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At just five months old, Thabang Mabuza lost his mother, Phila Portia Ndwandwe, an Umkhonto we Sizwe operative who was abducted, tortured and murdered by apartheid security police in KwaZulu-Natal in 1988. Decades later, Thabang sets out to understand what happened to the mother he barely knew and to confront the questions that have remained with him throughout his life.
Through intimate interviews, archival material and footage surrounding the exhumation of Ndwandwe's remains, the film retraces the story of a young woman who refused to betray her comrades, even in the face of torture and death. As Thabang delves into his mother's past, his personal search becomes an exploration of the wider legacy of apartheid's human-rights abuses.
Moving between past and present, The Breastfeeding Warrior examines grief, justice, reconciliation and forgiveness, while confronting the enduring effects of transgenerational trauma. At its heart is a son's attempt to understand his mother's sacrifice — and to determine whether the freedom she fought for came at a price that was worth paying.
Awards:
- Best Documentary Short — Simon Mabhunu Sabela KwaZulu-Natal Film & Television Awards (2024)
- Best Documentary Feature — Ekurhuleni International Film Festival (2024)
- Digital Works Award — URTI International Grand Prix for Auteur Documentaries (2025)
Film co-presented by: Reel Causes
At just five months old, Thabang Mabuza lost his mother, Phila Portia Ndwandwe, an Umkhonto we Sizwe operative who was abducted, tortured and murdered by apartheid security police in KwaZulu-Natal in 1988. Decades later, Thabang sets out to understand what happened to the mother he barely knew and to confront the questions that have remained with him throughout his life.
Through intimate interviews, archival material and footage surrounding the exhumation of Ndwandwe's remains, the film retraces the story of a young woman who refused to betray her comrades, even in the face of torture and death. As Thabang delves into his mother's past, his personal search becomes an exploration of the wider legacy of apartheid's human-rights abuses.
Moving between past and present, The Breastfeeding Warrior examines grief, justice, reconciliation and forgiveness, while confronting the enduring effects of transgenerational trauma. At its heart is a son's attempt to understand his mother's sacrifice — and to determine whether the freedom she fought for came at a price that was worth paying.
Awards:
- Best Documentary Short — Simon Mabhunu Sabela KwaZulu-Natal Film & Television Awards (2024)
- Best Documentary Feature — Ekurhuleni International Film Festival (2024)
- Digital Works Award — URTI International Grand Prix for Auteur Documentaries (2025)
Film co-presented by: Reel Causes