Lonmin Mine, the two days after the Marikana Massacre

Friday 17 August 2012

Kids on their way to school walking on the road past the scene were the miners were shot by the Police.

The scene where the miners were shot.

A group of woman protesting with a Casper in the background.

This picture and the 4 below it is of the woman protesting near the scene.

Pastor Daniel Bavuma giving his account and the feeling in the comunity. 

Saturday 18 August 2012

Julius Malema talking to the crowd of thousands that have gathered to listen to him.

Floyd Shivambu

My favourite photograph of the 2 days: A group of woman, looking for their loved ones that were either killed, arrested or are in hospital, gather around a list of names that obtained from the Hospital, after a couple of hours where Mine Security refused to hand the list over to them. 

For further info on the stories please folow the links below to Beeld and Rapport.

http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Dis-soos-Sharpeville-20120817

http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/10de-Lonmin-lyk-20120814

http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Lonmin-So-het-dit-gebeur-20120821

http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Myn-staak-werk-wyl-staking-voortsleep-20120815

http://www.rapport.co.za/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Myners-se-messias-20120818

http://www.rapport.co.za/Opinie/Hoofartikels/Vakbond-en-mynbase-moet-die-skuld-kry-20120818

Cameron Van Der Burgh

My pics of Cameron Van Der Burgh for an interview did by Beeld's Anim Van Wyk and Lourensa Eckard.

Its always hard getting new and interesting pics for the newspaper especially if its for two seperate storys your shooting for. Luckily after the interview we were able to go up on the roof of the building in Sandton and get some interesting shots.

I must say Cameron must be the most patient person I have ever photographed, I took my time untill I felt happy with what I got and he never complained about it. He also had to stare into the sun for awhile which could not have been easy. Must also say it was really an honour meeting one of our Olympic heroes and what a humble person he is. A real role model for young sportsmen and woman in South Africa!!


Here are the two links to the different stories: http://www.beeld.com/In-Diepte/Nuus/Onder-vier-oe-Pas-wat-deure-oopmaak-20120810 - Anim van Wyk article.

http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Floute-slaan-toe-voor-hy-wen-20120810 - Lourensa Eckard's story.

Day 7, 8 & 9 of the Alledged Sunday Rapist Trial.

Steyn going through his notes before court starts

Steyn leaving the court room after a long day of very technical evidence.

Court is about to start.

Steyn stood for a photoghraph with the 14mm lens.

I tried something different and used a bit of of-camera flash.

Steyn looking back at the journalists sitting behind him in court.

Steyn in a good mood and chatting with journalists.

Steyn discussingthe evidence with Adv Anton Lerm.

My version of the happenings in court.

I feel that Steyn is starting to get used to the Media in court every day. The reason I say this is he tries to start up a conversation every chance he gets. He always calls me closer and asks me something when I'm busy photographing him. I don't know his reasons for doing this but it makes it hard because I'm there to get my photographs and not really to make conversation with and accused in court. The last day in court, the Friday he jumped into the conversation that me and fellow photographer Werner Beukes was having about the hard court benches. I remarked that it feels like the same kind of chair you would put out for the deacon when he does his monthly rounds. Steyn jumped in and started to tell a story about a man who pretended to be a deacon to fool his wife etc. He also continued to chat to journalists in the break in between consultations with his legal representative, Adv Lerm. He doesn't ever talk about the happenings in court but rather just random small talk.

What happened in court

The last couple of days in court got very technical with a member of the Police specialising in tracing suspects and missing persons gave evidence that linked the suspects cellphones to the areas where the crimes where committed. The cellphones where placed in and around the areas on the dates of the crimes, as well as more or less the times they happened. The case was postponed untill 20 August 2012.

For more info the article read the article that was published on Beeld.com on the 3rd of August 2012.

http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Sondagverkragter-se-selfoon-spoor-20120803

Day 6 of the alledged Sunday Rapist Trail.

Today I am going to start the story from the end. The first three photographs was shot after Steyn's ex wife testified in camera. There was a short break and he came back into court and saw that his wife had retaken her seat in the witness stand. He was crying while she was testifying before the break but we were not allowed to take pictures while the Judge is still in court so that opportunity we missed. So I waited for him to come back after the break. I kept watching him and saw that he keeps looking over at his ex wife behind the window (she cant see into court but he can see her). I saw that he was getting emotional again and just before the Judge came in he wiped the tears from his eyes.

Steyn looking over at his ex wife that is sitting behind the window waiting to testify in camera.

Steyn wiping away his tears just as the judge comes into court. 

The rest of the pics below is just the normal happenings in court. 

Steyn pulling his strange face as photographers take his picture. I don't think he does this on purpose its probably just him sniffing?

Steyn chatting to his laywer.

Steyn looking back at the court.

Steyn smilling after joking with photographers. There was also another acuused from another trail sitting next to him, that case was just quickly postponed, Steyn also said that the other acuused was making him laugh.

Steyn entering the court from the holding cells.

Another minor testified in camera today about what happened to her after she was abducted by the Alledged Sunday Rapist. Hearing these young girls tell their story's fills you with feelings of anger and sadness that something so horrific had happened to them. No one deserves to be put through what these girls have gone through.

I'm not going to go into further details, for more info on this case go read Janice Keogh's article that apeared on Beeld's website: http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Sondagverkragter-saak-hervat-20120730

Day 4 & 5 of the Alledged Sunday Rapist trail.

DAY 4

 Steyn making another joke and trying to start up a conversation.

Steyn in the witness stand.

Steyn being taken away after court adjourned for the day.


Day 4 and my experiences.


I walked into court this morning and was stopped by the De Waal famliy. I have gotten to know them, on an informal basis because of my involvement in this case because I have been covering the case since Steyns first appearance in the Krugersdorp's Magistrate Court. They asked me why we chose the photograph of Steyn smiling that appeared in the paper? So I started to explain why he was smiling and that our night desk decides what photos fits the story best and they stopped me to say, "no no no no no were not angry, we are just interested in why you choose certain pictures". I then apologised that we are photographing them so often to which they replied, "no dont worry its ok we understand". I always try to be as un intrusive as possible when photographing people in very emotional situations. 

Day 4 was a very eventful day in court again with Steyn taking the stand to give his version of the events that lead to him giving a statement in front of a magistrate in which he admitted guilt to the murder of Louise De Waal and other cases.  One of the things he admitted to was that he cheated on his wife with other woman and prostitutes. Im not going to go into all the detail as its a lot but if you wish to read it further you can go to : http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Jammer-dat-ek-monster-is-20120726

DAY 5

Jessica Du Toit (Louise De Waal's sister) in the witness stand.


Day 5 started with Jessica Du Toit (Louise's sister) taking the witness stand and giving a short testimony on her sisters cellphone and that she tried to contact her. I dont even want to imagine how hard this must have been for her to face her sisters suspected killler. She is really a very strong and brave woman.

The next witness was a 13 year old girl that was abducted by the supected Sunday Rapist. She gave a detailed testimony of how she was abducted and the events that came after. This was a really hard testimony to hear and it tore me apart inside to hear a young girl telling the court what she went through. Im not going to give all the details but if you are interested the rest of the testimony and what happened in court can be read at: http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Jy-maak-my-seer-20120727

This is a article that Marzanne Van Den Bergh wrote for Beeld on the 27th of July 2012 and the link for day 4 on the 26th.