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FROM OUR FILES: Sylvester Sindane , Petros Ncheng and Sonnyboy Ndlovu, actors who played stuntmen for the movies Blood Diamonds and Casino Royalei. Pic. MABUTI KALI. 03/04/2008. © Sunday World.

After featuring in yet another blockbuster thriller - Safe House starring Denzel Washington - Ndlovu and his stuntmen buddies were showered with high praise.

They got to be the stuntmen in the flick - which was shot in South Africa and is set to be released on the local circuit on February 10 - because of their impressive acrobatic skills.

The others are Petros Mchabela, Sylvester Sindane, Eric Zulu, Mduduzi Mavimbela, Edgar Sindane, Gabriel Simelane, Sidwell Buthelezi, Bozwell Maluka, Percy Mogudi and Siyabonga Stunts.

The movie is about a young CIA agent tasked with watching a dangerous fugitive in a safe house.

When the house comes under attack, the agent finds himself on the run with his charge.

Ndlovu says they are worried that they are better known abroad than in South Africa.

"We are strangers in our own country. We aren't recognised as top stuntmen and there are few roles for us locally," laments Ndovu.

"When Denzel arrived in the country to shoot Safe House we had already concluded the deal.

"He'd told the producers he didn't want any stuntmen but us.

"We weren't that surprised because many of the Hollywood superstars know what we're capable of," says Ndlovu.

Ndlovu and his colleagues from Ekurhuleni have featured in several award winning films, including the James Bond film Casino Royale, Blood Diamonds, 10 000 BC, Machine Gun Preacher, Sniper Reloaded and TheBang Bang Club.

Ndlovu and his homeboys and girls from Daveyton and Tsakane have toured the world shooting one movie after another.

"We have played few roles in local dramas and movies," says Ndlovu. "As I'm talking to you now, we are doing the final paper work for another big movie."

He says he is working on playing a visible role because stunt people are behind-the-scene "actors".

• masungwinin@sundayworld.co.za