Bongani Linda

(1966-2013) Playwright and director born in Orlando East.

Biography

Bongani was born in 1966 in Alexandra Township. At the age of 19, Bongani formed a student cultural ensemble. He authored his first play, Born to Suffer, to make youth more aware of the role that they could play in the fight against apartheid. Although Bongani won the PIDCO Drama Award, he was eventually arrested and detained because of the play and for his involvement in the Congress of South African Students. After his release, Bongani completed his secondary school qualification exam and registered at the university the following year.

His girlfriend was gang raped and subsequently committed suicide. Bongani, in his anger, confronted one of the rapists. "In that anger, I killed him. I was arrested." He was remanded in custody for about 24 months, during which time he started a theatre group to address men directly and help them understand that sexually assaulting women and children is not acceptable. When the trial eventually took place, Bongani was acquitted.

He died at his home in Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal, on 28 April 2013, after a short illness.

Training

He earned a degree in dramatic arts from the University of the Witwatersrand and also completed a special six-month trauma counseling course for victims of violence as well as a conflict resolution course.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Linda first came to Alex in 1991, and at the Thusong Youth Centre first suggested the formation of a theatre company in order to take Alex theatre and its artists to a new pedestal. He formed the Victory Sonqoba Theatre Company in 1993 with township residents and hostel dwellers in Alexandra township, many of them victims or perpetrators of violence, to encourage a culture of mutual respect and appreciation by providing an opportunity for members of my community to pursue the performing arts as an outlet for misdirected rage and anger. In creating training opportunities and offering professional employment, the Company became part of the professional theatre community, and at the same time strove to improve the living conditions in Alex

Linda was accredited with the knack of discovering much of the country's finest theatre talent. Among the crop of acclaimed theatre stars that passed through his Victory Siyanqoba Theatre Company were the likes of Meshack Mavuso of Isidingo fame and Mduduzi Mabaso of Rhythm City.