From drugs and gangs, to joblessness and a lack of purpose, South Africa’s young people are in a daily battle.
A new film series that calls up fathers and men to be more present in the lives of children is underway. The latest film in the Heartlines Fathers Matter series explores the impact on young people when the gap left by a father figure is exploited.
The sixth and final short film in the series, Manskap, will be on SABC 2 this Saturday (October 22) at 8.25pm. It stars veteran actors like Lorcia Cooper Kumalo and Bradley Olivier and upcoming talent like Melick Gould and social media influencer, Kevin Narain.
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Kyle (Melick Gould) is a troubled but promising young man, unemployed, fatherless and raised by a single
mother, Sandra (Lorcia Cooper Kumalo). With nothing much to keep him motivated besides his love for
cars, Kyle finds himself in the clutches of a powerful local gang leader, Rooi (Jerome du Plooy).
Whenanother father figure steps in to offer him a new sense of direction, Kyle must make a choice. Can Bra Warren (Bradley Olivier) help Kyle find a different path in his life? Does Kyle want it badly enough?
“The story is about fatherhood, community, love and choices. Our protagonist Kyle is at a crossroads in his life and has to choose between following the path of darkness or light,” says Olivier. Olivier, renowned for his roles in Binnelanders, 7de Laan and recently in the Moja Love telenovela Hope, understands the
complexities faced by young people like Kyle, having grown up in a similar community to the one the film is set in.
“It’s not going to take away from the fact that our people still live predominantly within certain
communities where crime is on every street corner. So stories like this, where there’s a hopeful tale, that’s
what I like about this film.”
“My character is very flashy, he’s sly, he’s manipulative. He loves kids, but he likes getting them to do his
dirty work for them,” says Skeem Saam’s Jerome “Slim” du Plooy about his character, gang boss Rooi.
While a social father like Rooi offers economic support to young people like Kyle, it often comes at a cost.
Young people easily find themselves involved in illegal or dangerous exploits, just to put food on the table or to find the sense of belonging or identity that comes from being part of a gang.
Du Plooy, who has had to make similar life-or-death decisions growing up as a young person at risk, offers this advice: “Quick money, quick success is not the way. Don’t depend on handouts … ‘cause people will think they own you. Go to school, work hard, stay focused.”
“I think in our communities specifically, the kind of examples we have as male figures may not always be
sound for young men,” says Lorcia Cooper Kumalo, who plays Sandra, Kyle’s mother. “But if that’s all you
see, then that becomes normal for you. You don’t realise that you have other choices … This is what I’d like to say to all young people … if you don’t have a template, make your own. You don’t have to fall into the cycle of what already exists.”
Each of the films in the Heartlines Fathers Matter series seeks to incorporate values-based storylines that
encourage viewers to engage with key themes. According to research, over 60% of children in South Africa are growing up without their biological father in their home.
Manskap explores how social fathers can play an important role in the lives of children and young people.
“What drew me to the script is the fact of absent fathers. It presented an opportunity for us to show how
much a father figure contributes towards the future of our society,” says director Eric Mogale, also known
for his work as creative director on Rhythm City.
“Changing perceptions and behaviours around fatherhood can only be done as a collective effort involving thousands, if not millions, of South Africans,” says Garth Japhet, the CEO and founder of Heartlines.
“Our hope is to start conversations amongst parents, families, sports teams, in classrooms and offices … fathers matter, because children and mothers matter.”
To watch Manskap, tune into SABC 2 on Saturday 22 October at 8.25, or visit the Fathers Matter
website for other broadcast dates.
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