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Friday, October 23, 2015

THE PATH TO FREEDOM



(Phuzekhemisi. Pic by Gallo Records)

Ndwedwe Local Municipality in partnership with KCAP will launch the Johnny Makhathini musical production, The Path to Freedom, which celebrate his life and achievements.

The musical will feature Baba Phuzekhemisi for the first time in a theatre production as well as Nompilo Maphumulo who portrays Nosipho on the popular SABC‘s Uzalo Telenovela.

Recognised as an indefatigable leader, an illustrious diplomat and dedicated freedom fighter, Johnny Mfanafuthi Makhathini was born at Thafamasi, Ndwedwe in KwaZulu-Natal, on February 8, 1932. A bright and gifted child and a talented debater at school, he attended primary and high school at Ndwedwe. He has an aptitude for languages, qualities he developed from his mother, Mama Jali, who was well-known radio personality. After his matric he attended Adams College where he was trained as a teacher and went on to teach at Mzinyathi in the Inanda Area.

In 1962 he was among the first group of volunteers from Natal to be sent out of the country for military training. He spent most of his years in exile, travelling throughout the world. He became politically active when Bantu education was imposed in African schools and subsequently resigned from the teaching profession and pursued part-time at University of Natal.

Johnny Makhathini is regarded internationally as one of South Africa’s greatest sons who dedicated his entire life to the struggle against apartheid. He espoused a new South Africa underpinned by the principles of the Freedom charter of 1955. For his entire life, he was a strong proponent of non-sexism, non-racialism and non-discrimination and supported all forms of equality and freedom for all irrespective of race, colour creed, religion, gender and socio-economic and political orientation.

Makhathini was a catalyst in ending the apartheid system. He played a critical role in the work of the special committee against apartheid which was established by the UN General Assembly in 1963. He was involved in UN from 1977 to 1987 before he died in Lusaka on December 3, 1988.

The Path to Freedom runs at the Playhouse from November 5 to 8 at 19h00. Tickets R80. For more information, contact Publicist and Marketing Manager Sindisiwe Xaba–Cele on 031 504 6970 or 076 111 0742.