Arme blanken

Since Apartheid was abolished in South Africa, a lot has changed for the better. The black population gained more rights and opportunities, but many middle-class whites slid down. They used to work for the city council, the railroads or the hospital, until they had to hand over their jobs as a result of the new preferential treatment for black families. The white subclass is growing, but this remains largely unmentioned. Vredeveld pays a visit to both relief organisations and sunken white families. Some live in a garage, others lack a 'real' roof over their heads and dwell in encampments. Times have changed and Apartheid was wrong, the whites now realise. But they feel let down by the government they once elected themselves. Vredeveld shows images of litter, dirty children's faces and white beggars at the traffic lights. How can you stay civilised in the face of miserable living conditions and bitter feelings?