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| Ray Ntlokwana (Late) |
Tat’ u-Ray Ntlokwana, an award winning actor who was affectionately known as “Velaphi,” he was my role model, he passed away in his hometown on Thursday, July 20, 2000.
It happened that he visited our school for a play just before he passed on with Vuyisile Bojana to name. So my dream of meeting him was granted – though sometimes it seems impossible to meet the people on that small box, imagine, if my mother never stole me from the rural areas of Alice (Eastern Cape), would not have gotten the chance to catch a glimpse of Velaphi.
In the present day we don’t have characters like him, people who brought entertainment back to the people of South Africa. He distinguished himself with attentiveness to create a well-known personality, I assume actors were not paid much then but still he showed passion for his craft and respect for those who admired it. It saddened me to hear the alleged news that he died broke – some churches around Gugulethu helped towards any funeral arrangements, then again these things are unavoidable to happen, especially with artists with no clue about turning their craft into businesses.
The then Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, DR. Ben Ngubane, issued a statement, "It is indeed an indictment of the iniquities prevalent in the commercial arts environment in this country that he died penniless. This should not have happened and government - through the departments of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST), Trade and Industry and Labour - is addressing this problem," he said.
Velaphi’s passing made the then Minister to say the following, "The Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology is in a process of devising means whereby it will be possible for cultural workers to contribute towards a pension scheme, medical aid cover and unemployment insurance. Details of this initiative will be announced in due course," he said. The above was said in 2000, well, I don’t think Minister Paul Mashtile (Arts & Culture) echoes the same ‘dream.’
It would be pleasant for our government to help those we look up to, get them to give industry experience to the public domain. I am sure the above will help reduce people having multiple babies just for the sake of the state-grant.
It will also be advisable to the people on the ground that public and on screen behavior differs, so celebrities should be given the required respect and treatment. Celebrities too should behave in public spaces – knowing that you have children so vulnerable that are looking-up to you.
Artists should stop living large on drugs, expensive (credit) cars, girls and rental property. The little things mentioned above are the major reasons 'why' they die broke and a prime example will be Brown Dash, once I quote the Sunday World, “He died sitting on the bones of his ass,” in continuation, “Brown Dash, real name Simphiwe Mpamile, died without a dime in his pocket, a pedestrian, a tramp and a poverty-stricken man who is likely to be given a pauper's funeral if good Samaritans don't come to his family's rescue.”
I still RESPECT Ray Ntlokwana – Salute to SA Artists who are always changing lives…
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