My friend and my mentor - both in life and in my career - passed on yesterday at the age of 80.
Jans (left) and Koos Roets ACS on the set of
Abraham (2015)
This was the man who challenged the apartheid laws in South Africa during the 1960s and 1970s through the medium of cinema with ground breaking films such as
Die Kandidaat [The Candidate]: South Africa's first political thriller,
Katrina: a direct indictment of the stupid apartheid laws (although disguised as a love story) and the eerie
Jannie Totsiens [Johnny Farewell]: South Africa's first horror film.
He challenged convention, broke barriers and managed to stick two fingers up at the oppressive laws of the day in such a way that the people who designed these laws ended up applauding the films, instead of banning them.
Rest in peace Oom [Uncle] Jans: I love you, sleep well.