I took these photos of the Zandspruit Squatter camp 2 weeks ago as I drove past, on the way back home from a playdate. I balanced my camera on the steering wheel to take the shots, as I didn’t want to stop there because I had the 2 kids in the car at the time… and it’s a very dangerous place. In fact, go to one of the SA news sites and type in Zandspruit and read the horror stories if you’re so inclined. So they’re not perfect, because I was just clicking away without planning any shots.
Then for the photohunt on Saturday I was determined. I was going to stop there and take proper photos… it was ideal… all those metal “houses”. Not go into the camp mind you… but just stand on the outside on Beyers Naude and take some shots of the streets from there. Even I’m wasn’t stupid or brave enough to go further. But my plans were thwarted… Lance refused to stop there and I was too scared to do it on my own.

So, since then I’ve been chatting to people about this idea of mine, and the look on their faces just said it all. Some of them have worked closely with the police in the area in the past (as medics), and they then told me more about the one photo I took 2 weeks ago.

You can see all the shacks in these 2 photos. The road you can see is the main road, and extremely busy at the best of times.

And here, every available space is used as a shop.
Even the boot of cars are used to sell things from.

OK, this is the one. Not that there’s much to see, but the story is horrific. I took the shot, and then looked again to see what everyone was looking at. As I past the traffic light I noticed a body on the ground.. blood everywhere! And everyone was just staring at it.
And then 200m further down the road… cops… stopping taxi’s at a roadblock to check for roadworthiness!!
Before you ask… I didn’t stop. There was no way I was getting involved with the kids around, and besides, the road was busy and I was sure someone else would stop.
Anyway, I told my story yesterday, and then I got told what it probably was. Zandspruit is notorious for what is called “kangeroo courts” (like vigilanty justice). This body was probably dragged out of the camp after the person was found guilty of something.

Apparently the cops normally wait until the crowd disperses until they go and retrieve the body. It’s too dangerous even for them to intervene!

Bear in mind, that this was the same day that the 7 year old girl went missing in Zandspruit and her body was found the next day. And then there were riots on the Monday right where I took those photos.

So, now I feel a bit silly for trying to take the photos there. Next time… I’ll try the same thing at another squatter camp… one that is a lot safer BTW, I did take photos today, I just thought this story was more interesting.

I suppose I shouldn’t really post such a negative story about my country, but I felt I needed to vent a bit. The fact that I’m too scared to drive down this road at night to visit friends and go out for dinner at the wonderful places that are past this spot, make me mad. But then listening to everyone talk about it… I just resign myself to the fact that it sounds like the police are fighting a losing battle there… and it’s never going to change.

Connor following the dog around the garden.

Erin, the boys’ cousin
The youngest members of the family. And believe me, this is the best photo I could get, they DO NOT sit still!
My dad showing Connor how the braai tongs work
Erin loves being thrown into the air, she has absolutely no fear!

We took the boys to the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve in Kromdraai this afternoon. It’s a privately owned game reserve that also has some exotic animals in an area close to the restaurant (ie tigers). As you can expect most of the animals are also free roaming apart from the tigers.

The warthog patrolling the entrance to the lion enclosure… which was VAST and we got warned to drive off fast if the lions came close to the cars because they like to chew on the tyres apparently
A dozing female lion
The lions sleeping off their lunch
The view from one of the roads in the reserve
Baby Bengal Tiger

White Lion cub being cuddled by a volunteer
White Lion Cub

Bengal Tiger cleaning itself after eating. It climbed on top of this very high structure to get away from the others in the enclosure.

Blue Crane

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter.

Once I actually thought about it, there were a lot of things I could have taken photos of for this theme. Can’t wait to see what everyone else has this week!

I dragged Lance and the boys with me this afternoon to find something out in the countryside to take a photo of. And all of them thought I was a bit looney when I asked him to stop next to this fence post, but I think the photos turned out OK . This was taken in Muldersdrift, just outside Johannesburg.

More photohunters here…