Public outcry against launching of Venda porn

A huge outcry from community and religious leaders met the plans of a local filmmaker to launch a “traditional Tshivenda porn” movie this week. This follows the recent publishing of an advertisement, inviting adults to buy tickets for the “DVD and live shooting”.

The new movie is the brainchild of a movie guru, by local standards, Mr Zwoluga Madega. Madega, of Hanzam’s TV Movies, started his movie business around 2002 and has become a household name in the local movie industry. He has produced numerous movies and said the latest endeavour is the result of pressure from fans.

If the plans materialise, local movie lovers will be fed what they have never tasted before. The launch of the “traditional Tshivenda porn movie”, Bush Pie 3, is under dispute and it is not clear whether it will continue on Youth Day, 16 June anymore.

“We could not withstand the pressure from our fans, who wanted something new and exciting. We then decided on something very traditional, shot in a traditional Venda setting in the mountains at Ha-Manyuwa in the Nzhelele area. With members of the cast dressed in traditional Venda attire and doing what folks in those days did when courting…

“We are very excited about the new project. Since we made it public that we are going for a launch, our phones have not stopped ringing with people enquiring. It has ignited a lot of excitement among our fans and we are expecting a full house at the Indoor Centre in Thohoyandou,” said Madega.

He said as a movie maker he was trying to show that such movies could be done here as there is a lot of talent. "In the olden days, we used to hear of such things from faraway places, but we are here to show that we can also do it," he said.

Asked whether the movie would not compromise the government’s efforts to stop the spread of HIV/Aids, Madega pointed out that the movie is educational in one way or another.

“We are trying to highlight the importance of condomising in order to avert the spread of the dreaded disease. What we did was that our cast members were first tested for the disease. Those found to be negative engaged in unprotected sex, but those not tested were forced to use condoms. We are, in a way, trying to educate our people and the community should not judge us otherwise,” he said.

The duration of the movie is two hours. “We have done our best with the latest project. We have an improved quality and the content is educational, which is a plus. We are inviting only adults as per South African law. This is the first launch of its kind and those who attend will not regret it,” he said.

The launch has been widely condemned by religious leaders. Rafiq Lakha, a member of the executive at the Masjid-E-Chistiya Ashrafia in Thohoyandou, said such movies promoted infidelity and were regarded as a serious sin in the eyes of Allah. "Our religion does not allow a man to look straight at the face of a woman who is not one's wife, and looking at naked people engaged in sex is strictly prohibited," he said.

Apostle (Dr) Shandukani Tshitimbi of the Hope of Faith Worship Christian Centre at Hamutsha-Khwekhwe, one of the fastest growing ministries in Limpopo, said sex for money was something unheard of in conservative African communities. "Sex is very sacred and is meant for married couples. It cannot be performed in public, and it is very unfortunate to find that it is being displayed in public these days.”

He added that it was the end of time. “God is coming and these are some of the signs of the times that were given that, towards the end of time, this would happen. Read 2 Timothy 3, from verse 1 onwards. It gives a full picture of what will happen towards the end of time," he added.

Vhomaine Vho Mbulaheni Mbilivhili Neluvhola, a leading traditional health practitioner and also the chairperson of the Vhembe Traditional Health Practitioners, said explicit sex was a taboo. “Sex is only permitted between two people and is done in private, not in public. Whoever does it in public is set for punishment by the gods. Those involved will not live long because they are making the gods angry,” he said.

Mr David Mudau, a local teacher, said the movie would create the wrong impression, especially among the youth, who might think that sex could be done everywhere and in public. “This is very disturbing to be happening in our society. It goes to show how sick our community is right now,” he said.

Also read:

06 June 2014 - Anger meets Bush Pie 3

20 June 2014 - Launch of controversial porn movie postponed indefinitely

Date:30 May 2014

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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