An engaging and thought-provoking documentary about a turtle poacher, produced in association with students from the Durban University of Technology, is to be screened at the Durban International Film Festival.
The story of Jabulani Makotikoti Zikhali, a KwaZulu-Natal man who was sentenced to five years imprisonment for killing an endangered loggerhead turtle in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, northern KwaZulu-Natal, made national headlines.
While many stories in the press presented Zikhali’s stiff jail sentence as a victory for conservation, there was no detail on who this man was or the circumstances which led him to kill the turtle. A group of Durban University of Technology students subsequently took part in a Roving Reporters investigation aimed at profiling the man dubbed the Turtle Butcher, and uncovering why he had committed the crime.
Roving Reporters is a Durban-based investigative journalism training agency directed by award-winning journalist, Fred Kockott. The agency runs a training office on the DUT city campus supported by DUT Journalism.
Following the publication of an opening package of stories in the Daily News earlier this year, students are now working on a documentary, Confessions of a Turtle Butcher.
It is being produced in association with KulumaTV.com and will be screened as a work-in progress at this year’s Durban International Film Festival on Tuesday 24 July at the Blue Waters Hotel.
Nosipho Mngoma, a third year DUT Journalism student who is currently serving her internship at Roving Reporters as a trainee Projects Coordinator, said the documentary raises important issues about survival, development and conservation in the northern sections of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
“Makotikoti’s story is about ongoing issues that have escaped the attention of the mainstream media. We wanted to find out more, and we certainly did. This case highlights issues of worldwide significance, including the need to protect endangered species while also taking into account the rights of vulnerable people,” said Mngoma.
The first (DUT) students to work on the Turtle Butcher case study were Sandile Gumede, Sabelo Nsele and Joel Burton. They served their internships with Roving Reporters last year and feature in the documentary.
Kabelo Mohlohlo is another third year journalism student who took part in this case study. Mohlohlo attended the funeral of Makotikoti’s mother – Mthaba Zikhali. Her death is a critical turning point in the documentary.
It was at Mthaba’s funeral that Roving Reporters gave Zikhali a blank exercise book to start writing his story, excerpts of which are included in the documentary.
Second year journalism student Nomfundo Xolo has assisted in transcribing and translating Zikhali’s story.
Sbu Ndimande, a third year DUT Video Tech student is now producing the documentary assisted by KulumaTV.com and Roving Reporters.
Mngoma said she was privileged to be on location for the shoot of the documentary. ”I got to see the splendour of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. I took a drive along the untouched pristine beaches and trekked along the beach sand pathways,” she said.
On the other hand, she also saw the suffering of the local people. “It was a very valuable experience, having the opportunity to conduct in depth interviews and really hear the issues rather than just asking a few questions to get a quote then rushing back to the newsroom to file a story,” she said.
Roving Reporters hopes to get the final cut of the documentary screened at festivals abroad. In this way, students will not only gain national exposure, but international recognition as well.
–Nomvula Sikakane
Caption: Nosipho Mngoma, Nomfundo Xolo, Anathi Teyise, Sbu Ndimande and Ndabenhle Mthembu; the Durban University of Technology crew working on the documentary titled Confessions of the turtle butcher.
