Session 3: Whose Images? Representation, Visibility, and Rights?

Take a look at the photographs in today’s newspaper — without reading the captions. Are you able to make sense of the subjects portrayed here?

Before reading the photo captions, I was able to identify the broad category of the subjects portrayed, in this case, people waiting at a government office to be (hopefully) assisted with accessing a service. The headline already mentioned the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), and I am aware of its yellow branding. The formations in which people were sitting or standing also gave an idea of the subjects; people were standing and/or sitting mostly in single lines or multiple rows of chairs. Their clothing also gave an idea, since they were dressed in coats, hats, closed shoes, long pants, etc., indicating waiting for a long time in the cold weather (it is currently winter in most parts of South Africa).

Can you still identify which subjects are victims? Read through the captions and reflect on your interpretations.

The people standing or sitting, wrapped in winter clothing, were those I could identify as “victims”, which was confirmed after reading the captions. I have put the word “victims” in quotation marks both because of people experiencing what I would argue is a type of state violence (with deep-rooted problems stemming from South Africa’s horrific history of colonialism and apartheid), and because people are still trying to do something to make things even somewhat better, despite the obstacles stacked in their path.

The expressions on their faces and often their posture pointed to their being portrayed as the “victims” in the photos. Their mouths are set in straight lines, some have furrowed brows, and some have looks of concentration on their faces. Some seem bowed against the cold or perhaps against the exertions of travelling long distances early in the morning, only to be unable to receive help that day.

Sassa grant reviews strand beneficiaries in systemic chaos