Bones of Memory
The Bones of Memory is a powerful emotional journey showing how loss and
grief are interwoven across multiple generations. Thuli’s compelling
story of loss opens a brutal and violent period in South African
history, honouring foot soldiers like her mother who sacrificed their
lives during the struggle.
One sequence where Thuli revisits the location where her mother was
tortured and murdered is an emotional punch in the gut and brings the
past into vivid reality. There is a natural quality to the filming, the
director steps back, and lets real human emotion breathe, and allows the
viewer to connect and reflect.
While Thuli serves as the main protagonist, the film weaves in
fascinating interviews with prominent South African legal human rights
lawyers from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and other legal
experts. Samuel uses archival footage from the TRC to anchor the
historical horror in reality. These gritty, historical clips are sharply
contrasted against the intimate close-ups of Thuli, visually mirroring
the gap between the cold facts of history and the living trauma of the
present.
Thuli driving the narrative forward reminds us the past is not over, it
should be remembered! Ultimately, the documentary feels like a form of
therapy for the bereaved, sensitively told. I think the film acts as
encouragement to others like myself who have lost a son to open up about
loss, grief and to seek counselling. Justin Ingham
DATE OF INCIDENT
1987
THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE
36 years
CRIME
Torture, enforced disappearance and alleged murder
Ntombikayise Kubheka was an anti-apartheid activist and a member of the armed wing of the banned African National Congress (ANC), uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK). She worked as an operative for the organisation and was responsible for coordinating activities between the internal unit and the external unit of the ANC, as well as for coordinating other underground activities.
The Security Branch of the South African Police (SAP) regarded Kubheka as a senior ANC member and had classified her as being the leader of the KwaMashu ANC branch. Interested in information regarding the arrival of four MK members from Swaziland, Vlakplaas police officers joined forces with the Durban Security Branch to infiltrate Kubheka’s network. Two askaris from Vlakplaas befriended Ntombikayise in 1987. She trusted them, believing them to be MK operatives. The askaris including Simon Radebe and Xola Mbane, under the command of their superior, Captain Adriaan Baker, lured Kubheka to the Durban beach front, where she was kidnapped by the Port Natal Security Branch, interrogated, tortured and killed. Her body was dumped near her home north of Durban. It was only 10 years later during the TRC Amnesty applications that the family were made aware where Ntombi’s bones were buried and finally were able to give her a funeral and a tombstone. At the time of her death Ntombi had a 3 year old daughter, today 40 year old Thuli grapples with the legacy of her mother and how difficult life has been for her without a mother figure.
“I was barely a child when my mother was killed, every child needs their mother to make it, you know. So I was deprived. Must I be angry, must I be sad, I don’t know. I am suffering, this will haunt me for the rest of my life”. Thuli Kubheka
“At some point I wonder if my mother called out my name when she was being tortured, or she just said ‘I have a child, let me go’. I think she called out my name, so those people knew of Thuli but still they carried on torturing her.
Thuli Kubheka
Promo
Sibongile Kubheka
Appreciate and applause for such stunning work, least we forget. It
still feels like it happened yesterday. We salute you and your team for
the stunning job.
Prof. Steve Naidoo
Wow, excellent work. The DNA results took everyone by real surprise.
Prof. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela
This is so heartbreaking.
Disemelo Makhanda
I’m learning about the history I would not know about, if it weren’t
for your efforts to make sure that the truth is told for us to know and
share.
Khethiwe Mndawe
Thuli must write a book! We are too affected after this. We want to
know her, follow her, visit her. We want her to be a history tour. The
storytelling leaves our heart bleeding.
Stephanie Miller
The doccie was unbelievably powerful and moving. Each one has been
so different and memorable.
Sharon Davis
Wow, the series looks incredibly powerful, congratulations.
Harriet Gavshon
What an unbearably sad story.
Thabane Mlangeni
I couldn’t help dropping a tear or two listening to that lady.
Anonymous
I feel sorry for Ntombi, her daughter Thuli and granddaughter for
what they went through
TRUTH BE TOLD 