CAPE TOWN: BEHIND THE BEAUTY (2019) – South Africa Mini… — Transcript

South Africa is probably one of the most beautiful and interesting countries in the world. But beyond all this beauty, there is another side. One of the highest crime rates in the world. Murders based on racism. People talking about a revolution. And these are just some of the problems the country is facing at the moment. In March 2019, we visited Cape Town and talked to people from all walks of life to find out what it's like to live in a place that the World Bank calls the most unequal city in the world. The first person we met was Simba. We actually met him coincidentally in a cafe where he was working. Simba introduced us to his friend Mazik Sola. Like Simba, he wants economic justice. Mazik Sola told us about Kurabo, who is his biggest political opponent at university. She is the youngest member of the Democratic Alliance, which is a liberal party that stands for an open opportunity society for all. During our stay, we had the chance to be hosted by Nick. He works in the IT sector but was born and raised on a farm. Nick introduced us to his bossan. He fully experienced apartheid as a colored person. Then we met a couple, Jess and Rob. Both strongly believe in the strength and goodness of the South African people. The next person we met was Patricia. Patricia comes from a family which always actively fought against apartheid. On our very last day, we had the chance to meet Tom. He works and lives in the township called Langa. It's one of the most progressive townships around Cape Town. All those different people gave us a better understanding of the deep unsettled issues that South Africa faces. And here is how it all started.

[Music] [Applause] The idea of a new South Africa where all South Africans are equal. The old South African flag, there still wasn't a black face to be seen, but now it really is this rainbow nation. The Rainbow Nation was an attempt to harmonize the differences or the antagonistic relationships that existed to try and heal the wounds of the past. But it failed. On our way to Cape Town, we saw endless townships. During apartheid, far away from the city, townships were built for non-whites only. Today, instead of getting less, they are growing constantly all over South Africa. I think the Rainbow Nation was a fairy tale. It was a great idea but not achievable. It failed because the attempt to it was a cosmetic change. You know when you put on makeup but deep down in your soul there's an ugly presence of yourself. South Africa then tried to put on the makeup of our past which in ways does not really resolve the fundamental problem of the past which is conquest, which is land theft, which is cultural assimilation.

[Applause] Historically, blacks have always been the subjects. We were subjugated. We were the ones who were suffering under the laws of colonialism or apartheid. You know, we were the slaves and the other people, the other side, the whites, the Afrikaners and before that the British were the masters. The nation still functions that way. You know, we need to have a base through which they can build themselves. And I don't think the blacks here have that. Before apartheid, after apartheid, through apartheid. I don't think that we ever had that kind of power. And that's why in the past years, many black South Africans started claiming and even taking land from white landowners. We want our land back. We want our minerals back because everything else that comes with the land belongs to us. The land question in South Africa is one of the most central questions. I mean, it's the debate of centuries. Where does the land belong to? Who does it belong to? And when do you say where is the time cut? Tribes from upcountry, from the Congo basin. They have traveled in over a thousand, 5,000 years ago and they settled like Koa and Zulu and all these different tribes coming into South Africa. You cannot landmark a time where this has belonged to someone. How, where do you draw the line? Over 100 years of fighting up until the Africans were defeated by Europeans. What Europeans did to us was an unprovoked war. There was no provocation. We didn't do anything. We never went to Europe and took some of their stuff. Once you take people's land, you take their ability to recreate their own selves. There's an actual need for people to have land because they don't have it. We are so easily controlled because we have no power. We have no property. They just, they just took, they assumed that it was theirs, right? They have this belief that we took it from them and we are saying no, we didn't. Territory must be given back to its rightful owners. Everyone claims it's his land. Yeah. Can you say so? So, it's not really easy to say who actually has the right to claim land, but it is definitely easy to say that there needs to be something done against the inequalities. We have had political freedom. We can vote now. We can walk around now. We can drink together. But there wasn't really much of a wealth transfer. Black people control more of the wealth in South Africa than whites. It's a very, very big misconception that white people are richer than black people. It's changed greatly over the last 20 years. There's a very, very big black middle class that has risen in South Africa and there's a lot of very, very rich black people that made a lot of money out of the whole political transition in South Africa. I think there's 3 million white people left in South Africa in general. I think they live better lives which is an advantage that comes from the apartheid years but it's only 3 million of them where there's 52 million blacks. We live in two different worlds at the same time. The white world and the black world. There's Europe and there's Africa. When you come towards the city, you see Europe. Big buildings. The streets are clean. People are in jovial mode. When you go to the other side, people are congested into small places. People are dying of disease. Blacks are killing each other, you know, over crime and gangs. If you are in white skin, you get to enjoy the privileges of life. You are living. You are ambitious. You're adventurous. You travel all over the world, make documentaries, tell touching people's stories. If you are black, it's a constant mode of survival. Who lives in town? Who does not live in town? Who is a cleaner? Who's not a cleaner? All of the downgrading, dehumanizing, humiliating jobs and services are all designated to a particular group in society. While in relation, a group of a minority has to enjoy all privileges. This is the type of setup that South Africa constantly deals with. Surely we should be angry and hate those who have created that particular atmosphere. We quickly realized that the big inequalities are leading to a lot of anger and hate. But we also learned that those are not the only reasons for these increasing emotions.

[Music] We live in a society where the media and government are constantly pushing propaganda cards that seek to disinform people and not give them the truth. The most propaganda that we have in South Africa is that we are where we are right now because of white people. That we are where we are right now because apartheid has stripped us naked and we can never refund ourselves for as long as white people exist in the country. Which is the most ridiculous thing that a person could say. There's a lot of people out there that have a blind hatred of white people. They absolutely look at each and every white person and just hate them and just blame them for everything that's wrong in their lives. How is hate going to fix it? What creates the possibilities for black people to hate white people? Or what creates the possibilities of white people to be scared of black people? The big gated houses with security so tight so that they can raise their children in a nice dignified way while we raise our children in chaos. They are taught how to be and how to exist by the streets.

During our stay, we had the chance to be hosted by Nick. He works in the IT sector, but was born and raised on a farm. Nick introduced us to his bossan.

He fully experienced a parttheide as a colored person. Then we met a couple Jess and Rob. Both strongly believe in the strength and goodness of the South African people. The next person we met was Patricia. Patricia comes from a

family which always actively fought against apartheid. On our very last day, we had the chance to meet Tom. He works and lives in the township called Langa.

It's one of the most progressive townships around Cape Town. All those different people gave us a better understanding of the deep unsettled issues that South Africa faces. And here is how it all started.

[Music] [Applause] The idea of a new South Africa where all South Africans are equal.

The old South African flag, there still wasn't a black face to be seen, but now it really is this rainbow nation.

The Rammon Nation was an attempt to harmonize the differences or the antagonistic relationships that existed to try and heal the wounds of the past.

But he failed. On our way to Cape Town, we saw endless townships. During the apartheid, far away from the city, townships were built for non-whites only. Today, instead of getting less, they are growing constantly all over South Africa.

I think the Rainbow Nation was a a fairy tale. It was a great idea but not achievable.

It failed because the attempt to it was a cosmetic change. You know when you put on makeup but deep down in your soul there's an ugly you know presence of yourself. South Africa then tried to put on the makeup of our past which in ways

does not really resolve the fundamental problem of the past which is conquest which is land theft which is cultural assimilation.

[Applause] Historically, blacks have always been the subjects. We were subjugated. We were the ones who were suffering under the laws of colonialism or apartheid. You know, we were the slaves and the other people, the other side, the whites, the

Africanas and before that the British were the masters. The nation still functions that way. You know, we need to have a base through which they can build themselves. And I don't think the blacks here have that. before apartate, after

apartate, through Apertate. I don't think that we ever had that kind of power. And that's why in the past years, many black South Africans started claiming and even taking land from white land owners.

We want our land back. We want our minerals back because everything else that comes with the land belongs to us.

The the land question in South Africa is one of the most central questions. I mean it's the debate of centuries.

Where does the land belong to? Who does it belong to? And when do you say where is the time cut?

Tribes from up country from the Congo basin. They have traveled in over a thousand 5,000 years ago and they settled like Koa and Zulu and all these different tribes coming into South Africa. You cannot landmark a time where

this has belonged to someone. How where do you draw the line? Over 100 years of fighting up until the Africans were defeated by Europeans.

What Europeans did to us was an unprovoked war. There was no provocation. We didn't do anything. We never went to Europe and take some of their stuff.

Once you take people's land, you take their ability to recreate their own selves. There's an actual need for people to have land because they don't have it.

We are so easily controlled because we have no power. We have no property. They just they just took they assumed that it was theirs, right? They have this belief that we took it from them and we are saying no we didn't.

Territory must be given back to its rifle owners. Everyone claims it's his land. Yeah. Can you say so?

So, it's not really easy to say who actually has the right to claim land, but it is definitely easy to say that there needs to be something done against the inequalities.

We have had political freedom. We can vote now. We can walk around now. We can drink together. But there wasn't really much of a wealth transfer.

Black people control more of the wealth in South Africa than whites. It's a very very big misconception that white people are richer than black people. It's changed greatly over the last 20 years.

There's a very very big black middle class that has raised in South Africa and there's a lot of very very rich black people that made a lot of money out of the whole political transition in South Africa. I think there's 3 million

white people left in South Africa in general. I think they live better lives which is an advantage that coming coming from um the apartheid years but it's only 3 million of them where there's 52 million blacks. We live in two

different worlds at the same time. The white world and the black world. There's Europe and there's Africa. When you come towards the city, you see Europe. Big buildings. The streets are clean. People are are in joial mode. When you go to

the other side, people are congested into small places. People are dying of disease. Blacks are killing each other, you know, over crime and gangs. If you are in a white skin, you get to enjoy the privileges of life. You are living.

You are ambitious. You're adventurous. You travel all over the world, make documentaries, tell touch people stories. If you are black, it's a constant mode of survival.

Who lives in town? Who does not live in town? Who is a cleaner? Who's not a cleaner? All of the downgrading, dehumanizing, humiliating jobs and services are all designated to a particular group in society. While in relation, a group of a minority has to

enjoy all privileges. This is the type of setup that South Africa constantly deals with.

Surely we should be angry and hate those who have created that particular atmosphere. We quickly realized that the big inequalities are leading to a lot of anger and hate. But we also learned that those are not the only reasons for these

increasing emotions. [Music] We live in a society where the media and government are constantly pushing propaganda cards that seek to disinform people and not give them the truth. The most propaganda that we have in South Africa is that we are where we are right

now because of white people. That we are where we are right now because the apartate has stripped us naked and we can never refund ourselves for as long as white people exist in the country.

Which is the most ridiculous thing that a person could say. There's a lot of people out there that have a blind hatred of white people. They they absolutely look at each and every white person and just hate them and just blame

them for everything that's wrong in their lives. How is hate going to fix it?

What creates the possibilities for black people to hate white people? Or what creates the possibilities of white people to be scared of black people? the big gated houses with security so tight so that they can raise their children in

a nice dignified way while us raise our children in chaos. They are taught how to be and how to exist by the streets.

My mother was a domestic worker who every Monday she has to go and come back on Friday. The whole week I'm not with her who then raises this child.

The big differences in society don't only lead to hate, but also to racism. During our trip, we heard endless stories about racial discrimination.

There's a tendency to feel like maybe you don't belong or that maybe there's something inherently wrong with being black and that's why we suffer.

There was always racism. It never ever stopped. There will always be racism. There's no hiding that. You have people who walk into job spaces and because they're black, they can't have jobs.

In the past, if you were not white, it would be very difficult to get the job.

Now, when you apply for the job, and a lot of people that I know that have applied for work are told that, well, we're actually looking for black people.

being a colored person, you know, I wasn't white enough during apartate and now I'm not black enough in post about that. Um, so we we we feel that kind of frustration also.

I don't know. I wouldn't say we've experienced like harsh racism. Um, I think we'll we'll experience things like someone mistaking me for an Uber driver when we both in the car, you know, because all the time if I'm a black person and there's a

white woman he's driving if he's driving, they think he's an Uber driver. It's I know. I know. Oh, things like like when we go out to eat, but you know, and then Oh, they'll often bring me the bill

and then they'll give just the bill because I I don't know, maybe the the the idea is I'm supposed to be bankrolling the relationship.

Yeah. Because she's white, she probably has more money and therefore, you know, she will pay for the bill. I I firmly believe that a black person, especially in a South African context, can't be racist because racism comes with a certain level of

power. Um, and throughout our history, black people have never had any sort of power. I feel black people feel that we are more racist. Um, I had a conversation with a black guy in a coffee shop the other day and he

literally told me to go back. um to wherever I'm from. And I mean I am from South Africa. Where where do I go back?

I start talking to a black person, he immediately puts up a wall. I put up a wall because I don't want to be accused of things and he feels like I did things and everybody's just hung up what

happened in the past and we're not talking about the future. I think South Africa has a very long history and that history is still affecting South Africa now. The fact that I mean like majority of people are still poor and leaving the

townships that is the legacy of apartate. So there's definitely a way more work that needs to be done before we can even get to like addressing issues of race.

So I don't think the problem necessarily is the racial divide. The racial divide is a convenient tool for people to point at because it's convenient for me to say it's because of racism and because of white people that you're where you are

right now instead of actually being frank to say that the state has failed us. The state has been corrupt. The state has been incapacitated. The state the state has been selfish and as a result we're where we are.

There's no shying away that you have people who are rich within the country. You have a middle class and you have the poor. And those who are rich in a middle class have greater access because of affordability to education. Those who

are poor are left outside of the system and have no access and they remain poor at the end of the day. As a result, we have to fix fix education. Um the whole world has gone into a manufacturing economy and we are still

stuck with people that can't read and write. You have a government administration that has had an opportunity to reform and redress society. You had an opportunity for our educational system to trans transform itself to ensure that you have the same access of of quality

education but have failed to do so. The state has been so corrupt. There's just like a backlog of problems um that are also very very pressing and need to be addressed. On the outside, it all looks still great because you see

the cars driving. You see we've still got electricity and water, but it's quite questionable how for how long. For 5 years, the maintenance on the power plants of electricity hasn't been done.

That means if they break apart now, our electricity will be gone in no time.

During our time in Cape Town, South Africa cut off electricity on certain lines every day to prevent a national blackout. So everyone always had to check when exactly and for how long the power would go off at their place

and it if we can feel it at our level as a middle class, how must it be for the life of of the people living in the townships? And this is the majority of South Africans. I think with South

Africa where we are, people are quite tired of empty promises, especially when it comes to politics.

People never got what they were promised. The basic the fundamentals, the basics of housing and sanitation, jobs, employment, they never really fulfilled those promises.

If you're not getting what you need, people feel they need to strike, they need to damage property, they need to be heard, and they need attention.

People are demanding things now. They're saying you are you are a party and you should deliver to the things that you said you're going to deliver and we're not going to take anything less than that.

And that's what you're seeing today with um this generation of the born freeze people that were born after about that.

That generation is now a generation of frustrated people. This is anger like deep deepseated anger. That's why there's a rise in those French political extremist parties because people are trying to voice out that frustration and they really desperately needing something to change

and they even willing to support parties like the EFF to bring that change and that to me is the worry.

And the economic freedom fighters as a far-left political party have their own ways to solve the problems.

black people, all of us, we need to unite and amend the constitution so that we can expropriate land without compensation.

So the expropriation of land without compensation is the most important call that has come out from black people.

So I I think I think it's needed because I know that there are some people who will not give up land and it's not being used which I think is horrific. I mean you've worked for your house you've

worked for your car or your whatever it you cannot just take people's things people of South Africa where you see a beautiful land take it it belongs to you the better solution will be is you get a farmer that wants to retire

and you pay him for his for his land and you keep him in an advisory position on the farm. It's one thing to give people land, but if they don't know what to do with it, then it's it's wasted. Besides

the sharing of land, there should be the sharing of knowledge and skills because that's the only way you actually get to create a society that can sustain itself. It will also help if the government stops stealing money in

corruption because then there will be money for expropriaration with compensation and we should get more black land owners but the current process is not the way to go.

Let us go to war. Let us arm ourself now. We're ready for war. So if they if they go on a mass expropriation without compensation, the total the econ economy will collide. Some people I'm sure will flee, but there's a lot of people in

South Africa that will pull up a fight. If things are going the way they are, there will be a revolution in this country. I can tell you now.

So there is a white minority in this country well aware about this possibility and they have got plans in place. If blacks take their land, they would come back. They will not stand silently. I can promise you that.

We've learned from other African countries. And you know, places like Zimbabwe, you know, you can clearly see what has happened.

Occupiers went to the farms. They told the people, "You have 4 hours to pack up their stuff, and if you don't, then we will just kill you." And uh yeah, so these people packed up their stuff, whatever they could in 4 hours and left.

Well, if that happens, what would it mean for South Africa? So, everyone just has to it will mean it will mean civil war.

Definitely. We are aware enough that we don't want that for South Africa. I think people do want change, but it's never going to go to a point whereby there's like civil war or anything like that.

Obviously, it's not something we want to happen, but it's something that we have to keep in mind in any future plans that we make.

Although many people were always talking about a revolution, everyone was still very positive about future hopes and solutions.

I still believe that there is hope for a time where we can racially be a South Africa for all in a divided South Africa where white people hate black people and black people hate white people. There is no

solution. [Music] We we need to change is our mindset because politics is our life. So whether you black or white the decision are taken on politically. So you needed to be well more educated politically.

And for as long as we as civilians do not educate ourselves and are misinformed, we're giving in power to the state and the media to dictate to us what the truth is. Cuz the Smocrress is not only for those who are in power, but

it's for us. Only when we can sit around the table and say, "Okay, this is what what I want and this is what you want and this is what's the best for the country." Everyone that is hoping for the country to change high

unemployment rate, quality health, education, th those are three basic things. Get people when employed so they can be busy, they can be productive and then get people educated, they can be independent and then we give proper proper health then people can be

healthy. So working together, creating jobs, uh, creating opportunities. This is how we uplift all these people that don't have houses and don't have jobs, not by fighting each other.

When we sit down, we compromise. We're going to be okay. We need to get a government that will work for the people and sees everybody as the people, not just one particular segment, and we need to stop this

corruption that we have in our in our country. Beyond that, we need to have a state that rep prioritizes and capacitates the police system that works within South Africa because we have a crime crime rates that are ridiculous.

So these are but a few things that can contribute towards having a functioning state and when a state is functioning when people have basic access to to services then people have quality life.

When people have quality life people are happy when people are happy people are peaceful at the end of the day and that's all that we need. As much as we all have our differences, we're still a part of a community. If there's a cause

and if there's something that needs to be done, people really unite and they and they and they do it.

We need time to to understand ourselves and to know who we are. We're getting there. We're still we are developing country.

I think the South Africans are the most exciting and and inspiring people on this planet and I think um this is still the best place to live. Um, it's exciting and I'm really glad that my children grew up here and had the chance

to be thrown into that diversity. What I like about Cape Town is what I don't like about Cape Town.

I remember the first time I saw Chems Bay and I was what 10 years old. Coming from a small town like Mata where everyone's got a very standard way of living and then coming to Cape Town and then my cousin took me to Kempspay and

standing in Kempay and looking at this world that I've never seen before. It it it felt like I was in another country, you know, it felt like I was in another place. And I kind of felt two things

while I was standing there. this 10-year-old boy watching Kemp's Bay, there was this sense of the world is so much more bigger and and you know if you really if you really work hard enough you can get access to that. But there

was also this like very deep sadness of why am I growing up in a place that is so different from this? Like why do I have to come up from a world where people are struggling yet there's a

world where people are just freaking chilling um sitting in balconies enjoying the sun with the beach right next to them. It gives you that sense of aspiration and knowing that the world can offer way more. But at the same time

it depresses me a little bit because it's like it makes it so clear the divide between those who have and those who don't.

away. [Music] [Music] Hi. [Music] Hey. [Music] And nothing else in my way. [Music]