Hello, and thank you for joining us today. Your background is quite diverse — could you tell us a bit about your journey?

Of course. I come from a comedy background. I was born in Texas, spent part of my life in Egypt, and later moved to South Africa, where I started my career in stand-up. That eventually led me into content creation and filmmaking.

I currently run a YouTube show, where I cover current affairs in South Africa and globally. That platform is actually what pushed me toward documentary filmmaking.
That’s quite a journey — from stand-up to documentaries. What drew you specifically to this story?
The documentary is called Stolen Ground: The Tigerberg Raceway Story. It actually started as a short video idea for my YouTube channel. I came across posts showing how land was being occupied almost overnight, and I couldn’t understand how that was even possible.
So it began more as curiosity than a full film idea? Exactly. But the more I researched, the bigger the story became. I focused on the Tigerberg Raceway — it used to be an important place for the community, but during COVID lockdown, it was illegally occupied. That’s when I realized there was something much deeper going on.
And what did you uncover as you dug deeper?
One of the key elements was the PIE Act. What surprised me is that, in practice, it often ends up protecting illegal occupiers. Once someone settles on land, removing them becomes a long and complicated legal process.

That sounds incredibly frustrating from a legal standpoint.
It really is. In South Africa, these processes can take years. So even if the land is privately owned, reclaiming it becomes extremely difficult — and expensive.
Was this story close to you personally?
In a way, yes. It was happening near where I live, and people were actively talking about it, especially during lockdown. Social media played a big role in spreading awareness at the time.
Speaking of lockdown — do you think it influenced what happened?
Definitely. It created the perfect conditions for this to happen. With restrictions in place, it became much easier for situations like this to escalate.
This was also your first documentary on this scale, right?
Yes. I had experience in theatre and directing plays, but filmmaking is a completely different process. This project was made with almost no budget — mostly just my phone and whatever tools I had.

That makes it even more impressive. What was the hardest part for you?
Editing, without a doubt. Filming and research felt more natural, but shaping the story in post-production was incredibly challenging.

Because of the amount of material?
Exactly. There was so much footage, and I didn’t want the film to drag. I wanted it to stay engaging, so figuring out what to keep and what to cut was the hardest part.
Did you follow a script, or did the story evolve as you went?
It evolved a lot. I had a rough structure, but every new piece of information could shift the direction. Discovering the PIE Act, for example, completely changed the focus of the film.

That’s often the beauty of documentary filmmaking — the story reveals itself.
Yes. You have to be open to that.

How would you describe your approach as a filmmaker?
I try to focus on the truth — wherever it leads. I don’t want to push a narrative too hard. Instead, I let people speak and shape the story through their own experiences.

Was there a moment during filming that stayed with you the most?
Yes, there were a few. Some very emotional conversations, especially with people directly affected. And toward the end, there’s a moment where everything comes together — you really see the broader impact.

Not just on individuals, but on the community as a whole?
Exactly. It shows how something like this doesn’t just affect one person — it creates a ripple effect across an entire system.

Did making this film change the way you see your work?
It did. I think the biggest realization was that I’m actually capable of doing this.

Even despite the doubts?
Especially because of them. There were moments when I questioned everything, particularly during editing. But finishing the film taught me to trust myself more.

And what kind of response did the film receive? 
It started conversations, which was the goal. People — including politicians and media — began talking more about the PIE Act. That was really important for me.

That’s a powerful impact for a first documentary. What’s next for you?
This is just the beginning. I’m planning to continue exploring this topic and expand it into a series of documentaries. There’s still a lot more to uncover.

That sounds exciting. And finally — what would you say to aspiring filmmakers?

Just start. No waiting for the “perfect moment”? You don’t need perfect conditions. Use what you have, learn along the way, and trust the process. That’s how this film happened.