Jabulani Dhlamini
Photographic Essay: Jabulani Dhlamini, the everyday waiting, 2020, Soweto, South Africa
This photographic essay, titled the everyday waiting, looks at the psychological impact of COVID-19 on South Africans living in confined spaces in my community - Soweto.
It is an ongoing project which began in March 2020 when I would drive my mother to and from work every day during lockdown. It was necessary for her to avoid using public transport, a coronavirus ‘hot spot’.
The streets were very quiet. As we drove through Soweto, people peeked over the walls of their yards and we would peek back through the car windows, stopping to engage and I sometimes would take a photograph. People shared their fears for the future and spoke about their experiences of living under strict, militarised lockdown in such small spaces.
As a documentary photographer, I endeavoured to archive these conversations with my camera also as a form of collaboration with the subject. These conversations led me to understand that while this pandemic is creating new problems it has also starkly highlighted old ones, namely ongoing inequalities inherited from apartheid.
After 25 years, what has changed in South Africa’s townships and rural areas?
Not enough.
- Jabulani Dhlamini
Thami Majola, Phiri, Soweto 2020
We started this business of selling bread 3 days after the lockdown was implemented, stores were packed and a lot of people were buying bread mostly. So we saw a business opportunity to bring bread to the people in efforts to stop the spread of Covid 19 and reduce the crowds of people exposed just for a loaf of bread.
Raymond Mofoke,Phiri, Soweto, 2020
This thing has affected our life very bad you know, a lot of people are dying and others are unemployed. I was here to buy a beer and you feel it is not the same, drinking is not that fun anymore because the lifestyle is removed from this. I am buying and going to my house.
uMhlonyana, Phiri Soweto, 2020
After this herb was discovered in Madagascar (claimed to be a Covid cure), a lot of people here in South Africa started searching for it in the veld. Some wanted to plant it in their homes and some to sell it.
Esther Shabangu, Maserame Modise and Sphiwe Shabangu, Protea South, Soweto
I have been searching for a job for almost 2 years and now there is no hope. My mother works for government hospitals, so she is working under lockdown and this worries me a lot because I have heard that it is very bad on older people.
Barber stand, Phiri, 2020
I don’t think our lives will be the same again; we had to unlearn a lot of things during this time.
Pedo, Waterworks, 2020
We have been indoors since the lockdown was implemented, I run a clubhouse we do drama and Modern dance we had to stop because of the corona virus. I do this to empower the local youth and to teach them to stay away from drugs, but now you can see for yourself. You should come after lockdown you see the stage behind me that’s where we practice every day.
Lenasia, 2020
Lenasia Taxi rank getting sanitized.
Tshidiso Madileng and Tankiso Mathibedi, Phiri. 2020
We are not used to this life of waking up in the morning and doing nothing. I am really used to the routine of going to work and coming back late afternoon. This corona thing has messed up our lives.
“Loved ones,” Phiri. 2020
On national broadcaster it was reported that two families buried wrong bodies after a morgue mistakenly swapped them. This was done following a law that was implemented during the lockdown prohibiting viewing of dead bodies. This incident sparked a lot of panic and anxiety to families that have already buried their “loved ones” during the lockdown.
Fika le we, Phiri. 2020
The first funeral ekasi lami ePhiri after the lockdown was announced. It was not easy because the regulations were just announced, so we had to turn back other people. Other Family members couldn’t come to attend the funeral, which is unusual in our culture.
Seipati Mofokeng (left), Ntobeko and Bongiwe Sungulwa. Waterworks. 2020
I worked piece jobs before this corona thing, but I had to stop due to the lockdown. Now I am unemployed and I don’t know what to expect after the lockdown because it was not easy to get these piece jobs even before the lockdown was implantation.
Jabluani Dhlamini
All images courtesy Jabulani Dhlamini and Goodman Gallery Johannesburg, Cape Town, London.