After being shot by a gang in a perilous south African town, an academic student who desires a status in Journalism is claimed to be in the gang by the locals and tries to seek freedom from a town he so dearly wants to help.

yeah.... might have problems with this plot... being shot by the gang then being accused of being in the gang?? mmmm

"desires a status in Journalism" is non-sensical. I don't know what you mean.

I'm also unclear on the dramatic premise. A gang shoots your protag. Then the town locals say that he's from the gang? Then what? Why can't he leave the town? What is he trying to help them do?