Kalushi

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Kalushi
Kalushi poster.jpg
theatrical release poster
Directed byMandla Dube
Written by
  • Mandla Dube
  • Leon Otto
Starring Thabo Rametsi
Thabo Malema
Welile Nzuza
Jafta Mamabolo
Louw Venter
Fumani Shilubana
Pearl Thusi
Gcina Mhlophe
Marcel van Heerden
Murray Todd
Release dates
  • 18 June 2016 (2016-06-18)(Durban International Film Festival)
  • 10 March 2017 (2017-03-10)
CountrySouth Africa
BudgetR20 million
Box officeR2.3 million

Kalushi is a 2016 South African film about Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu, a nineteen-year-old hawker from the streets of Mamelodi, a township outside Pretoria in South Africa. [1] He was born in Pretoria on 10 July in 1956, the second son of Martha Mahlangu. His father left him in 1962, and from then on only saw him infrequently. His mother was a domestic worker and took sole responsibility for his upbringing. The film is based on a true story. [2]

Contents

Plot

Kalushi is brutally beaten by the police. He goes into exile following the 1976 Soweto uprisings to join the liberation movement. He returns from military training in Angola. En route to their mission, his friend and comrade, Mondy, loses control and shoots two innocent people on Goch Street in Johannesburg. Mondy is severely beaten and tortured; Kalushi is forced to stand trial under the common purpose doctrine.

The state seeks the highest punishment from the court, death by hanging. Kalushi has his back against the wall and uses the courtroom as a final battlefield. His sacrifice immortalises him into a hero of the struggle and a national icon of the youth joining Umkhonto we Sizwe.

Cast

ActorRole
Thabo Rametsi Solomon Mahlangu
Thabo Malema Mondy
Welile Nzuza Tommy London
Jafta Mamabolo Lucky
Louw Venter Van Heerden
Fumani Shilubana Lucas Mahlangu
Pearl Thusi Brenda Riviera
Gcina Mhlophe Martha Mahlangu
Marcel Van Heerden Judge Theron
Murray ToddMr. Mailer
Clive Scott Mr. Bragg
Lawrence JoffeHeller
Shika Budhoo Priscilla Jana
Kaseran Pillay Dawood
Mona Monyane Comrade Eve
Ryan DittmanMr. Hartog
Zweli DubeComrade Papers
Buyile MdladlaGebuza
Siphiwe NkosiDamoyi
Anton DekkerMinister of Police
Gary D'AlessandroCommander Esperanza
Bhekisisa Mkhwane Jacob Zuma
Thembalethu NtuliCoca-Cola
Wandile MolebatsiCousin Phineus
Dan RobbertseColonel Breytenbach
Jacques van JaarsveldEster De Wet
Matt SternWouter Wolmarans
Jacques de SilvaFrelimo Soldier 1
Mpho MagapiSolomon's Teacher
Reginah DubeSis Lindi
Denial HoneyballCourt Stenographer
Martin Le MaitrePrison Commissioner
Masoja MsizaRev. Ndlovu
Thami MzakuBra Frank
Daniel Du PreezSwaziland Customs Officer
Lawrence-Lee ThorpePretoria Central Prison Warder 1
Samuel Manuel HauzeMPLA Soldier-Angola Execution
Markus HaywoodWhite Comrade in Bungalow
Johann van RensburgCourt Orderly
Asia MahomedRecord Bar Merchant
Jaden NaidooIndian Boy
Renus MullerPoliceman 1
Chris BarnardSupreme Court Policeman
Jacobus SmitCourt Illustrator
Simao DomingosFrelimo Commander-Rescue
Siphamandla DlaminiPretoria Maximum Warden
Mandlakayise Walter Dube JnrStudio Photographer

References

  1. Mandla Dube (2016). "Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu" . Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  2. "Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu". SA History. Retrieved 22 September 2016.