Ryan Swano
Alister Fortuin, also known as Jan Bloed, from Westbury, Johannesburg, is a former member of the Fast Guns and Varados gangs.
The Jan Bloed Documentary premiéres at the Silwerskermfees on 22 August 2025, and will of course find it’s way to the DStv kykNET Channel and hopefully also soon come to Showmax.
You the viewer get to meet his mother, Felicity, who never knew or saw him as Jan Bloed; his son in prison, Vercaino, and his wife, Engeline, with whom he now has a new life.
Alister walks through Westbury and other areas that have had a great impact on his life as Jan Bloed. He shows the place where he committed his first murder and visits his “blomspots”, and he meets people from his past again.
For those who dont know, the verb “blom” is Jozi slang for “hang out, stay, chill”, thus your “blomspot” is a place you usually hang out to chill.
From Gangster to Pastor
Alistair feels called to become a pastor and lead the next generation on a better path than that of gangs and violence. Will Alister be able to walk that narrow path with his son when Vercaino is released?
The producers of the documentary film Jan Bloed, Gerrie Janse van Vuuren and Nicolaas Viljoen, take viewers through the streets of Westbury in Johannesburg to revisit Alister Fortuin’s time as a member of the Fast Guns and Varados gangs. After 22 years behind bars, the former gang leader developed a sincere relationship with God, and is now a pastor in Westbury, on a mission to help free the community from the claws of crime.
Gerrie and Nicolaas explain on a Silwerskerm Website interview that though viewers are familiar with several movies and stories about gangs in South Africa, Jan Bloed is different.
“The story is very personal and focuses on one person’s journey from being a gang leader to becoming a pastor. That is what makes this story so different. It is not just another story of how cruel and rotten gangs are, it is the story of how Alister found himself in a very dark place and received a calling to use his tale as the ‘Moses of Westbury’ to bring about change.”
Why a Story of Westbury Gang Life is Important
When stories about South African gangs are told, the spotlight usually falls on the Cape Flats, but for them it was important to tell his story, because they can use it to make a difference specifically in Westbury.
“That is exactly why we decided on this area – because so much has already been done about the Cape Flats. We live in Johannesburg and Westbury is just around the corner from us. Any efforts to make a difference, must be started in the places near you.”
The porducers say that they accidentally learned of Alister Fortuin while researching in Westbury for another unrelated documentary.
While filming in Westbury there were naturally many security concerns especially when hanh violence in the area flared up, but they would vacate the area and return to continue filming when the situation calmed down again.
WATCH: Amptelike Lokprent – Jan Bloed – Silwerskermfees 2025 – kykNET
Why Jan Bloed Documentary is Important to Watch
The producers were asked what they found the most disturbing during filming and what would likely shock viewers the most.
“How easy it is for some of these guys to take a life. How blood-thirsty they can be, especially the new generation. Viewers will be shocked to hear how young some of the guys are when they join a gang for the first time, as was the case with Alister.”
We at Bruinou.com are certainly look forward to watching Jan Bloed and hoping that others will see it too; not for the mere sensationalisation of gang life, but to hopefully bring more attention to the scurge of crime that is destroying so many of our coloured communities.
The kykNET Silwerskermfees Film Festival Focusses on Afrikaans Film & TV Productions and runs from 20 to 23 August 2025.
The Jan Bloed Documentary premiéres at the Silwerskermfees on 22 August 2025.
kykNET Silwerskermfees Festival Programme
