Rugby victory

South African rugby fans celebrate their 15-6 victory over England in the Rugby World Cup at Boktown in Johannesburg.South African rugby fans at Boktown got a surprise before the final, when they were joined by former President of South Africa , Nelson Mandela... I was also surprised because no-one from the PR company running Boktown felt the need to mention that he was coming, so after standing in the beer queue for what seemed like an age- I get to the front, the announcement is made and Madiba slowly makes his way to the balcony, being a newspaper photographer, I couldnt let this opportunity get away, so I ran there- got my pics and had to stand right at the back of the beer queue again... Thanks Madiba :)

Wits protest

Students belonging to various youth movements, protested by disrupting classes at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. They are protesting about increased tuition fees.These students ran from class to class, jumping on the desks, dancing and singing songs to force students that were in the classes to leave, they ran between the classes like they were possessed, this photographer (who is just one day from his thirtieth birthday) found it tough going, but nevertheless managed to keep up, even though he was out of breath, soaked through and extremely red in the face.


Damn, these kids hardly even seemed out of breath...

Strike

A striking worker shows his frustration during a strike at Caxton printers in Johannesburg.

Today whilst attending a strike at Caxton Printers, the printers that print The Citizen newspaper (which I currently work for), I was approached by one of the printer management, who said I must get pictures of all the strikers with knobkerries ( zulu wooden clubs), His approach towards me was as if it was "us and them" and I sure was'nt in either of those groups.

I told him he must be insane, asking me to do that and told him that there was no chance that I would, if he wanted pics like that- he could take them himself, I SURE AS HELL WASN'T.

If photojournalists gave pics that could be used to prosecute people, people at demonstrations would attack photojournalists as soon as they whipped out their camera, and I sure as hell dont want that to happen .

Khutsong @ the Con Court

A protester from Khutsong threatens with a knife during a protest outside the Constitutional court in Johannesburg. The court is to decide if Khutsong will be moved back to the economically superior province of Gauteng from the poorer North West province.
I've been to quite a few protests, but this is the first time I've been physically threatened. I dont know what this guys problem with me was, but he followed me around for a bit after this, still swiping at me, that was when I thought it might be a good idea to move to another spot, and did. Protests with the people from Khutsong have a certain feel in the air, like all hell could break loose any second- a feeling I dont get with any other groups of protesters.

Anyway, got a decent shot and will probably be there again tomorrow :)

Eden Park RDP

First time homeowner, 72-year-old Edith Sonhlahla in front of her new RDP house in Edenpark, Ekurhuleni.On the other hand, I recently attended a function in Eden Park, near Thokoza in Ekurhuleni, where a group of pensioners were given their RDP houses, they aged from 71 to 90 years old, most of whom have never owned a house. So, at least some people are getting the houses promised by the government, but there is still a huge problem with backlogs and corruption, until something drastic is done, more and bigger protests will break out over this issue.