Khanyo Mjamba
name
Khanyo Mjamba
profession
writer and director
country
South Africa
biography
Khanyo Mjamba is a writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. His stories are inspired by the everyday skirmishes, the unexpected alliances and, occasionally, the absurd. His educational background in communication science has seen him working in a motley mix of industries including publishing, pathology and journalism. Home Affairs expresses Khanyo’s undying optimism about human nature in the midst of political, social and technological upheaval. He considers the directors Steve McQueen, Damien Chazelle and Denis Villeneuve as some of his most important filmmaking influences. When he isn’t telling stories, he is getting his hands dirty in the complex affairs of his two toddlers.
previous works
MAESTRO’S HAND (2024)
THUNGISIANI (2024)
HOUSE OF NDALO (2023)
social media
Home Affairs
working title
Home Affairs
project status
in development
logline / short synopsis
Lala, a former chief in a rural South African town, is desperate to leave after losing her dream job due to corruption. Arriving at her local Home Affairs branch to collect her passport for a cruise ship job, she faces delays as the processing system is offline. Typical! Desperate, she bribes an official to prioritize her, sparking a showdown between her and Sonto, a widow wrapping up her husband’s affairs, who is also demanding priority service. The face-off culminates into a tense vote that Lala wins. A wise old man’s selflessness during the showdown reignites her hope in people and she sacrifices her spot, only for the system to come back online, giving her renewed hope.