Local actress breaks the silence around issues of abuse
"Acting gives me the freedom to express my feelings and at times vent about issues that touch me on an emotional level."
POLOKWANE – 22-year-old actress Bongi Sathekge uses acting to breaking the silence around the ‘unspoken’ issues that affects local communities.
She is currently studying drama through The Paul Rapetsoa Arts Academy and explained to Review that acting gives her the freedom to express her feeling and at times vent about issues that touch her on an emotional level.
Bongi explained how she got into the world of acting
“My love for performing started from an early age while watching TV programmes at home I used to pretend to be the actor of TV and mimic them. In primary school I always took part in school plays and were often complimented on my performances, but it was only when I was in high school that I realised that I had an actual talent to tell stories, not only other peoples but my own as well,” she explained.
Bongi looks up to South African actress Connie Furgusson. “Connie had to work her way up to become the renowned actress that she is today and she inspires me to keep working hard at enhancing my acting skills so that I too can be a brand actress such as her. I grew-up watching Connie Furgusson on Tv, through her acting in various television shows and I have learned that becoming a brand takes time and a lot of hard work and self belief. I plan to continue to work hard to achieve my dream of being one of the best and also influential actresses the country has ever seen or had.:
She adds that she wants to be an inspiration to the coming generation of women and men, who wish to enter into the very competitive entertainment industry.
“At this point acting does not really pay, but I would would say the greatest payment that an artist of any form can ever get is publicity and love from fans, so one must really be passionate about whatever they are doing,” she said.
She is currently touring the province with Pona Tshabalala Creations creating awareness on rape, alcohol and drug abuse through a stage play ‘Behind Closed doors’. In the play Bongi plays a 19-year-old girl who gets raped and victimised by her Step dad. The aim of the play is to educate and create awareness around the unspoken issues which affect communities including rape, alcohol and drug abuse.
Catch them in Polokwane at the Library Gardens on the 29 November from 14:00.
