Joburg saga

I didn’t make the homeless project because I exploited the subjects. This is entirely wrong. I also could have made a project on casino, or shopping mall, or office. But I made a project on the homeless. I did try to understand the city. I did try to think about it. And I did try to contribute to it. I succeeded, but after that, I also decided to leave the city. There is no other explanations than what I knew very well since years-
I don’t want other people to be my infrastructure.
I don’t want to feel guilty (for the deeds I didn’t do).
I don’t want to live in fear.

Mrs. Deckler was attacked in a squatter camp in Honey Dew, Johannesburg. She sensed revenge in the atmosphere of the city. ‘Someone has to pay for what happened’, she said. She sensed that S. African people are not so friendly any more. Some don’t react when you greet them on the street.

Julie’s movers arrive at 9:30pm at the gated, wanting to move her stuff to her dormitory 1.5 hours away from Joburg. Mama was scared and freaked out. When the movers’ truck arrived at the door, mama switched all the lights, waited in silence, did not dare to pick up ringing phones. She only could call Lihwen to come home quickly and wait outside somewhere hidden until the movers’ truck goes away. When this kind of things happens, you can only think, luckily nothing happened. The thought a possibility of something could have happened makes one made. What have the movers been doing since noon? Why do they come anyway since Julie had already cancelled today’s appointment with the company manager? Have the movers got other plans when they come at 9:30pm, to expect to work until late in the night? More creepy than what could have happened is the fear to communicate. Mama did not dare to open the door and talk to the movers.

In Rotterdam we’d just open the door and talk about it with the movers.