Original subtitles

Our main finding is that,

the breakdown and learning and teaching in the school which precipitated

the events of the 17th and 18th of June,

was caused by gross incompetence,

bordering on willful

negligence on the part of our

previous principal.

He has been fired from his profession, in his absence.

Oh...

Two students,

Chester Serote and Ben Mukwena

also known as

Papa Action,

have been expelled.

And what about that hooligan who held Ken hostage?

Thulani Nkabinde.

He's currently undergoing counseling.

He has been warned.

Things will be better this term.

The new principal has a lot to do.

You mean Mrs. Letsatsi?

I wonder what she's like?

My mother said that,

everybody voted for her,

including your father.

If my father voted for her,

she must be Mthembu's twin sister.

Ag man, I hope not!

- Hello, Javas. Ah,

the babes.

Is this you?

How are you, Pinky?

I'm fine.

Wow.

You're looking good.

The Naomi Campbell is copying you.

That's nice.

- You guys are exercising as well? Yeah.

- ‪ Mmm!

Nomsa!

- Yes Ma'am. - How are you?

Fine thanks, and you?

Fine, the first day of the third term.

I'm starting to teach at the school across the road.

- Oh. My name is Grace Letsatsi.

I'm Muriel Jordaan.

People call me Ma Jordaan.

Do you get regular deliveries of milk and bread?

Every day my dear.

You can do all your shopping here.

Tell me, what are you doing here?

Education is no good at that school,

and the kids are rude too.

Why don't you just teach at a model C school?

You're wasting your time here.

You think so?

Yeah, I don't send my children to that school.

They go to a descent school in town.

Well, I'm hoping to change that.

Woah, woah, woah!

It's loose.

Yes, it might be.

It's probably the chain.

Look.

Hi Sir.

Good morning.

How are you feeling today?

Uhm, fine, fine. Thank you.

It's good to see you back Sir.

Thank you very much.

And... how's your schooling going?

We're doing our best Sir.

Okay.

Nomsa!

Nomsa!

What happened to you?

Why did you run away?

I didn't...

You were with your girlfriend.

I didn't want to disturb you.

Who? Pinky?

She's a friend, it's on and off.

That's the problem Javas.

You know, I thought...

I thought, we've got something.

Yes?

Nomsa.

I never thought of us that way.

Listen...

I don't want to get involved.

I'm sorry.

- Thulas. - Hi.

How are you?

I got this for your drawings.

- I hope you like it. - Thank you.

Your drawings are good,

but some are scary.

You should have an exhibition,

so people can see your work.

I do them for myself.

Why don't you paint around here?

Yes, maybe.

Why don't you ask the new principal?

You see,

so that you can do something about our ugly walls.

Indeed.

Dudu.

Dudu.

How are you feeling?

It's very brave of you to come back.

And if you ever want to talk about anything,

please come to me, okay?

Yes Ma'am.

- Okay? - Yes Ma'am.

People are going to say,

I got what I deserved.

What if I see Papa Action?

Papa Action hasn't been here for a month now.

If he comes near you,

I'll fix him.

Dudu, have you been to the police?

I can't go to the police.

If he sees me, he might rape me again or even kill me.

It's okay, I'll look after you.

I don't want to go to the assembly.

Everybody will be looking at me.

Don't go if you don't feel like it.

Students.

I would like to introduce to you to our new principal.

Mrs. Letsatsi.

Hello, sweety.

Look at how beautiful she is.

Good morning teachers.

Good morning students.

Morning.

Oh come on. Good morning students!

Morning Ma'am!

Thank you.

I am very proud to be joining this school.

Thank you, Felicia!

I will listen to you,

but you must also listen to me.

If you want to be heard,

you must learn to listen.

Now I understand this has been a very difficult year for you.

I have a lot to learn.

So this week I will be meeting with as many of you as I possibly can.

I want to hear about your problems,

but more importantly,

I want to hear your ideas.

Now I only have one announcement and then you can all go back to class.

The governing body has called a parents meeting for tonight.

Please tell your parents.

Teachers and SRC students,

I hope that we'll be seeing you there.

Dismissed.

I'm going to the meeting tonight.

Will you come with me?

Definitely.

I will come with you.

I want to see

how she handles Mthembu's fans.

- You'll hurt us! - Didn't you play enough as a child?

Or didn't you play at all?

Good morning students.

Morning, Ma'am.

I understand you haven't had

a history teacher for what, three months now?

Yes.

Ms. Cele helped us,

but she's not a history teacher.

We study on our own.

Well, as of tomorrow,

I'll be taking your history class.

‪

And then your holiday will be really over.

Mrs. Letsatsi,

are you ready for your tour of the school?

Oh yes, thank you. Hold on.

Uhm...

for the rest of the period won't you please

study quietly and I'll see you tomorrow.

The new principal likes me.

You're dreaming.

She fancies me.

She looked at me throughout the assembly.

I hope this is not interfering with your classes.

Oh no, they're busy with their self learning activities.

That's Renaissance isn't it?

You know, I looked at it the other day,

and I thought to myself,

"No, I'm going to wait for the sale", but then it was gone.

I beg your pardon?

Your outfit.

I'm admiring it.

Oh. Thank you .

I tried to ignore it, but she kept looking.

I tried to ignore her.

Then she looked at me again.

Then she looked again,

then I knew she liked me.

Morning students.

Morning.

Why aren't you in your classes?

We don't have a history teacher.

So are you happy to be just sitting around,

doing nothing outside all year?

Uhm, Ma'am, we're used to this.

The teachers are lazy.

- That's why we miss our classes. - Sure.

They sit in the staffroom drinking tea

in front of heaters.

They expect us to call them

for their classes.

Don't listen to a word these lazy kids are saying.

Are you also in Mr. Mukwena's history class?

Uh... no Ma'am.

Where should you be?

I'm in Miss Tlale's class.

- In my class? - Yeah.

You're mad my boy.

Go to your class and study, now.

- Eish. - C'mon.

She's boring this one.

Okay, anymore careers?

Javas.

Pilot Ma'am.

] He should be Martin Lawrence.

You're giving me so much unnecessary attention.

Bobo, what you want to be?

I don't think I'll be employed.

Okay, in any case if you have to apply

for a job you need a CV.

And this is what a CV looks like.

To me it doesn't matter.

Most of us here won't find any work.

The only job you can be sure of is,

crime.

Okay.

Class, say hello to your new principal.

Thank you. Good morning students.

Good morning Madam.

Please don't mind me, just continue with your discussion.

I'll go take a seat.

Where were we?

Uhm...

We've written four career choices on the board and these are just the obvious ones

that always come to mind.

But did you know that there are 4000 other choices?

And for these you don't have to go to jail.

Now write your own application letter.

Yeah c'mon!

Where are you?

Javas you rubberneck!

Where are you?

Yes!

Yes, you rubbernecks!

Yeah!

You are all slaves.

- You are slaves! - You too!

I'll come and set you free.

I'm Teddy Bear.

I'll make you dance.

Yoh!

Sit down, please sit down.

Get back to your seats everybody.

Woah!

Are you just going to accept

that the situation here is hopeless,

or are we going to work together and make it better?

But Ma'am, where do we start?

It's going to be difficult to change things at school.

No, it's not difficult,

we just have to work as a team.

Seconded.

Well, what do you think we need to change?

Discipline in this school is a joke.

It doesn't work.

The classrooms are like Beirut.

The kid's won't listen,

it's like you talking to a dead body.

I'm scared to write on the board,

because I don't know what they're doing behind my back.

Mr. Mukwena was disorganized.

His students didn't write their mid year exams.

There are other ways that we can asses the students.

We could ask them to submit what they think is the best work for the term.

Or they could also give an oral presentation.

All this extra work.

It's always up to us.

We are expected to perform miracles.

You know when I feel that way I remind myself that as a teacher,

I can make difference in the young person's life.

I can change someone's life.

Hey you!

Let's take him.

Take him, man.

Hello, Hazey.

Are you angry sweetheart?

Thiza, look at how dry she is.

If I didn't know you better,

I would swear,

you are into something great.

But Thiza, you're a coward.

You're scared my boy.

Such a simple thing beats you.

Scared to lower her panties and just do it.

Come...

Let's go Thiza.

You go ahead.

- Let's go! - Shove off you rubberneck!

I'm not talking to you!

I want you to do something for me.

You're the only one left in that school.

What's that?

Sell pills and make lots of money.

Chester, I don't sell drugs.

It's something I'll never do.

Hey you?

Hey boy!

Come here.

Grandma is worried about this.

She found it under your bed.

Where did you get it?

It's none of your business.

Don't talk to me that way.

Answer me!

I know where it came from.

This was stolen, right?

You got it from Chester.

So you're mixed up with Chester?

Zakes,

the yard is full of your things,

I don't ask you where you get them.

Don't try to be smart with me.

The reason why I steal,

it's because I got no choice,

but you have a choice.

You don't have a choice?

‪

Listen,

first and foremost,

you had a soccer career.

You could be in the national team.

Don't tell me you didn't have a chance.

How? I don't understand.

The reason why... listen!

I told you not to mix with Chester.

He's dangerous. You understand?

You'll get into trouble.

Who will help you? Me, right?

How many times must I say this?

I'm through with Chester.

What must I say?

I'm through with Chester.

Action! Look here...

- Look who's here. - What are you doing here, you moron?

Piss off!

Hey hey!

Get in the car wise guy!

Please leave me alone.

Get in!

You'll shit!

No one messes with me, okay?

No one joins me and then leaves.

I asked you so nicely

to sell pills at school and you refused!

You think I'm afraid of Zakes?

He's like burnt wood.

From now on,

I'll tell you how to live!

You hear me?

Everything you'll hear from me.

When to eat and when to shit.

Do you understand?

Javas.

Have you seen Thiza?

No.

Bra Gibs, Bra Gibs.

Oh, Chester.

What do you want here?

Who are these fools?

He's my recruit.

I'm here to tell you that

I need pills to feed the nation.

Look here boy,

I told you my house,

is not for business.

Understand? So?

Get lost!

Chester.

Come here.

I told you to lie low.

Still you don't listen.

You know what?

I got rid of your rape case.

I'll tell you just one thing,

one more mistake and you're out.

Go now.

Thank you Bra Gib.

Let's go guys.

On my way to the school this morning,

I met a member of the local community.

This person asked me what I was doing here.

And when I told her,

she told me that I was wasting my time.

She told me that I should be going to school in town.

That there was no hope,

for the students in this school.

Oh she may be right.

If we don't all work together to build our local schools,

schools like this one...

we are all going to pay the price.

Chairperson and the governing body,

this is a surprise.

The last time we met,

we made it clear

we want Mthembu back,

but they sent us a woman.

Gents,

I'm number two.

The number one's scared.

It's time Bra Gib retires,

to retire and have a break.

Bra Gib always thinks...

aaah...

My beautiful baby.

Here's an opportunity. Let's grab it.

He's a target.

Let's get inside.

If my task was to turn

this school around all on my own,

I would not accept the challenge.

I'm sorry.

I'm not up to it.

But of course that's not my task.

My task is to lead a team that includes every one of us.

But some of you might think that I'm too young.

And I certainly am a woman.

Please.

Give me a little time.

And judge me by what I achieve.

Hello old man, hello.

Hello old man.

Fine, and you?

I hear you like nice things.

Oh yes.

You and I are the same,

but you piss me off!

You changed our bottle store

into a fish and chips store!

That's what pisses me off.

Action...

Parents.

I'm in charge of fixing the school.

I need your help.

Many things need to be fixed.

This school belongs to all of us,

not just me.

The important thing is,

we look after it.

Thank you.

Come here boy!

Or I'll blow your head off!

Come and look at this.

Look at it.

You're the one who killed him.

You could've saved his life.

I cannot do anything alone.

But,

if we work as a community together,

I believe that we can make it.

We all know why we send our children to school,

because we want them to learn.

They are our hope for the future.

They are our hope,

for a better world.

Come here!

Why do you...?

Huh?

Huh?

Huh?

Why all these lies?

Why are you telling lies?

Hazel was here.

She told us you were not there.

Huh?

Why all these lies?

Huh? Why all these lies?

What are you doing?

Who said you can beat me?

I make sure there's food on the table.

I make sure there's food on the table,

so that you don't have to...

Thiza.

Thiza.

- ‪ - Subtitle translation by: Antoinette Smit