By Palesa Ndinisa
Thamsanqa “Savage Sossa” Nogaga from KwaThema, who is not only a creative director or writer, but a visionary at heart shot an hour movie using his phone at the streets of Tsakane.
‘Pressure’ as it is titled, a phrase that resonates with most people living in townships experiencing socioeconomic issues. Nogaga further elaborating on what the movie is about in detail. “Pressure a township story about Sindi, a young singer with big dreams, who fights to rise above the pain of abuse, betrayal, and loss. Her son, Zweli, becomes the innocent victim of the chaos around her, pushing her to the edge. It’s a raw story about ambition, sacrifice, and survival when life weighs heavy on your shoulders,” added Nogaga.
The creative further explained that the inspiration behind the movie involves shattering stories such as broken dreams and broken homes within townships. It also highlights the strength and resilience of a person in difficult circumstances, that even in toughest places, ambition burns bright. By using a phone, ‘Savage Sossa’, a go-getter born and bred in the dusty streets of “Spiyo” as some would refer KwaThema to, proved that the story worth telling is more powerful than the equipment a production would typically require to shoot. “I was not going to wait for sponsors or big budgets to tell my story. Equipment or not, I know determination can capture a movie that feels bigger than life. We faced challenges in the process. We lost actors, had to reshoot scenes, and I even lost half the footage when my computer crashed. Budget was always a challenge. But the vision never died — and that’s why we pushed through. It was meant to be a short 20-minute project, but the story took its own life. In the end, it grew into a full-length feature over months of blood, sweat, and sleepless nights. So, from March 2024 to present we finalised the last bits of the movie,” expressed Nogaga.
This film was made by an all-musician cast, which makes it historic as music is a language that most black communities use and understand. Participants brought raw talent and authenticity. Behind the scenes, Nogaga received assistance from community members who believed in the vision and gave their time, their spaces, and their energy.
Movie screenings are coming to Johannesburg Theatre on the 18th of October 2025. The aim is to also take the movie to cinemas.
