11 Powerful Afrikaans Movies That Showcase The Cape Flats on Screen

There’s something raw and real about Afrikaans movies set on the Cape Flats. They don’t sugarcoat anything—they just tell it like it is. When you watch, it feels like you’re right there. The characters could be your neighbours, and the streets might remind you of ones you’ve walked before. These films bring out the grit and heart of a place that’s as complicated as it is full of life. 

 

They’ve got humour, heartbreak, and plenty of those “I know that feeling” moments. But they also offer a peek into a community that’s constantly finding ways to keep going, no matter what life throws at them. Read on for our recommendations of some of the must-watch Afrikaans movies set on the Cape Flats.

11 Must-Watch Afrikaans Movies

 

Krotoa (2017)  

Genre: history, drama, Afrikaans movies

Starring: Crystal-Donna Roberts, Armand Aucamp, Jacques Bessenger

 

At just ten or eleven, Krotoa’s life was taken from her. Her family, her tribe, all of it was left behind when she was brought to Jan van Riebeeck’s house. Maria, his wife, took her in, seeing a project to mold, but Krotoa had far more to offer. She became an essential link between the Khoi and the Dutch settlers, the only female interpreter of her time. Her wisdom and bravery helped put an end to the first Dutch-Khoi war. Though her story is filled with sorrow, it also gave birth to a new chapter in South Africa’s history.

 

Stream it at Showmax

 

Indemnity (2021) 

Genres: action, thriller

Starring: Jarrid Geduld, Gail Nkoane Mabalane, Nicole Fortuin, Ryle De Morny, Andre Jacobs

 

Theo never thought he’d lose himself like this. A former firefighter, he’s already lost so much to the weight of his past. But nothing prepared him for waking up beside his wife’s dead body, with no memory of what happened. The police think he did it. But as he flees, Theo learns that his wife’s research into a shadowy global arms contractor has made her—and now him—targets. With every second that passes, he gets closer to the truth and the terrifying conspiracy that could bring down everything he thought he knew about the world.

 

Stream it at Showmax

 

Swirl: A Letter to Hair on the Cape Flats (2021)

 

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Starring: Chanelle Davids, Vinette Ebrahim, Ilse Klink, Shaleen Surtie-Richards

 

For Elaine Williams, the art of hair straightening is everything. As a hairdressing student, she’s mastered the chemicals and the techniques, but her own hair is starting to show the consequences of it all. The more it falls out, the more she questions everything. Is her worth tied to straight hair, or is it time to let go of that image of “perfection”? In this deeply personal film, Elaine’s journey is about confronting the limits of beauty standards and embracing the liberating power of being yourself—messy, real, and unfiltered.

 

Stream it at Dstv

 

Nommer 37 (2018)

Genres: thriller, suspense

Starring: Irshaad Ally, Monique Rockman, Danny Ross

 

Randall thought he had everything under control—until the deal went south. Now he’s paralysed, stuck in a grim apartment, and drowning in debt to a dangerous loan shark named Emmie. With no way out, he’s counting the days until Emmie comes for him. But then, Pam, his devoted girlfriend, gives him a pair of binoculars to pass the time. At first, it’s a small comfort, but as Randall watches the building across from him, something catches his eye. This unexpected distraction could be his lifeline. But the price could be more than he’s willing to pay.

 

Stream it at Showmax

 

Ellen: Die Ellen Pakkies Storie (2018)

Genres: Crime, Drama, Afrikaans movies

Starring: Jill Levenberg, Jarrid Geduld, Clint Brink

 

For Ellen, there was no easy path. Her son, Abie, was lost to addiction, and no matter how many times she reached out for help, it never came. The streets of Cape Town became their battleground, and the weight of love slowly turned into something darker. The world was shocked when Ellen, in an act of desperation, killed her son. But what led her there? This is a raw and emotional journey through the mind of a mother forced to make an impossible choice, in a place where drugs reign and no one is willing to fight for her.

 

Stream it at Showmax

 

Barakat (2020) 

Genres: drama

Starring: Vinette Ebrahim, Joey Rasdien, Mortimer Williams, Quanita Adams

 

Life for Aisha has always been about family—until tragedy struck, and her four sons became strangers to each other. The death of their father tore them apart, leaving Aisha trying to mend the pieces, but nothing worked. This Eid, Aisha is determined to bring them back together—except she has a secret. She’s fallen in love again, and Albertus means everything to her. She wants him to meet her sons, but she knows they must approve of him if she’s to move forward. The weekend will be one of reckoning, both for the family and Aisha.

 

Stream it and other Afrikaans movies at Showmax

 

Frankie en Felipè (2024) 

 

Genres: buddy comedy

Starring: Bradley Olivier, Solomon Cupido, Brandon Daniels

 

Two brothers, once inseparable, are now worlds apart. Frankie was taken from his family as a child and sent to a home, leaving Felipé to grow up alone. Years later, Frankie is a businessman—successful but deeply in debt. Felipé, on the other hand, struggles as a perfume salesman, weighed down by a loan shark’s threats. When Felipé asks for help, it’s more than just money. He has the power to destroy everything Frankie’s worked for, especially with his wedding day on the horizon. Frankie has no choice but to face the past he tried to escape.

 

Stream it at Dstv

 

Shirley Adams (2009) 

Genres: drama

Starring: Keenan Arrison, Theresa Sedras, Denise Newman, Travis Snyders

 

Everything changed for Shirley Adams the day her son was shot. No longer the strong woman she once was, she spends her days keeping Donovan alive and trying to make ends meet in a world that’s forgotten them. The bills pile up, the loneliness deepens, and her husband disappears without a trace. When a hopeful therapist enters their lives, Shirley feels a glimmer of something better. But then she learns the devastating truth—the shooter is someone Donovan trusted. Torn, Shirley keeps this news to herself, trying to hold on, but her strength is running out.

 

Dollars and White Pipes (2005) 

Genres: biography, drama

Starring: Clint Brink, Joey Rasdien, Kevin Smith

 

In the Cape Flats, Bernie Baatjies sees a future full of danger. His dreams of a better life feel impossible amidst the poverty and violence. But when tragedy strikes, and his friend is killed right in front of him, Bernie’s world shifts. He realises he can’t keep dreaming from the sidelines—he has to make a move. He takes a chance at a nightclub job, starting from the ground up. What begins as a survival tactic soon becomes a fight for power, but as Bernie climbs the ranks, he begins to understand that the price of success isn’t just about money.

 

Stream it and other Afrikaans movies at etv. 

 

Noem My Skollie (2016) 

 

Genres: drama, crime, Afrikaans movies

Starring: Dann Jaques Mouton, Gantane Kusch, Lee-Ann Van Rooi

 

Abraham was just another young man caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, but a simple crime changed everything. Behind bars in Cape Town’s unforgiving prison system, he discovers the power of his words. As he tells stories to the toughest of criminals, he rises to unexpected heights. His friend, however, falls under the spell of a violent gang boss. When they’re finally free, Abraham hopes for a fresh start with his childhood love, but his past is never far behind. A murder, a betrayal, and a hanging noose soon threaten to destroy everything.

 

Stream it at Showmax.

Klip Anker Baai (2023) 

Genres: drama

Starring: Kim Syster, Marvin-Lee Beukes, June van Merch, Kevin Smith

 

After her father’s death, Alex Donnay returns to Klip Anker Baai, hoping to mourn in peace. Instead, she discovers that the fishing business that’s been the backbone of her family and community is falling apart. But Alex isn’t one to give up. She channels all her grief and love for her father into a fight to preserve the business and the livelihood of her neighbors. It’s a heart-wrenching battle, not just for survival, but for the soul of Klip Anker Baai itself.

 

Stream it at Amazon Prime

 

For more Afrikaans movies, check out 7 Must-Watch Cape Town Gangster Movies.

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