Independent
On-Line, 06 December 2002, I have parents, says TV's 'Aids orphan'
A child portrayed as an orphan in an SABC documentary does have parents, The
Star can reveal.
The documentary, Shouting Silence, was screened on SABC 3's Expressions on
Sunday. It was made for the SABC by filmmaker Xoliswa Sithole of Naya Naya
Productions.
According to the documentary, filmed at an informal settlement in Tembisa on the
It
further said she had then run away from home as she was being abused by her
father, and was left sleeping on the streets and
begging for food.
A viewer who was so moved that she wanted to adopt
the girl was told by her principal, Kabelo Motshapi, that Molouwa did, in fact,
have parents.
On Thursday Molouwa, with her mother Matsheko Secheka
at her side, said she was introduced to Sithole by a neighbour Anna Thamai, and
was paid R250 to pose for the camera.
"I am angry that I was shown to have died in the
documentary and that my husband has been portrayed as a child abuser," said
Mrs Secheka.
Her husband Paulos Secheka works in Rustenburg.
"I was not consulted," added Mrs Secheka,
"and was told by my neighbour that my daughter was acting in a drama."
Approached for comment Sithole accused The Star of
"harassing" her. She said she did not have to justify herself to a
newspaper, but insisted Molouwa was orphaned.
SABC 3 commissioning editor Eddie Manzingana said the
matter would be investigated.
Molouwa said children at her school are avoiding her
as they believe she is HIV positive.
On Thursday the girl's neighbour Thamai initially
claimed to be Molouwa's legal guardian.
She said she believed the filmmaker was making a
drama for overseas, not a documentary.