Dark underworld of the organ trade explored in new local film

Johannesburg - Friday saw the release of a local film that’s all about raising awareness of the dark underworld of the organ trade.

Currently, less than 2% of South Africa’s population donates organs and, with so few organs available, people often turn to the black market.

The full-length feature stars Natalie Becker, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Deon Lotz and Greg Kriek. It is set in Johannesburg, where Becker is a surgeon whose son desperately needs a liver transplant. The lengths she goes to to save his life take her into dangerous territory.

“When a liver finally becomes available and is destroyed en route to the hospital, the alternative of sourcing an illegal organ becomes her only option. She turns her back on the system she has devoted her life to, and secretly heads off to New Day Clinic in east Africa,” says the film’s website.

Bypass was made by Media Village Productions in partnership with the Organ Donor Foundation. 

The film is showing at the following cinemas:

Cape Town – Cavendish Square, Eikestad Mall, Tyger Valley Shopping Centre and Parow Centre

Joburg – The Zone @ Rosebank and Cresta Shopping Centre

Pretoria – Sterland Mall and Kolonnade Shopping Centre

Durban – Gateway Theatre of Shopping

Port Elizabeth – Baywest Mall