A shot in the arm for Kgafela
After graduating from the Funda Art Centre in Soweto in 1986, Lucky Kgafela returned to Tembisa and started the Rutang Community Projects. While at the Funda Centre, he rubbed shoulders with acting gurus like the late Matsimela Manaka.
The soft spoken Kgafela, who is called ‘Professor’ in the arts industry, toiled for more than two decades without a sponsorship, and lost a lot of talented actors to well-established companies.
But his prayers were answered this year and Kgafela received a whopping sponsorship from the Lotto.
“I felt like I was dreaming, but I knew deep down in my heart that the time has come for us to move to another level,” he said.
After sitting down with some of the directors of the project, they decided to buy an Iveco bus to solve their transport problems.
“Transport was one of our biggest problems, as we have to perform all over the country. We would like to thank the Lotto for the sponsorship,” he said.
Currently, they are promoting one of their latest productions called Thula Thula. It is about adults who fall in love with young girls and then disappear after impregnating them.
When asked why he came up with such a storyline, he said his heart bleeds when he sees people abusing women and children.
“As creative writers and actors, we have to participate in the healing of our country, especially from monsters who prey on school children. We hope this production will help in educating the nation about the importance of Ubuntu, and teach youngsters not to engage in sexual activities before marriage,” he said.
