Hundreds of Western Cape matric pupils had a treat at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town yesterday, where they watched the play of their official setwork Nothing but the Truth.
Its author, legendary playwright John Kani, popped in and chatted to pupils about the play, which deals with forgiveness and the death of his brother.
The play was prescribed as a Grade 12 setwork in 2008 in the Western Cape.
It forms part of the theatre's annual setwork season, with Kani's play on stage until next Wednesday.
Kani wrote Nothing but the Truth in 2001 when he was struggling with forgiveness following his brother's murder by police in 1985.
"I could understand why there was truth and reconciliation. I understand why it was important for South Africa to move forward. But I couldn't reconcile such a waste of a young life. So my anger stayed with me," he said.
"[The play] deals with family conflict after a death. Two brothers who need to sit across the table and admit that they were both wrong," he said.
Artscape's head of development, Marlene le Roux, said the play was about creating alternatives. "It's about not just throwing around words like social cohesion and democracy, [but] actively doing something," she said.
Ntsikelelo Lurwengu from Athlone School for the Blind said the play had helped him learn to forgive others. "We must not be angry all the time, and let go of hate," he said.
For Eustacia Pieterse from Scottsville High School in Kraaifontein, the play opened her mind. "I understand the book a lot more, and I believe that forgiveness will set you free."
