Springbok Cinema
Springbok Cinema was a cinema in East London (now KuGompo City).
History
The Springbok Cinema in East London was established before World War II by Layden Brothers, a White-owned establishment for Black entertainment. During the apartheid era the Cinema was leased by Black owners with White nominees.
During the late nineteen sixties, Mr Dickie Naidoo, a World War II veteran, became the owner of the Springbok Cinema until the nineteen eighties, where movies of all genres were shown. Action movies, as well as movies that appealed to Black audiences, and interracial love stories were shown.
Springbok cinema also entertained audiences with major music concerts like ‘Harare’, ‘The Rockets’ and local SA talent like Richard John Smith, Jonathan Butler, Little Ronnie Joyce, Sipho ‘Hotsticks’ Mabuza and more.
Dickie Naidoo expanded his entertainment business to the only Black owned nightclub, The Golden Inn, where local talent were given an opportunity to shine. Further, he started a movie distribution of karate movies to all Black owned cinemas in SA.
During apartheid when the unions could not get premises to hold meetings, Naidoo closed the cinema for two days a week for union meetings, until the BBC aired these meetings. On learning that the cinema was being used for SAWU meetings the Apartheid government threatened him, his family and business, if he did not stop supporting the union. This is where his son, Reggie Naidoo started his business career and political understanding. Reggie spent most of his time in the cinema as well as sitting in union meetings from the age of eight years old. Reggie also expanded into movie distribution, video hire and distribution, nightclubs and jazz cafes, record sales and distribution.
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