‘Cry Freedom’ Videotapes Sell Briskly in South Africa

Pirate videotapes of the anti-apartheid film “Cry Freedom,” banned from public screening in South Africa, are selling on the black market for up to $150, a film industry representative said Tuesday.

Edward Askew of Southern Africa Film and Video Security, an independent body that monitors the pirating of films, said videotapes had been imported illegally earlier this year before Pretoria ruled on whether the film could be shown.

Last Friday, government censors unexpectedly approved showing of the film, which depicts the life and death of South African black activist Steve Biko and his friendship with white newspaper editor Donald Woods. However, hours later officials said the movie constituted a threat to public safety, and police raided theaters across the country and confiscated copies of the film.

Askew told reporters that videotapes of the film are now available and that pirate distributors are cashing in.

“There are now at least 350 pirate copies selling for anything up to 300 rand ($150),” Askew said.

He said his organization, using the copyright laws, is trying to take action against people who own illegal tapes of the film.

Meanwhile, Woods told reporters in Toronto that the South African government badly bungled its handling of the movie, turning it into a propaganda victory for those fighting apartheid.

“The fact it was shown even for two showings was a bungle. They (the Pretoria government) had been counting on the censorship people reversing their decision. When that failed, they were counting on the cinema managers to chicken out. When they refused, the government decided to send in the police,” Woods said Monday. “I’m surprised at the ineptitude.”

Woods, who now lives in England, was in Toronto for the Commonwealth foreign ministers’ meeting on countering South African censorship.