How Long Park Film

Synopsis

‘How Long Park’ is a feature documentary about an environmental hero who turned a river and bush into a park for his community. One man’s journey in turning his plight into something positive; sacrificing his life for the noble pursuit of giving back to the community and to nature under the most oppressive conditions. Homeless and foodless in the 70s, Michael is destitute and living on the banks of a township river. He survives off the river; it becomes his home, his drinking water and his soil to grow plants. He returns the favour by taking care of the river, cleaning and greening it. On a township landscape where access to a clean and healthy environment, recreation and green spaces is a privilege; Michael turns a degraded environment into a botanical paradise for his community. This is story about one man’s environmental work; his trials and tribulations on his mission to find purpose and a connection with life and nature. The iSipingo River, a once healthy twin river system is forced apart, losing its abundant flows and wildlife, now reaching a sad exit to the sea. Once home to flourishing mangrove swamps and diverse wildlife, the river, estuary and lagoon have become open sewers for industrial pollution and raw sewage. Michael and other environmental activists show us how will-power, passion and uBuntu triumphs. This is a story about Africa, the uBuntu philosophy, environmental dedication and noble pursuit of an individual against harsh adversity.

How Long Park Campaign

I am producing a film on Mr Mlangeni the founder of How Long Park since 1976; he created a park, cleaned the river without reward or entitlement, just as a self-defined citizen who was concerned about nature. He is an unsung hero and my intention is to capture his remarkable efforts and struggles.

Besides the film (a film as a tool for advocacy and change), my aim is to help Michael to get support in any form – be it funds to him directly, plants, play equipment or volunteer days to clean up the river.

He spent his own money buying plants to remediate the river - earning odd work whilst sleeping in the bush since the 70s. Post 1998 the municipality started paying him R2000 pm. It is a sad case that a person who took the initiate to create a park and play area for his community is struggling in a post-apartheid situation – he has never been compensated for spending his own money or his pension to build the park areas.