Film presentation and talk
- Wednesday, November 11, 2026 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Save in my calendar
Mother City
Event as part of the Afrikamera 2026 Film Festival
Cape Town is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world - but behind the picture-perfect facade lies a harsh reality: Even 30 years after the end of apartheid, the city remains deeply divided. Social housing in the city center remains an empty promise, while a large portion of the poor Black population is pushed into informal settlements on the outskirts. The documentary “Mother City” by Miki Redelinghuys and Perlie Joubert follows Nkosikhona (Face) Swartbooi and other members of the “Reclaim the City” movement - which fights for affordable housing - over the course of six years.
With poignant honesty, the film shows how activists stand up for dignity, participation, and social justice despite repression, the pandemic, and political obstacles. In doing so, “Mother City” tells a story that goes far beyond the local context: the issues of housing justice, urban segregation, and collective resistance are relevant worldwide - from Cape Town to Lagos to Berlin.
Following the screening, we’ll discuss the film’s creation, its political context, and the current situation in Cape Town with director Miki Redelinghuys, activist and film protagonist Nkosikhona Swartbooi, and a member of the House of Representatives of Berlin from Alliance 90/The Greens.
What challenges arose during production, and how did the activists from “Reclaim the City” react to the film? How can civil society campaigns contribute to equitable access to housing? Why do social housing projects fail - and who benefits from this? What lessons can other major cities learn from Cape Town’s struggle?
About the film:
Directed by: Miki Redelinghuys and Pearlie Joubert,
South Africa 2024, Original version with English subtitles
103 min
Featuring:
- Miki Redelinghuys, director, cinematographer, producer, Cape Town
- Nkosikhona Swartbooi, activist and co-founder of “Reclaim the City,” Cape Town
- N.N., Member of the House of Representatives of Berlin, Alliance 90/The Greens (TBD)
Moderator: Niq Mhlongo, author, Berlin
Free admission.
Event language: English with German translation
Contact:
Nicola Egelhof
E nicola.egelhof@boell.de
- Address
-
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung - Headquarter Berlin
Schumannstr. 8
10117 Berlin
- Accessibility
- Language
- German
- English
- Simultaneous translation
Your participation in the event
On-site participation at the Heinrich Böll Foundation Conference Centre, Schumannstr. 8, 10117 Berlin
Please register. Unfortunately, the number of places is limited. If the room capacity is exhausted, we will broadcast the event via video to other rooms. Please note that there is no guarantee of a place in the hall.
Accessing our building
- The entrance to our building is wheelchair-friendly.
- The front entrance is equipped with an accessible intercom system.
- A parking spot for disabled persons can be provided upon request.
- Our event space is on the first floor (US: second floor).
- The building is equipped with an elevator.
- Accessible toilets / bathrooms are available on the ground floor level.
Wheelchair spaces
In our event spaces we provide dedicated spots for wheelchair users.
All tables come with a wheelchair clearance.
For further questions please contact our event staff.
Further information on accessibility can be found here.