Matthew Krouse Down the tube
>From the outset one would think that Baby Fathers, showing on June 16 at 9pm on e.tv would be the most depressing documentary ever made. But actually it’s not. Take the subject matter: three teenage fathers living in the townships, who have had their offspring early.
They’re poor, inexperienced and undecided about the direction of their lives. They’re not yet in the prime of their lives, but they’re already dealing with life’s hard edge. According to the statistics 15% of school-going boys in South Africa become fathers. The programme shows the lives of just three – one who’s become the father of twins!
Benedict’s ex-girlfriend Gladys was 15 when she had them. And in an interesting twist, it is Benedict’s mother that has taken her twin grandsons in. A move that has landed the responsibility of fatherhood squarely on Benedict’s shoulders, and he seems to be rising to the occasion.
Directed by Khetiwe Ngcobo, two of the three fathers chosen are co-parenting and are having quite a good time with it, it seems. Even though they’re poor kids whose social lives have been cut short, their children are ample compensation for other things they might be losing out on in life.
Only one individual – 23-year old Tefo – seems to have problems, ones he doesn’t think he’s got. Having fathered three children with three different mothers, he is of the conviction that once money is spent on women the payback must happen in bed. The viewer is forced to confront the same reality that freaked so many people out during the airing of Yizo Yizo.
When he gets the girls, Tefo tells them: “I’ll buy you a big boat called the Titanic. And they believe me.”
Once he’s told them this, he figures “they’re convinced this man really loves me. But in actual fact I’m not even there. I just want to get some sex and move on.”
It’s not merely coincidence that Baby Fathers plays on Youth Day, for it is a documentary with a specific message for the youth. It’s a bit corny to coin the subtext in the phrase, “if you play, you pay,” but that gives one an inkling of what it’s about. In some instance though, the message has an upside: if you play and you take responsibility for your actions, you can reap some rewards.
June 16 also sees the airing of a unique live broadcast called Bridging the Gap – the first time an event will be broadcast from Robben Island. Held in remembrance of 13-year old fallen hero Hector Petersen, what it will amount to is a concert staged in the courtyard of the prison’s Section B.
Beginning at 8pm on e.tv, expect to see a one- hour special including hip-hop bands Tribe and Cool Funk, the Waterfront Dance Com-pany, comedian Mark Lottering, Nadine, the new teenage sensation and the three Fez Tenors.
They’re not names that are automatically recognisable. But given the fact that the programme has been researched by the National Youth Commission of the Deputy President’s Office, the Robben Island Museum, the Soweto Heritage Trust and the Eubulus Timothy production house, one assumes the legwork has been done.
The programme will also show the journey undertaken by 18 youngsters from all the provinces of the country who took a pilgrimage to Soweto to rediscover the reality of the youth of 1976.
National Youth Day is set to be another milestone in the life of the nation. So, tune in to the inauguration on SABC2 at 9am if you like your milestones live and with a bit of diplomatic flavour. It’ll go well with breakfast in bed.
Unless you’re invited, that is!