Life and Death, a photo from Eastern Cape, West

Photographer's Note

Ultimately it is all about money. Professional preachers who do not charge admission fees in return for lucrative donations and a mass murderer killing for less than US$30 per life. When phoned for an appointment he was very devious about his whereabouts and by his accent clearly was a foreigner from one of the countries where they specialise in crime. The man bottom left is mentally ill beyond recovery and bottom right seems to generalise that death is good news.

SnapRJW, raszid62, danos, ikeharel, subhendu_bagchi, jhm, shelendra, serp2000, macjake, Charo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

InasiaJones (29337) 2011-05-18 15:16

Hi Neels,

South Africa has the highest number of people infected with HIV in the world and everywhere you go around this country, you can see these posters on every poles, advertising Penis Enlargement and Safe Abortion, like if one was the consequence of the other.

Meanwhile, South African president Jacob Zuma have been charged of raping a 31 year old woman in 2005, despite knowing that she was HIV-positive. He stated in court that he took a shower afterwards to "cut the risk of contracting HIV".

So for me, your images resume all about South Africa: rape, abortion, HIV, crime and death.

• South Africa has amongst the highest incidences of child and baby rape in the world.

• More than 25% of South African men admitted to raping more than one person.

• It is estimated that 500,000 women are raped in South Africa every year.

• It is estimated that a woman born in South Africa has a greater chance of being raped than learning how to read.

• The 2007 UNAIDS report estimated that 5,700,000 South Africans had HIV/AIDS.

• 310,000 South Africans died of AIDS in 2009

• South Africa have the highest recorded per capita murder rate in the world with 59 homicides per 100,000 people. The US, by comparison, had 6.

• South African convicts have a 94% recidivism rate.

International observers and locals organizations present evidence that South Africa's crime statistics are at least double than official statistics have so far admitted, based on original source documents, government archives, the Central Statistics Service, Interpol, the South African Medical Research Council statistics, and many other sources.

Today was an election day in South Africa, and ANC will win again, despite corruption, incompetence through manipulation of the uneducated population. Three months ago, Jacob Zuma have mentioned: "Those who don't vote for ANC vote for Satan, those who will vote for me will go in Paradise".

And poor black people believe that, like they believe in Sangoma, witchcrafts and spirits, and therefore, vote for ANC by fear to go in hell... So with this president in place, criminals can keep raping, stealing and killing in peace. Safe abortion, pain free...

André

[5] +

ghost_man (990) 2011-05-19 2:11

Merhaba,

Farklı kompozisyonu olan ilginç bir çalışma. Tebrik ederim.

SnapRJW (18722) 2011-05-19 5:29

Hello Neels - A very topical post with the elections on the go, I relate to your frustration, anger and sadness which leap out of the images shown here. You have taken four images all showing posters or ads seen every day in SA and all with the common thread of the "quick fix". Desperate, vulnerable people quickly fall prey to the "snake-oil" sellers, those who make a quick buck of the back of misery. Powerful image and Andre's comments bring the sad detail into clear focus. Keep up the good work and take care.

Rosemary

raszid62 (18200) 2011-05-20 13:49

Goeie aand.
'N wonderlike collage van vier foto's. Baie suggestief, en hierdie foto's en beskrywings, wat handel met baie ernstige gevalle. Dra nie vir my siek is nie, maar ek het gehoor dat Suid-Afrika is een van die lande met die hoogste misdaadsyfer. Ek wil 'n bietjie bang om daarheen te gaan.
Betref.
Joseph

adores (28210) 2011-05-20 18:01

Hi Neels!
You're showing a few details worth to be seen and that show something about the country also.Each one of these four photos make us think for a while. They are really necessary on this site, as well as the beautiful side of each country. Well seen and captured! Good note also!
I've already started seeing the blog you told me:)! Thanks!!!

Giorgio (11263) 2011-05-20 21:48

- Original composition Neels, very artistic atmosphere, well done!
Have a nice w-e.
giorgio

danos (73974) 2011-05-21 0:50

Hello Neels,
your shot has very shock messages,from the safe abortion until the good news about the death.An excellent reportage shot about your country,with the note of InasiaJones to complete with details, the delineate of it.

Have a good weekend,danos

ikeharel (37316) 2011-05-21 1:14

4 unusual pictures, Neels. Unique on TE posting - show a real world they live in (S.Africa), shocking as it looks - more shocking to know that most people in our world don't want to see.
Regards
Ike

nilotpal_patra (1684) 2011-05-21 2:21

Namaskar Neels,
It is realy, realy a Wonderful Daily Life Picture. Nice Frame. Nice colour, contrast and sharpness. Nice POV. TFS.
Regards.
Nilotpal Patra.

subhendu_bagchi (16590) 2011-05-21 6:06

namaste Neels,
a different type of photo with different stories. Like your view and presentation of it. The colage is looking nice and meaningful. A very good realisation. Tfs.
best wishes.
Subhendu

Silvio1953 (98129) 2011-05-21 8:32

Ciao Neels, interesting and original collage, great idea, very unusual for TE, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Urs (11804) 2011-05-21 18:44

hi Neels

You are right, it often is only about money. There are plenty of signboards everywhere. Safe abortion in your country seems to be equally popular with the loan sharks credit signboards in this region of the world, offering fast money. Very impressive photo feature. Good photo job.

Warm regards
Urs

halikarnas (5628) 2011-05-22 7:37

Hi Neels,
Tam bir belgesel fotoğraf.
Her şeyi söylüyor fotoğraf.
Tebrikler
Ataman

SteveH (6155) 2011-05-23 4:01

Hi Neels, many signs of a society in trouble. Unfortunately not uncommon. Good documentary collage. Cheers, steve

romanaa (7372) 2011-05-23 7:41

Hello Neels,

this is a very sad and striking image. Andre's emotional and long reaction is the best proof that you have done a brilliant documentary photo job that tells a story unfortunately with no hope for happy end.

Best regards

Romana

jhm (122444) 2011-05-24 4:43

Hello Neels,

Where is honesty of the people in the world, very far way!
You shows perfect this image perhaps as warning
Sharpness and colors are excellent taken.
Good presentation nice composition too.
Very well done, TFS.

Regards,
John.

serp2000 (29188) 2011-06-04 7:22

Hello, Neels,
Fine report from South Africa. Good photowork and impressive note. TFS!
Best regards,
Serghei

macjake (39227) 2011-08-18 10:27

Hi Neels
looking through your gallery, there is a strong sense of the real life, the downside of life, the underground side of life.
that is well portrayed here as well.
the irony is that, it doesn't matter if its a 1st world or 3d world country, it happens everywhere!
interesting take!
thanks for sharing this
cheers
craig

Charo (51174) 2011-08-31 13:22

Hello Neels,
A mixture of images very well done and a good drama. Not only the beauty around us, the miseries are also part of our lives.
Excellent composition and detail.
Best Regards,
Charo