Inside South Africa’s Hijacked Buildings

Hillbrow, Johannesburg is often described as one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in South Africa. Over the years, it has become known for crime, hijacked buildings, and a reputation that has made it one of the most infamous areas in the country. In this documentary, I spent two days in Hillbrow with Jennifer, an old family friend who has lived here for over 50 years, to understand what the neighbourhood is really like beyond the headlines. We explore the streets, visit the building she has called home for decades, and go inside some of the apartment blocks that have come to define Hillbrow today, including hijacked buildings that have been taken over by criminal syndicates and left in conditions most people would never step into. We also visit Ponte Tower, once one of the most notorious hijacked buildings in Johannesburg, which has since been reclaimed and brought back under control. This video is about how a place can change so dramatically over time, the people who stay through it all, and whether places like Hillbrow can ever truly recover. Click the link and sign up for Odoo today! https://www.odoo.com/r/WlW