A play
titled Homage to Sowetan and
celebrating the life of Dr Aggrey
Klaaste was stage at Uncle Toms Hall Orlando, Soweto to a packed audience
on 3-4 and October.
The staging
of the play was in with keeping with the Heritage Month of September, was quite
poignant that the paper's legacy and that of its renowned editor be celebrated
as a national treasure.
The play's
story line, while a snapshot of Klaaste's illustrious life, essentially
celebrates his contribution to this country's journalism and nation building.
His
courageous editorship saw Sowetan rise to become one of the important voices in
the local mainstream media landscape. He received an illustrious list of
international and local figures, including former President Nelson Mandela,
Senator Edward Kennedy, Margaret Thatcher, Muhammad Ali, black civil rights
leader Stokely Carmichael and hordes of ministers of the previous apartheid
regime.
Joe,
Thloloe, veteran journalist and editor talked the audience before that play,
that Klaaste was a remarkable man in a world of remarkable.
He says he
used to drink with Klaaste while the later was a student at Wits University. He
used to tip us of stories at Wits before he joined us at Drum as a journalist.
"I can
talk of Klaaste as personal friend. I can talk of him a colleague and a
drinking fried," added Thloloe.
Thloloe
thanked Mrs Valeta, wife of Klaaste for his support in the efforts of her
husband to serve the people and the country.
Langa, the
son of Klaaste said it was an honour that a play was stage about his father.
"We are
indebted to the team that made this project possible", said Langa.
Langa said
he was working on the documentary about the life of his father so that he keeps
his legacy alive.
Mike
Mzilenii, veteran photographer in the era of Drum magazine said he was detained
many times with Klaaste. He still recalls the year they were detained for a
night in down Johannesburg for "loitering" under the notorious laws of the apartheid
system.
Gugulethu
Maqetuka, Executive: External Communication and Business Support told the
crownd that he has a great respect for Klaaste and his role in champion the
black journalism. He said Telkom SA was happy to be associated with the legacy
of Klaaste as the father of nation building.
Homage to
Sowetan Celebrating the Life of Dr Aggrey Klaaste is framed on a journalist
attempted to write a biography of this legendary editor of the Sowetan
newspaper.
Thapelo
Mohapi, one of the lead actors in the story goes through emotions before
writing the biography. He argues with his wife in the story Mosili Mokuta on
why is not always at home as he searches for the missing facts on Klaaste.
Tsholofelo Ross narrative the birth of Sowetan newspaper, and trace origins
from Bantu World, The World and up to
Post newspaper.
Mpikeleni
Duma, a journalist who made this play possible said the reason to create Homage
to Sowetan was because the newspaper was known as centre piece of the
intellectual Black Resistance.
The play has
been praised for in the newspapers and on radio. Veteran jouranlists spanning
from three generations of Sowetan newspaper grace the occasion.
Actors
Tsholofelo Ross,lead actors Thapelo Mohapi, Mosili Mokuta, Stage Manger Sepelo
Marumo, Director Oscar Motsikoe and Producer Mpikeleni Duma
Sponsors: Gauteng Department of
Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation and Telkom SA
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