South Africa's Murders Most Foul

OneWorld UK

By Daniel Nelson

A tsunami of violence has hit South Africa, writer Andre Brink says on Murder Most Foul, which will be shown on More4 at 9pm on Tuesday.

Most victims of last years murder toll of 18,500 are Africans, but the film focuses on the death of two young white men.

This is because the idea for the film initially came to Sir Anthony Sher because one of the victims, Brett Goldin , was a gay, Jewish actor like Sher.

Putting two white men at the centre of the film has provoked criticism in South Africa, where the documentary is being screened on a satellite channel on Wednesday (26 September). Sher and director John Blair told a meeting at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) in London this week that the focus prompted some people to refuse to cooperate with the making of the film.

When Sher asks Desmond Tutu to comment on the criticisms, the former Archbishop points out on camera that the film is not restricted to the two men but addresses the whole issue of violence and that if your film helps [deal with violence in South Africa], go ahead.

Privately, Tutu ("Clearly, apartheid damaged us more than we ever imagined") has compared advocating silence on the violence on the grounds that publicity might deter tourists and investors as like having a cancer but not going to the doctor.

Answering questions after the RSA screening, Blair claimed that few members of the South African leadership were prepared to take action against the violence, even though deep down they knew it was unacceptable. Their attitude was similar to AIDS denial, he said. The film shows Sher driving to an appointment with Security Minister Charles Nqakula, who had said people who whinged about crime should shut up or leave, but on the way they are told the Minister has gone abroad.

Until they confront that they do have a problem with violence and murder, nothing will be done, he added.