At the southern tip of the continent of Africa, South Africa is known to tourists for its grandiose landscapes, its magnificent beaches and its animal reserves. But behind the postcard image, the country has a much darker side. The history of this country of 55 million has experienced apartheid. In 1994, Nelson Mandela’s accession to power gave birth to the great hope of reconciliation through the rainbow nation. For the black and mixed race population, or 95% of the people, it was the promise of a better future.
Even if economic power is still largely in the hands of the white elites, for some years a policy of positive discrimination has been implemented, allowing the emergence of a black middle and upper class. However, this policy has had a quite disastrous effect on the poorly educated part of the white population. Around 80 shantytowns, exclusively white, have sprung from the ground.
25 years later, the model appears to be collapsing. More than half of the population lives below the poverty line. The party in power, the ANC, the one that took Mandela to power, is gnawed by corruption. And President Jacob Zuma is facing 783 charges. Social injustices persist. The whites are still at the head of the great fortunes. All this leaves little hope of emancipation for the black majority.
Directors: Wendy Zbinden and Cédric Fouré
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Video “South Africa on the Brink of Chaos” was uploaded on 07/12/2025 to Youtube Channel Best Documentary