Good Hope

South Africa has often been on a knife edge between disaster and a brighter future. This film aims to highlight the challenges facing the country, in particular around racial, economic and educational inequality - and the controversial issue of land ownership. But it also offers the solutions, as presented by the next generation of South African leaders, civil society, entrepreneurs, artists and thinkers. It is still a young democracy, and the collective efforts of the extraordinary people produced by this country, across all boundaries of class, background and culture, will, the filmmakers believe, turn this country around - and be an example as well as an inspiration - to the rest of the world.

At a time of deep social divisions - a rise in xenophobia and the populist, identity politics that have led to Brexit and Trump - South Africa is a unique example of a multi-racial society that still strives to live in harmony. Nelson Mandela’s vision of a Rainbow Nation may need to be re-configured to accommodate the tumultuous changes of the past quarter century, but in essence the message remains the same: what draws us together is not the colour of our skin, but our common humanity.

Fed by the media, most people remain entrenched in their overwhelmingly negative views about the country. In fact, many South Africans live in their own bubble, rarely straying from the comfort zone of their own culture. This film will rebalance the narrative and introduce South Africans best and brightest to their own people - as well as to the rest of the world. It will inspire confidence both internally and externally, and put the country back on the map.

The fact is, South Africa has largely fallen off the radar in the eyes of the world.

When Nelson Mandela became President in 1994, South Africa enjoyed a golden period of reconciliation and international good will. But hope turned to despair, and under President Zuma - who stands accused of alleged corruption, fraud, tax evasion and racketeering and State Capture - the country was largely written off as a kleptocracy.

Cyril Ramaphosa’s election as President of the Republic lifted the mood of the country, offering the possibility change…. so has the rise of strong opposition, in the form of the DA and the EFF. Most people agree that the alternative - a continuation of the Zuma regime - would have been catastrophic for the country. We will explore not only what the Ramaphosa presidency might mean for this country, but focus on the younger voices are that are emerging or have already taken leadership positions.

We are not not just looking at politicians, but want to discover entrepreneurs, socio-political analysts, civil society activists, artists, etc. Some of our characters are known in the media, others will be discovered through the film. The interviewees will be representative of all South African society. The film will honor all the threads of this complex, national tapestry and give voice to all. The filmmakers are not aligned to any party, and therefore aim to make an even-handed and objective film about the South African socio-political landscape.

The film is a roller-coaster ride as the challenges are immense, and we will not shy away from the more daunting tasks ahead; but the protagonists in our film are like David fighting Goliath. All all through the narrative is the message of hope for the country’s future.

Good Hope is a story that will galvanize all South Africans - and the rest of the world, re-awakening South Africa’s dreams as a multiracial democracy, through a new revolution that is not party led but people led. This is the time to show South Africa united in action and to change its trajectory and fulfil its promise.