June 16 Pretoria Street Photography Walk
Masses of young citizens marched passed us beating djembe drums as though it was a ritual calling people together while we sat waiting for other photographers at Sammy Marks Square on the 16th of June 2014.
By: Letlhogonolo Ndhlovu
Naturally, a few of us started clicking our cameras; we were gathered for the Pretoria Street Photography June 16 walk and the crowd with their thundering drums was a thrilling way to start our day’s journey.
June sixteen’s photo walk was spread out across the region, namely; Mamelodi, Mabopane, Atteridgeville, Hatfield and Sunnyside. ShowMe chose to visit the biggest township in the north of Pretoria, Mabopane.
We ended up in Block U, “Mabopane was part of Bophuthatswana and the four roomed houses are much bigger than those in Mamelodi,” informed Mogau, our walk guide for the day.
We will remember walking down Peter Magano Road, walking past street salons where we met a lady shaving her hair telling us how inexpensive and simple her haircut is compared to weaves and all sorts of other hairstyles.
We observed the many signboards advertising services available in the area; Mooikahle Fridge Repairs, Internet Cafés, Mpho’s Filling Station and so on.
“What are you guys doing with cameras and did this girl come with you by taxi?” asked passers-by in Setswana referring to Ilze.
Things have long changed in South Africa.
By joining in on this walk we got to interact with our environment and for that we thank the Pretoria Street Photography society whose aim is “to have photographers as street walkers and explorers.
To encourage people to be aware of their environment so that they are able to reflect it back to citizens.”
The street photographers captured just about anything they found visually appealing; follow the Pretoria Street Photography page on Facebook to see all these images taken across the city, we can’t wait to catch a glimpse of what other photographers got up to.
Here are images of Mabopane, and the residents:
(Click to enlarge)
Watch this cool profile video by Sovereign Films of Emmanuel Munano, one of the founders of Pretoria Street Photography.
Read and view pictures of the first Mamelodi photo walk. Do not forget to keep an eye out for our Events and Entertainment page, Interactive galleries and Lifestyle. Until next time!