Winnie fuming over biopic
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's lawyers have complained to the makers of a new movie, starring Jennifer Hudson, about her life.
Plans for the film "Winnie" were announced late last year by South African film-maker Darrell J. Roodt, whose films include "Cry, The Beloved Country" and "Sarafina."
But a letter from her attorney Bowman Gilfillan said Madikizela-Mandela was "extremely concerned" to hear about the film, saying "she has never been approached for consent or at all."
"It is difficult to understand how a production bearing the name of an individual who has not been consulted at all could ever be appropriate or tell the full story of that individual life as media reports suggest this production is intended to," the letter said.
"This is certainly the case here, where our client has not responded to allegations and comment which have been made about her, precisely because she has sought to protect her sphere of personal privacy as best she can in extremely difficult and turbulent times," it added.
What biopic?
The South African-made film is due to start shooting in May and will star Jennifer Hudson, the Oscar-winning American actress, whose casting in the role provoked protests from South African actors.
It is based on an independent biography of her, "Winnie Mandela: A Life", by Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob, a former journalist. The film is likely to detail the fraud, kidnapping and murder controversies that have surrounded the anti-apartheid leader's former wife.
The producers' spokesman Dezi Rorich said they had met Madikizela-Mandela's lawyers, but were "unable to reach an understanding with them", and made clear they would not back down.
"The position of the producers is that if a screenplay has to be approved by Ms Madikizela-Mandela, then the film based on that screenplay could possibly be jeopardised as the world may question the credibility of the film," she said, adding that they were advised that they do not legally need her consent to make the film.
The ANC's spokesman Brian Sokutu said that "out of courtesy and respect" the filmmakers should have discussed the project with her "to see how she feels", particularly as it was likely to be "highly controversial and personal". He added that Madikizela-Mandela is "entitled to take legal action to protect her reputation from any form of character assassination".
Do you think Winnie should stop the film from being produced?