Abstract
Photography and political events have a long history in South Africa. From Sharpeville, to Marikana, the photographic image has provided evidential force for some of South Africa’s most momentous events. With few exceptions, scant attention has been paid to the everyday. This paper focusses on the photographs of William Matlala, a South African photographer from Katlehong who emerged out of the nascent Trade Union movement in the late 1970s. As a factory worker himself, he began taking photographs of his co-workers, and consequently documented a spectrum of workers’ lives with a notable degree of insider access. His photographs speak to the daily struggles and the many protests that have occurred over the decades from the 80s to the present. Of significance in this body of work is the banality of repetitive work, the daily commute, difficult negotiations and disproportionate powers between worker and employer, industrial accidents, and the ongoing struggle to eke out a living. Moreover, the inclusion of images of women in the work place, on the factory floor, and in protest action stressed an engagement with women’s histories and their collective action in claiming a part in the struggle for workers’ rights. Matlala’s archive offers an extraordinary narrative of the history of work and workers in South Africa, of hard won battles for decent wages, job security and fair working conditions. In the era of apartheid, the political tended to obscure everyday experiences; Matlala’s collection therefore emphasizes aspects of our history that had previously been hidden.
Presenters
Sally GauleSenior Lecturer, Architecture, University of the Witwatersrand, Gauteng, South Africa
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
William Matlala, Photography, South Africa, History
