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COME BUY: The sun has set, but this man keeps working.

SELLING BANANAS: A trader tries to make a living.

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Since Zwelibanzi started a photography course at the Market Theatre in Newtown in 2010, he has been photographing traders who are part of Johannesburg's landscape.

His photographs depict the city's taxi ranks and markets.

Zwelibanzi says he is worried about the conditions the traders are exposed to: Hot sun in summer, freezing cold in winter, and lashing rain and wind, too.

"I am interested in the traders daily existence. At night when the city takes a breather, everything changes. The environment and atmosphere changes completely," says Zwelibanzi.

The traders have migrated from various parts of the continent and South Africa, to make a living selling fruit, vegetables, sweets and cigarettes.

Zwelibanzi photographs them, their makeshift stalls and their easily transportable goods.

Born in Willowvale in the Eastern Cape, Zwelibanzi is attracted to the constantly changing Jozi landscape and informal sector.

Explaining the inspiration behind his photos, he says: "When I was about seven years old, most people in the township talked positively about the city. The only time I saw the city was at night when my parents and I travelled to Kagiso by bus and bypassed Jozi.

"When I did eventually come here, the city looked completely different. There were people everywhere and everything seemed crazy.

"The traders have a definite claim of ownership and space, however temporal. Their presence creates a network that spreads throughout the continent," he says.

The exhibition also explores how individuals play their part in mass migration and how they maintain social relationships.

Comments

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Wed Jun 19 19:59:08 SAST 2013 ::

May 8, 2012

Ann

crazy Jozii....
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May 8, 2012

Papage

We dont sleep anymore, this is the survival of the fittest, Man eat man world
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May 8, 2012

SKIZOBANTWANA

Kwandonga z'yaDuma...
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May 8, 2012

tpaz

EGOLI
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May 8, 2012

Bdoobs

I thinks Zwelibanzi's story would sell good in the 1st world countries. Showing me a photo of what goes down in Jozi??? I live in Jozi, I attended school in Jovi, I got my first job in Jozi, but I respect this boy's hustle.
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May 8, 2012

rasefatee

no more sleeping at all the cost of living is too high there is high level of unemployment, corruption is every where petrol price is too high food price is on the mountain top and they want to introduce etoll and the anc led government is doing nothing nothing at all nxaaa
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May 8, 2012

Hoshpelepelewa26Zikuphi

aah! monna o ha tshabe gore batla motsaya poho?
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May 8, 2012

mbaliwe

kwanyamay'pheli kuphel'amazinyw' endoda.
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May 9, 2012

Mosothowalesotho

and u should see the passion from this people, they sleep at 23:00 and by 03:30 they back on the streets. only the brave make it in this jungle called Jozi_Maboneng!
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