylargely on an leading up to his appointment as Chief of daughter Naomi,Dr Nthato Motlana,Peter extensive interview with him and his wife, Staff of .Members of Magubane,Reverend Frank Chikane and a Ilse, and supplemented with extracts from his family,including his father and his wife, number of close friends and associates. earlierinterviewsshotatvariousstagesof recallhim as a person, as do several of his hislife, ittouches upon a great manyissues.

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It starts with his family background, the underground work for the SACP, his life in returnto South Africa after 28 yearsin influence of his father on his thinking, his prison and, finally,his death of cancer. exile.Thisis followed by the story of his yearsasatheologystudentattheUniver- involvement in the CODESAtalks, his sityof Stellenbosch and his membership of Heart and stone/ producer and appointment as firstdeputypresident and the .After thatit director,Bridget Thompson. his electionto the presidency ofthe ANC. traces his increasingly strained relationship Borninto aTranskeipeasantfamilyin1910, The programme makes use of limited re- with the Dutch Reformed Church following Govan Mbekihas been a stalwartofthe enactments, archival footage and inter- the Cottesloe Conference and his appoint- African National Congress for many years views with a number of people who know ment as director of the Christian Institute. and, inl956, was elected the organisation's him, including his parents,Simon Makana, Finally Dr Naude¨ talks aboutthe years of National Chairman.This film presents an Barney Pityana,,Essop Pahad officialharassment, of being ostracised by overview of his life, starting with his remi- and AdelaideTambo, as wellas political most of his fellow Afrikaners and his deci- niscences of anidyllic rural childhood, the scientist Tom Lodge and journalist Mark sion to join the ANC.Additional comments struggle for higher education and an awa- Gevisser.It also incorporates extracts from come from Prof Charles Villa-Vicencio, Prof keningpoliticalconsciousness.He confesses some of Mbeki'spublic speeches, amongst Willie Esterhuyzen,Carl Niehaus, Sidney to having enjoyed doing underground work themthe famous IamanAfricanaddress to Mufamadi and President Nelson Mandela. for the ANC and also talks about his family, parliament, as well as an interview con- his earlycareer as a teacher and his experi- ducted specifically for this programme. Bram Fischer/ producers,Jill ences running a cooperative store, a project Engelbrecht and Maryanne deVilliers. in which his wife is still involved.His conver- Other titles Made to coincide with the 20th anniver- sations withthe filmmaker are intercut with Mayibuye Afrika Chief - his sary of his deathin1975, this presents a two cross-cutting narratives, the first a story biographyof Bram Fischer @1908-1975), the return visitto Robben Island, where he was OR Tambo 1917-1993 scion of a distinguished Afrikaans family, imprisoned for over two decades, and the Winnie the politics of violence. who became one of the most prominent second a return to his rural origins whilst Related titles members ofthe South African Communist campaigning for the ANC prior to the The comrade king Party and defended boththeTreason and General Election of April1994. Countdown to freedom: 10 days that the Rivonia trialists before being jailed in Throughout, there are references to the changed South Africa 1966 for his anti-government activities. history ofthe Xhosa people. A journey back The programme makes use of archival film Soweto - the passion...the pain footage and photographic stills, but consists Thabo Mbeki: renaissance man/pro- Two decades still. primarily of interviews with people who ducer and director,Dali Tambo. knew him, amongst them Adv George Originally transmitted to coincide with Hours of fascinating viewing material are Bizos, ,Govan Mbeki, Thabo Mbeki becoming the second demo- availabletolibraryusers andyoucanbringit , Hugh Lewin and Mary cratically-elected presidentof South Africa, to their attention with displays @see our ten Benson, as well as his daughters,Ruth Rice this two-part programme presents an years of democracy display on p.47), and IlseWilson, andhiscousin Mr Justice MT overview of his life and his thinking on a notices or even a photocopy of this article. Steyn.They commenton his Afrikaner varietyof subjects.He was bornin1942 to Librarians could also screenthese videosin background, hismarriageto Molly Krige, his Epainette and Govan Mbeki, and the film theirlibraries to celebrate appropriate political convictions, hislegal career, his starts by sketching his family background national days.Be proudly South Africanin againstthe history ofthe anti-apartheid 2004! struggle.It discusses his childhood years and educa- Note: Reviews by Freddy Ogterop, Film/Video/ tion, and followshimto Great DVD Selector oftheWestern Cape Provincial Britain, where he studied at Library Service. Sussex University.He received military trainingin the and was involved in setting up Radio Freedomin Lusaka.It also traces his rise inthe leader- ship of the ANC and his

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