Thami's Dilemma

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An unnerving trend of adolescent murders is growing in this desolate, mine-drained district of Merafong, and any psychologist would wonder from whence does the brutal rage stem. Though a place synonymous with South Africa’s gold driven economy Merafong has endemic poverty and its unemployed youths are either exploited by racist white farmers and temporary labor contractors, or by the politically connected tender-preneurs. And closely analyzing the recent upsurge of tensions among the unemployed youths that has spiraled into a full-blown enigma of radicalized gang wars, townships in the region are truly under siege.

Many are ready to be bought as illegal gold diggers or rogues and vandals characteristic of the hooligans deployed during social delivery protests. Many have dreams of furthering their studies but financial obstacles always see most deterred from even registering for courses. And a lure of dark efforts for quick success has swallowed them, who are children, grandchildren and fathers to the illegitimate children, as well millennial mothers to a born-to-die generation.

Kokosi’s Radicalised Youth is a documentary series that aims to delve into lives of gang-members, former prisoners and young scholars being lured into a life of crime, with the hope that the stories would serve as deterrents towards their destined exploitation by the prison industrial complex.


Directed By: Paul Zisiwe