February 9, 2025
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 By Ephodia Mudau

Film producer, director and scriptwriter, Sagwadi Mokwena, and his crew, will host a screening of their film, Losing Onica in Tzaneen, Limpopo on May 6.

The theme of the film is gender-based violence (GBV), with the character of Onica, played by Rotondwa Munyai (27), having been molested by her father. Mokwena told Thisability that the film is not just entertainment but a lesson to all to break the silence about GBV.

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Rotondwa Munyai

Saying solutions should be found to the issue of GBV, Munyai said, “I have learned what I should consider as an individual in such cases and also how I can help the next person and recruit others to do the same.

The film opened in theatres on February 24, and the crew hosted a Losing Onica cinema night at the World Miracle Church in Kgapane, Mokwena’s home village in Limpopo.

Mokwena’s plans include visiting different schools and villages around Limpopo and showing the film. Theyhave already visited Risinga High School in Giyani.

He wants to encourage people with disabilities that disability is not a barrier. “If your dream contains money, take out that portion of money and throw it away, then work on your dream, says Mokwena, who is a wheelchair user after being diagnosed with arthrogryposis, “a term describing a number of conditions that affect the joints”.

 

Sagwadi Mokwena

Mokwena’s passion for writing drama started in grade 6.He is in his first year studying towards a highercertificate in performance arts at AFDA, the school for the creative economy.

Persons with disabilities are limited [from accessing]opportunities, [but] that cycle should be broken. I want disability to dominate in media platforms,Mokwena says, and insists that disability representation on the screen should be portrayed by people with disabilities themselves.

Munyai is grateful for the opportunity she got to embrace her talent. “This is my first film to act on and the amazing part is that it was directed by someone with disability. I have realised that people with disabilities also have the same abilities as people who are not disabled. We should also allow them to shine, she said.

Mokwena’s mother, Pritchard Olga Mokwena (55) is excited to witness her son’s achievements. She believes that the special school he went to helped to raise her son to be independent. “Parents, please do not hide your disabled children, take them to public special schools. Those people have been trained to take care of our children.”

 

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