If you want to tell the naked truth about post-apartheid South Africa, do it through fiction. Author Niq Mhlongo masters this art brilliantly.
The Market Theatre will stage Nailed, an incubation project supported by the Department of Arts and Culture.
Niq Mhlongo’s latest work, Soweto Under the Apricot Tree, is a collection of short stories about contemporary Soweto, Johannesburg and South Africa in general.
The stories are a fascinating account of township life and thought-provoking commentary on post-apartheid South Africa, which is still grappling with many of the issues emanating from our past.
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In a country that has lost billions through corruption, we follow the life of a corrupt MEC, Comrade Mgobhozi, in charge of the Mpumalanga provincial department of Refugees, Tourism, Asylum and Displacements. We find that Mgobhozi does not aid the problem faced by his country but worsens it by allowing greed to rule him.
Nailed is a story about abuse of political power, infidelity and violence.
It is a portrayal of corruption, greed and selfishness from politicians who abuse state resources for their personal gain.
This story shows how behaviour impacts the lives of ordinary people and how it affects the morale of a country. It shows how corruption corrodes public trust and weakens a democratic system.
The extent of this problem is growing public funds being diverted away from the public good towards private interest.
Corruption has reached high levels and politicians have become immune to it as they continue to loot and use state resources to impress and to run their own lives as if the taxpayers’ money is their own.
Nailed is directed by Luthando Mngomezulu, who was the director of Isithunzi, 2017 Zwakala Festival winner, a dynamic production that created conversations around race relations; an uncomfortable subject in South Africa.
Nailed will premiere at the Market Theatre in the Barney Simon for a limited season from February 8 to March 3.
Performance times are Tuesdays to Saturdays at 8.15pm and on Sundays at 3.15pm.
For bookings contact Anthony Ezeoke 011 832 1641ext 203 or 083 246 4950.