Jerusalema Page #4

hanging and the rent rolls in.

This is the only country in the world

where you have to take sh*t

in 11 official languages.

So how does this happen?

These people...

We'll start the bid at 100,000.

They come here.

They tell the residents

to boycott the rent and the services.

When I default on the loan,

the building goes

into liquidation.

- 81.

- 81,000, I've got 81,000.

They step in,

they buy it for a pittance.

- 81,000 sold to...

- Mr. Lucas Sithole,

the representative of the Hillbrow

People's Housing Trust.

So what can you do?

Nothing.

No one will help us.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

Now I've lost everything.

We all happy?

Urban renewal was

desperately needed in Hillbrow,

which meant for the Hillbrow People's

Housing Trust

things were looking up.

Once we had identified

a potential building,

Sithole had a contact

at the municipality

who furnished us

with the landlord's information.

The Housing Trust would arrange

a summary inspection

of the premises

and immediately remove pests

and other vermin as necessary.

During community outreach,

tenants were incentivized

to exercise

their democratic rights

to give us their money.

In cases where a landlord

would defy the will of the people,

a chief of conflict resolution

was promptly appointed.

Studies of the nature

of the dispute were made

and terms that would appeal

to the landlord's sensibilities

were proposed.

We were taking back

the streets,

one building after another

after another.

I looked around

and what I saw was an empire

waiting to happen.

Is this Mr. Kunene?

- Yes.

I'm Loretta Dhamini

from the "Sowetan" newspaper.

Is it possible

to speak to you?

It's a smear campaign.

I'm a legitimate businessman

providing shelter for the poor

and disenfranchised.

I was told you controlled

in the Hillbrow

and Joubert Park area.

I'm just in the business

of making a better life for all.

The inhabitants of Hillbrow

call you the African Robin Hood.

They say you're a champion

of the poor;

that you take back land

stolen from them by the whites.

I've done nothing illegal.

Then how did you acquire

your alias, the Hoodlum of Hillbrow?

I don't know what you mean.

Have you ever used force

to take over a building?

I think we've had enough violence

here to last a lifetime.

I operate within the limits

of the law.

Then why the smear campaign?

It suits them to demonize me.

Forget who they are.

People who'd like to see blacks

back in the townships.

We're going to the shops.

Get me some beers and

buy yourself some sweets.

Check this out.

Look, you're the man...

Hide that away, what if mama sees it.

These Nigerian guys are huge!

They are always pushing and shoving

They scored!

Yes!

Nice, nice!

- You need anything?

- F*** off, friend!

F***!

What the f***

are you doing?

Watch where you're driving!

I'm looking for the Sands Hotel.

The Sands?

Are you mad?

You shouldn't be here.

Lucky, forget it.

These white chicks are always

sh*t scared of us darkies.

They're gonna kill him.

Kill who?

My brother Josh.

Who are they?

Tony Ngu.

He's a drug dealer.

Josh owes him money.

Unlock the door.

I'll come with you.

You're going to risk your life

for this white b*tch?

Drive.

Keep going straight.

Give me the money.

Stop right there.

Lock the doors.

Just let me come with you.

Lock the doors.

Here.

My number.

F*** off.

Where's Tony Ngu?

Room 311

- Come in, brother.

- I'm not your brother.

I've come for him.

You, f*** off.

Go make some money.

He'd better be alive.

We just gave him Wellconal

to calm him down.

He's very emotional,

you know?

Hey, stay, smoke pipe.

On the house.

You're full of sh*t!

What's with you white people?

You have nice houses,

smart cars,

fancy clothes

and you still come here.

Why?

I guess when you're rich,

poverty seems glamorous.

It's got a certain charm.

We have a meeting scheduled

with the residents' committee

concerning this unlawful

occupation.

If you represent the people

responsible for the sh*t state

of the building, do something.

The lifts aren't working.

Yes, and every time we repair the lifts

you vandalize them.

- We know you're behind this.

- If you have a problem,

go to the police

and lay a charge.

The Hillbrow police station

is just around the corner.

You know full well the cops

will tell us it's a civil case.

Then it'd be wise

to take that advice and f*** off.

Grover Holdings owns this building.

We have a right to speak...

The building was abandoned.

Huh-uh, this building is part

of the urban regeneration scheme.

- Here are the papers.

- I don't care!

The man asked you to leave.

Now take your papers

and f*** off!

Two time!

You haven't heard

the last of this.

Go.

Hey, Nazareth...

...wait!

They just shot them like dogs.

And I suppose no one

saw anything.

Welcome to Hillbrow.

We shouldn't even be here.

I don't need this sh*t...

What's going with Nazareth?

Relax. Take it easy.

Good.

More.

Huh-uh.

Your money's no good here.

It's on the house.

And there's someone

I would like you to meet.

Your profits are running

in excess of a million rand a month.

Thanks.

I'll check this today.

Mr. Kunene,

there were

two policemen here yesterday.

They were asking me

about you and your business.

What did you tell them?

Nothing.

Just that your accounts

were up to date and in order.

Thanks.

Lucky!

Hello my babies!

...look how big you're getting!

What did you bring us?

Look...

Schoolbooks...

... And uniforms.

Hey, boys?

Look what i've brought you.

What's that?

A rugby ball!

A rugby ball? I'm not a whitey!

I play soccer.

You play soccer?

How about a little muticulturalism?

Hey, Ma.

- Lucky!

- Shut the f*** up!

- What do you want?

- Stand up.

All clear, Inspector Swart.

- Lucky Kunene.

- Who are you?

Tell me, what do you do

for a living, Mr. Kunene?

I drive a taxi.

Business must be good, eh?

People need transport.

Tell me, do all your passengers

pay with 100-rand notes?

Buy yourself a cold drink.

Jesus!

Hey, you leave Jesus Christ

out of this.

My name's Blakkie Swart,

and I'll be your reckoning

from now on.

You see, Mr. Kunene,

we know who you are.

We know what you do.

We know where to find you.

So your days are numbered,

Mr. Kunene.

We're just too visible, Lucky.

The cops can't touch us in Hillbrow.

They're not Hillbrow cops.

If they were,

we'd know about it.

Lucky Kunene.

Hi, it's Leah.

I was just phoning to say thank you.

You gave me your number,

so I hope you don't mind.

How's your brother?

He's gonna be fine.

He's in rehab.

Good.

I was thinking

about what you said about poverty.

Look, I didn't mean

to offend anyone.

On the contrary.

Why don't you meet me for lunch?

If you don't mind slumming it,

I know a really charming restaurant.

Look at all of them,

coming and going

from church.

Hillbrow is like

the new Jerusalem.

It's more like

Sodom and Gomorrah.

How can you say that?

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