Finding Mr and Mrs Komani

Home / News / Finding Mr and Mrs Komani

CAPE TOWN – Law on it’s own cannot produce change, but in its absence social change becomes almost impossible.

With these words Judge Dennis Davis this week introduced the two-part documentary, Law and Freedom, narrated and directed by Zackie Achmat, leader of the Treatment Action Campaign, a movement that has brought about significant change via the courts.

The first documentary, ‘Who is Mrs Komani?’ relates the dramatically charged cases that led to the abolition of the death penalty and the decriminalization of sodomy, a ruling that acknowledged the equality of gay and lesbian people.

The film also explores the past of Mr and Mrs Komani whose 1980 case led to the collapse of the hated Pass Law. It returns to the Gugulethu home of the Komani’s where they share their memories of a time that dramatically affected the lives of many people and changed the course of history.

Part 2 introduces people who have used the legal space provided by the Constitution to access housing and social grants. A big chunk of part 2 explores the case of the Treatment Action Campaign’s battle for the use of anti-retrovirals for prevent mother to child transmission of HIV.

Part 1, ‘Who is Mrs Komani?’ and part 2, ‘It’s a Nice Country!’ will be broadcast on SABC 1 at 10pm on February 14 and 21.

Author

Health-e News
Health-e News is South Africa's dedicated health news service and home to OurHealth citizen journalism. Follow us on Twitter @HealtheNews
View all posts