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this Tuesday February 4, 2003, SABC 3 at 9h30 pm -

"My Granny, My Mom"

You've heard about it. Maybe even read a story or seen the statistics. But this Tuesday on Special Assignment, you can see of what Aids has done to families in South Africa. In a devastatingly personal insight, the documentary "My granny. My Mom" profiles the lives of four grannies who have become mothers all over again in their old age.

In the rural hinterland of Kwazulu Natal, 84-year old granny Maria has to look after 8 great-great grandchildren. She struggles to walk, yet the youngest child in her care is 11 months old. The entire family lives off granny Maria's old age pension. They eat when they can. "God is the only one who works here," she says with obvious desperation in her voice. Granny Maria does not even know that the government provides child support grants.

She has never even heard of this.

"All my grandchildren call me mommy," says 79-year old Granny Ellen from Westbury near Johannesburg. She along with her daughter also look after 8 children. They too live off granny's pension of R640. They tell of their struggle with the authorities to access child grants. They also bear witness to the social workers threats to take away the children unless the fathers can be traced.

Then there is Granny Agnes near Durban who lost both her children in the space of one month: "I have become a mother all over again," she says. We also meet granny Emily, she at 74 has to still work for a living. She is tired and bitter, none of her kids can find work, and she has to feed them and their children.

Watch Special Assignment this week for one of the most moving documentaries you are likely to see this year: A story about life after death.

This documentary is directed by Mpho Moagi and filmed by Roy Freeman.

page by Steven Lang