electricity – Herman van Bon Photography

Windy Sunset in Caledon, South Africa

Fusion of three images shot with intervals of 2 seconds.

Yes: The South African government couldn’t stay behind the global developments.

Early Morning Ritual

The shacks in informal settlement Die Kop near our village are not connected to electricity, water and sanitation. Early in the morning, before going to work or school, there is this ritual of brushing teeth at the communal water tap.

Home Sweet Home

These pictures show how millions of South Africans are housed.

To avoid misunderstandings: it’s NOT the homestead of South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma. This guy has always been very privileged … 😉 …; most probably never stayed in a shack (well I did and it was quite an experience. Everything there except electricity and a toilet …)

These pictures are part of a documentary serie I’m engaged in for the NGO Food4Thought which runs the pre-primary school Funimfundo (= ‘Seeking Knowledge’) in the location (township/informal settlement) Die Kop nearby my village. The school is privately funded (no state involved), exists for 10 yrs and is regarded as one of the best in the Western Cape.

Early this morning in the informal settlement

One could surely say that an informal settlement is a kind of eco village. What you see is shacks build of used materials. Old poles, corrugated steel, driftwood, cardboard, old doors … you name it. And the wall paper …. old magazines, newspapers, etc.

It’s a harsh life. No electricity or sanitation in the shacks but outside there are the municipal light poles, some communal water taps and here and there a toilet (with and without a pot). When it’s dark people light there candles and oil lamps. Cooking is outside on a camp fire or inside on a paraffin stove.

This morning I was there photographing a few kids on their way to school for an assignment of the NGO Food4Thought that is involved (for 10 yrs now) in the pre-primary school Funimfundo which is also located in this settlement. I took the opportunity (with consent) of picturing the children in their beds and their getting up and breakfasting at candle light; toothbrushing outside at a tap by one of the parents plus some general shots.

In a later stage I’ll come back with some daylight shots.