The Albert Luthuli Museum in conjunction with the Department of Arts and Culture and the KwaDukuza Municipality hosted the launch of the much anticipated movie: “RFK in the Land of Apartheid: A Ripple of Hope” at the Stanger Town Hall on Sunday, 3 April 2011 at 2pm.
This landmark event was graced by relatives of great political heroes that fought the Apartheid Government with the daughter of Chief Albert Luthuli, Dr Albertinah Luthuli (MP KwaDukuza Constituency) and Ela Gandhi, grand-daughter of Mahatma Gandhi present.
VIPS in attendance included KwaDukuza Mayor: Cllr Thulani Khuluse, Mrs Weziwe Thusi (MEC: KZN Arts and Culture) and Jill Derderien (US Consul General).
The event started off with the SA national anthem, with Mayor Khuluse taking the podium and speaking on behalf of the citizens of KwaDukuza.
The director and producer of the movie, Dr Larry Shore, took to the podium to recite the poem: “Cry, The Beloved Country” (Alan Paton) followed by the keynote speech which was delivered by Mrs Thusi in which she paid tribute to both Chief Luthuli and Robert Kennedy. Dr Albertini Luthuli then read aloud a personal message from the Kennedy family to all present in which the Kennedy family showed their appreciation to those South Africans who kept Robert Kennedy memory alive.
Dr Shore grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. He graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with a B.A. degree in 1971, majoring in Political Science. While at WITS he was active in the National Union of South African Students and the Wilgerspruit Fellowship Center.
The movie was an instant hit with all present. Even with Luthuli and Robert dead, both these men still have larger than life personalities that inspire many people today.
In June 1966, Senator Robert F. Kennedy accepted the invitation of several South African university student organizations to speak at their institutions regarding the state of apartheid. This excellent documentary by Tami Gold and Larry Shore revisits Kennedy’s landmark visit, which put the human rights struggle in South Africa firmly on the world’s radar. There were some moving and stunning photos of Kennedy reaching out to the crowds in Soweto. As one newspaper’s headline said, “He renewed our courage.” Kennedy gave the people of South Africa a gift they sorely needed: hope, the power of possibility.
The most significant part of the movie was the meeting between Luthuli and Robert in Groutville. Robert went by helicopter to Luthuli’s house. In never before seen footage, the two men walked for a while then disappeared from view of all reporters as they demanded privacy.
“Do you think your father was instrumental in forming MK?” asked Mayor Khuluse of Dr Albertini. This was during the question and answer session. This was very fascinating indeed.
The Xpress Times also asked the films director about Robert’s assassination at the hands of the CIA with only conspiracy theories being the order of the day.
Mayor Khuluse quoted Robert Kennedy’s famous Day of Affirmation speech:
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance”.
This quote is engraved on Robert Kennedy’s grave; however the screening has rejuvenated interest in the death of Chief Albert Luthuli as his death was controversially reported by the apartheid government. Facts of the time were that the Apartheid Government did work with the CIA during the Cold War.
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