WeeklySA_AdminThe Eyethu Heritage Hall, an integral part of a sprawling shopping centre precinct, was launched in Soweto on Monday. It was officially opened during a function attended by scores of local personalities, including music icon Sipho Mabuse and San King Meshack Lekitlane.
Essentially a re-invention of the defunct Eyethu Cinema, later declared a heritage site, the project was completed last year and heralds the enduring legacy of the late former Soweto mayor Ephraim Tshabalala and his family, whose entrepreneurial impact on the lives of millions of Sowetans spans more than six decades.
The heritage hall is divided into several sections, including a mini-museum adorned with archival newspaper clips that chronicle Eyethu Cinema’s history as Soweto’s entertainment centrepiece from inception in the 1960s. The anchor tenant will be a lounge-cum-restaurant to be operated by entrepreneur Tebogo Phiri of Disoufeng bar fame. The hall’s modular interior makes it versatile to host conferences, exhibitions, private functions, wedding ceremonies and product launches.
The Tshabalala family’s mission is to preserve the cinema’s rich history while making it a hub for knowledge, culture and education. It will host international film festivals, live performances and foster innovative programmes in the digital realm to enhance the local cultural and economic activities.
