When it comes to building communities, people often seek education, opportunity, and belonging. But sometimes, the idea of belonging takes a darker turn. A new documentary reveals what life is like in Kleinfontein, a controversial “whites-only” settlement in South Africa, raising questions about identity, inclusion, and the role of history. For many observers, it also sparks debate about what kind of degree of separation society should tolerate in modern times.
A Town Stuck in the Past
Just an hour outside Johannesburg lies Kleinfontein, a small gated community with about 1,000 residents. On the surface, it seems like any other town, complete with schools, a bank, and shops. But the rules for who can live there are shockingly strict: residents must be white, Afrikaans-speaking, Protestant Christians, and descendants of the Voortrekkers — the Dutch settlers who moved inland during the 1800s.
The settlement was founded in 1992, two years after Nelson Mandela helped bring an end to apartheid. Yet even today, its existence reflects the deep racial scars left behind. A monument in the town honors Hendrik Verwoerd, South Africa’s former prime minister and the architect of apartheid.
A Filmmaker’s Eye-Opening Visit
Documentary maker Ben Zand, who is of mixed British-Iranian background, traveled to Kleinfontein to film for his YouTube series Human. His entry was not easy — as someone who didn’t fit the criteria, he was told outright that he likely would not be allowed to live there permanently.
Still, once inside, Zand found residents eager to talk. They told him they felt misunderstood by the outside world and insisted that their way of life was not about hate but about preserving their culture. “They were nice to me,” Zand reflected, “probably because they wanted me to cover them positively. But even in one-on-one settings, racism can hide under politeness.”
Residents of the Afrikaner-only settlement paying tribute to Charlie Kirk (Alet Pretorius/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
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The Dual Nature of Community
Zand described his time in Kleinfontein as both welcoming and unsettling. Residents gave him tours, spoke openly about their beliefs, and even jokingly called him the “Prince of Persia.” Yet behind the friendliness, there was a firm belief in separation — an ideology that stands at odds with South Africa’s hard-fought journey toward integration.
In some ways, Kleinfontein highlights how communities can thrive when people pool resources. Residents contribute to schools, healthcare, and infrastructure, creating a self-sufficient system. But as Zand noted, that collectivism becomes dangerous when it excludes others on the basis of race.
This contradiction mirrors larger global debates about cultural identity, migration, and who gets to belong. Whether in towns, businesses, or classrooms, societies constantly wrestle with the balance between protecting traditions and fostering inclusivity.
A resident said he was a ‘Prince of Persia’ (Zandland/YouTube)
Lessons Beyond Kleinfontein
The filmmaker concluded that while Kleinfontein may seem extreme, it reflects a universal human tendency to seek identity and belonging. The problem comes when identity turns into exclusion. “The thing that makes us fantastic,” Zand said, “is that we create communities and love one another. But when people only care for themselves, they inevitably turn against those they see as different.”
This story offers lessons not just for South Africa but for anyone interested in how societies evolve. Whether through education, cultural exchange, or even financial structures like loans and mortgages that help people move and integrate, true progress comes when communities open their doors rather than close them.
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Final Thoughts
Kleinfontein is a reminder that history doesn’t vanish overnight. The town may operate quietly behind its gates, but it embodies an ongoing struggle between division and unity. For outsiders, it raises pressing questions: How much separation can society allow before it becomes harmful? What degree of exclusion is acceptable in a world striving for equality?
In the end, the story of this town challenges us to think bigger — to build identities not rooted in race or culture alone, but in shared humanity. Because the strongest communities are not those that shut people out, but those that open doors and grow together.
