On this day the 3rd of December 1993 - Thomas Mogotlane South African actor in Mapantsula, a landmark political and musical film, died. Mapantsula is a 1988 South African film directed by Oliver Schmitz and written by Schmitz and Thomas Mogotlane. It tells the story of Johannes 'Panic' Themba Mzolo - played by Mogotlane, a small-time thief, set against the backdrop of Apartheid. The film's use of flashbacks between Panic's time at the hands of his apartheid jailor and happenings in Soweto display the injustices black South Africans suffered during apartheid. Thomas Mogotlane also wrote and acted in other films such as Sarafina, Kwagga Strikes Back and In Darkest Hollywood: Cinema and Apartheid. He died at the age of 40. SOUND COURTESY OF THE SABC RADIO ARCHIVES Take part on the feature every week day between 6:20 and 6:40 am on SAfm, South Africa's news and information leader, from 104 to 107 Fm

"This Day in History" is a daily feature on SAfm.

Advertisement