Erica Canepa

Photographer

ericacanepa.com

Kleinfontein

Follow Hire

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Nationality: Italian

Biography: Erica Canepa is an Italian documentary photographer based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her personal work mainly focuses on women and identity issues, health, and religion. She is attracted by rituals as paths into human complexity. Her studies in... MORE

South Africa. Kleinfontein, Feb...h. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 20th. © Erica Canepa 2015

Kleinfontein is an Afrikaner-only settlement established not far from Pretoria, South Africa.
In a country where the majority of the population is black, it is peculiar to see only white faces in this enclave.
Set up in 1992, as apartheid was quickly coming to an end, Kleinfontein is about 800 hectares and is almost completely self-efficient. Approximately 1,200 people live in this community, from the extreme poor who reside in caravans to upper middle class. The criteria to be accepted as part of the community are simple yet strict, you must be a Christian Afrikaner who speaks Afrikaans.
Remarkably nostalgic of Boer Republics, Kleinfontein dreams of an independent land where the Afrikaans culture will be preserved from any kind of contaminations.

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 20th. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, Feb...t. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 21st. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 22nd. ï¿½ Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 21st. ï¿½ Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 21st. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 20th. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, Feb...n. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 20th. The community swimming pool was built in 1997. Although the entrance fee is only ZAR 5 (about 0,40 €), kids often climb the fence and get in it without permission. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, Feb...r. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 21st. Michelle used to be married to a man from Wales whom she had two children with. They got divorced and she met Louis who introduced her to Kleinfontein got years ago. The first time she visited the settlement she felt at home and decided to live here. Her children are now adults and often visit her. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, Feb...e. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, Feb...s. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 21st. An important place for the community is the old people house. The centre hosts inhabitants of the settlement and people from outside, but only if Afrikaners. The hosts are happy to be able to speak their language and be surrounded by their people. This woman is becoming blind, because of her conditions she can hardly leave her room. She looks forward her daughter’s visit in ten days. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, Feb...y. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 21st. Dagbreek (literally “sunrise”) is a squatter camp formed of about forty caravans. Some people have been living here for over a decade and they are completely settled. Dagbreek is not visible from the other settlement’s dwellings, because a wall separates it from the rest of the community. Many kids are part of Kleinfontein community. They can freely play around the settlement, going from house to house and running everywhere in the fields. Kleinfontein is a very secure environment for kids and their parents feel relaxed about their run about. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 20th. At the entrance of the settlement there is a gate monitored by security guards 24 hours per day. It is only possible to get in with an invitation. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 21st. The land is 800 hectares, but Kleinfontein’s community hopes to acquire more land soon. The settlement is surrounded by a wire fence. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, Feb...w. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 20th. Steven lives in a caravan with his little daughter and his wife, pregnant with their second child. He is doing different manual labour jobs to sustain his family. They have been living in Kleinfontein for three years now. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 21st. © Erica Canepa 2015

South Africa. Kleinfontein, February 21st. Being Christian is one of the main criteria to be accepted in Kleinfontein. Some residents attend the Sunday service outside the settlement, but the majority stays in. © Erica Canepa 2015