Film Screening: Ntombikayise Kubheka – The Bones of Memory

Ntombi was an anti-apartheid activist and member of the armed wing of the banned African National Congress (ANC), Umkhonto weSizwe (MK).  ThShe 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.  In 1987 Ntombi was kidnapped by the Port Natal Security Branch and interrogated and tortured.  Her body was dumped near her home north of Durban.  It was only 10 years later during the TRC Amnesty application 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.  Currently living in KwaMashu in a one room backroom with her 10 year old daughter Zizipho, Thuli ponders whether her mother died in vain. An inquest to her death was opened in 2022. During the filming of the documentary Thuli is confronted with a  shocking event that restirs The Bones of Memory.