Botswana gets a share in Mandela movie
Mpho Tlale | Friday May 16, 2014 17:41
The movie, Mandela’s Gun, will be shot in Peleng, Lobatse this weekend and is set for release by the end of 2014. The movie follows Mandela’s last eight months before imprisonment, which he spent travelling in Africa and includes the safety and support he received while in Lobatse. During that time, Mandela stayed at Fish Keitseng‘s Peleng home where African National Congress (ANC) members met. According to the director, the Keitseng safehouse was the place where Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the ANC, met for the first time outside South Africa in 1963.
Yesterday in Lobatse, Phorano said that those behind the movie had wanted to recreate a set that would match the late Keitseng’s safehouse.
“We had to step in for the movie to be shot in Lobatse because Mandela’s safehouse, known as C42, is still there,” he said, adding that, “There is no need to recreate it and make something that looks like it”.
Phorano added that because the safehouse is now a national monument, the department is working with the movie’s production team to make it look as it did in 1962 for filming purposes. It is expected that Botswana will pump about P500,000 into the upcoming movie mainly sponsored by the South African Ministry of Arts and Culture.
Phorano said the funds come from entities such as the Botswana Tourism Organisation, Brand Botswana, Lobatse Town Council and other private organisations.
“The funds will be used to cover some of the costs incurred on set,” he said.
Said Phorano: “We did not want Botswana to be left out of Mandela’s story because like other African nations, the country did its part to assist in the South African struggle.”
Besides shooting in Botswana, Mandela’s Gun will be filmed on location in several countries including Ethiopia, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, Algeria and South Africa.
“This is a proudly African story,” he said, adding that all the countries mentioned played a role in the late icon’s life as a freedom fighter.
“It highlights the unity of African countries which were prepared to aid and support a fellow country in its determination for justice and equality.
“By placing Botswana within this story, our proud country’s heritage and culture take their rightful place next to those others mentioned,” Phorano said.