Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Ruins to Redemption: Trust in Post-Apocalyptic Johannesburg
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-06-07-22-34-01-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die oorblyfsels van Johannesburg lê onheilspellend stil onder 'n grys winterlug.
En: The remnants of Johannesburg lie ominously still under a gray winter sky.

Af: Die wind suis deur die gebreekte vensters van wat eens luukse geboue was.
En: The wind whistles through the broken windows of what were once luxurious buildings.

Af: Elmarie stap stadig oor die verlate en rommelbedekte strate.
En: Elmarie walks slowly over the deserted and debris-covered streets.

Af: Sy trek haar jas stywer toe die ysige koue oor haar gly.
En: She pulls her coat tighter as the icy cold sweeps over her.

Af: Sy soek stadig na kos en water tussen die ruïnes.
En: She slowly searches for food and water among the ruins.

Af: Haar oorlewing het haar vaardig gemaak.
En: Her survival has made her skilled.

Af: Sy moes wees.
En: She had to be.

Af: Haar gedagtes dwaal soms terug na die dae toe Johannesburg vol lewe was, toe die strate vol mense en motors was, en die lug helder oor die stad geskyn het.
En: Her thoughts sometimes drift back to the days when Johannesburg was full of life, when the streets were filled with people and cars, and the sky shone brightly over the city.

Af: Maar daardie dae is verby.
En: But those days are gone.

Af: Terwyl sy oor 'n hoop klippe klim, vang haar oog 'n skaduwee wat vinnig oor die straat beweeg.
En: As she climbs over a pile of stones, her eye catches a shadow that quickly moves across the street.

Af: Sy vries en hou haar asem op.
En: She freezes and holds her breath.

Af: Uiteindelik sien sy hom – 'n man, effens skelm, die tipe wat jy nie sommer vetrou nie.
En: Finally, she sees him—a man, slightly shady, the type you don't easily trust.

Af: Hendrik.
En: Hendrik.

Af: Hy staan 'n entjie verder en snuffel deur 'n verlate winkel.
En: He stands a little way off, rummaging through an abandoned shop.

Af: Elmarie blaas haar warm asem in haar hande en skuif nader.
En: Elmarie blows her warm breath into her hands and moves closer.

Af: "Soek jy ook kos?
En: "Are you also looking for food?"

Af: " vra sy skielik.
En: she asks suddenly.

Af: Hendrik kyk op, effens sku, maar gee 'n kort knik.
En: Hendrik looks up, slightly shy, but gives a short nod.

Af: "Ja, dis skaars.
En: "Yes, it's scarce.

Af: Die winter sal nie maklik wees nie.
En: The winter will not be easy."

Af: "Daar heers 'n gespanne stilte tussen hulle.
En: There is a tense silence between them.

Af: Albei weet dat elkeen vir homself moet sorg in hierdie verwoeste wêreld.
En: Both know that each has to fend for themselves in this devastated world.

Af: Maar daar is 'n behoefte aan vertroue, aan aansluiting, aan oorlewing.
En: But there is a need for trust, for connection, for survival.

Af: "Ons kan dalk ons hulpbronne saam sit," stel Hendrik voor, hoewel sy stem steeds afstandlik is.
En: "Perhaps we can pool our resources," Hendrik suggests, though his voice remains distant.

Af: Elmarie huiwer.
En: Elmarie hesitates.

Af: Vertroue is gevaarlik.
En: Trust is dangerous.

Af: Maar tog, iets in Hendrik se oë laat haar dink dat hy opreg is.
En: Yet, something in Hendrik's eyes makes her think he is sincere.

Af: Terwyl hulle oorleef moet, voel sy die noodsaaklikheid om die kans...