Che Geuvarra Road

With some weird pomp and ceremony, and Che Geuvarra's daughter and grandson present the City of Durban officially changed Moore Road to Che Geuvarra Road.

I was a little confused as I travel on the said road every day. It has been named Che Geuvarra for some time now so why the song and dance? Well that is a good question!?

And I still wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

Rebuilding Homes - Again

Another shack fire during winter in Durban. It was no the last. And by summer the fires will be spreading through Cape Town informal settlements, respecting no persons, seemingly targeting the poorest.

When is it going to end?

Fire in my conscience

'Is that smoke?' I said to Lucy. 'Too black to be grass?' she replied.

A part of the Kennedy Road informal settlement was burning so I raced over. I was shooting as soon as I could but knew from experience that I was going to have get to the fire. I had made a few image of people carrying their most valued possessions as the smoke plumed behind them.

I then came across a few men busy ripping shacks walls off and breaking down doors. They were not looting but trying to rescue others possessions who had already left for work.

It was at this point that I was struggling to justify my being there and not helping. With my camera slung over my back I began kicking down doors and helping where I could. I would then make a few pictures and help a little more.

These people have lost everything and I have a great set of pictures!?

Point Road

I spent time recently on Point Road which could soon be Mahatma Ghandi Street. I was making photographs for the New York Times who are doing on a story on the name changes happening in the city. The writer, like the cops who stopped me to make sure that I was not an insane tourist wandering point road with a camera, thought that one of the roughest streets in the CBD could be named after a man who stood for peace.

I asked a couple of locals in a bar where the prostitutes which Point Road is infamous for are. And then had to explain that I was doing a story and not looking for a room to rent by the hour, which I might add you can find on Point Road. I was told by a reliable source that the Esplanade is the best place to find a prostitute. Well, he looked reliable in that I would not like to meet him in a dark alley. The dark alley which was right outside the door of the establishment I had
found myself in.

I did not find a prostitute but met some interesting people along the way. I think I will go back again sometime soon. There was something in the seediness which seemed so much more alive and real than the malls I find myself in. A sad place, but an honest one.