Apartheid play is an insult

I WILL never understand why a 25-year-old apartheid play like Somewhere on the Border was brought back to mainstream theatre.

The play had a successful run at the Grahamstown as part of the National Arts Festival.

With people trying to forget how people were murdered and killed during the apartheid era, this show brings back those bad memories.

Set in South Africa the play is a catalyst to open a debate on the growing levels of international militarisation.

One wonders if those who watched its premiere in the 1980s were crying or celebrating. The biggest turn-off about the show is the K-word that is mentioned from start to finish.

The show has strong racial and vulgar language that as a result of which some women walked out.

With few black people in the audience many people found it amusing. They laughed for the whole two hours. I know the show is used as a reflection, but what is the writer hoping to achieve?

Though the message is clear - about the young boys who were mostly forced to become soldiers - I find the show insulting, especially to native people and women in general.

I find the director lazy because there are many angles he could have pursued without using insults.

Again, the show gives an understanding that not all white soldiers saw black people as baboons who deserved to be shot.

Some of them had heart and did not want to be part of apartheid South Africa's war against its own people.

Somewhere on the Border leaves you with thousands of questions and few answers.