Normal Flat

I invite you to stay a little longer in the beautiful Transkei with me.

I was so lucky to be able to spend a couple of days there inlcuding New Year's Eve.

Girls, if you ever had a problem bringing your color TV home alone, just follow the example of this lady in Kentani, a small village at the wildcoast, a few kilometers outside of Butterworth.
Not only is she " walking her TV home very independently " -  no man in sight who thinks he should intervene ( I don't think she needs one)  - but she is doing it with great style and class as well !

Hm, I should rather say : Do not follow this example ! Do not do this at home ! It does demand practice ! 

Power

You Are Poweful - through your kindness

And Love....... for the ones who can not take care of themselves

Words are not enough to describe the power inherent in a determined woman. But a photograph can show you the emotions, that unfold in a human being in a split second. It can show you a facial expression, that would have been lost in the universe or that you would have never even perceived in the first instance.

A photographer from India wrote the other day on our facebook wall: I believe, the camera is the most beautiful thing ever made by man.We do agree! The camera is the reason, we can show you love, emotion, sadness, despair and each and every other emotion, the cretuares belonging to the human race have lived through through the centuries. 

There is power here. It takes power to take care and to attend to the needs of more than 60 old and frail human beings.

Send In The Troops - It's Cleaning Time

It is not an unusual sight to see whole battalions of women on the streets of Mdantsane and Buffalo City in general who are cleaning and sweeping the gutters and the roads with brooms. Their activities are part of a job creation program initiated by the South African Government to battle unemployment and that stretches right down to the different municipalities in each province.

And what applies to women all over the whole world is also guaranteed here !!

Nothing is done by half measures, all or nothing, and full attention is given to the detail.

Time For Laughter

Mothers Of A Nation

When looking at these beautiful pictures I want to say the biggest assets of any nation are probably their mothers. That's my personal opinion of course.

After I have shown you their dresses let me show you now their faces.

               

They stand for peace rather than war, for patience, for love and strength.

They should lead more.  

With this post I am thanking all of them for being so patient with me and allowing me to take their portraits on their special day.

I am extremely happy with these shots because they came out so real and are full of emotion.

MADAM SONTICA'S EASY STEP SHOE REPAIRS

Madam Sontica's Easy Step Shoe Repairs in Mdantsane, Hi-Way Market

The Easy Step Shoe Repairs Shop

Come in and get your shoes fixed and polished, Mdantsane Shoe Repairs Shop

situated at so called HI-WAY which is one of the oldest markets in Mdantsane

The Central Business District in Mdantsane is called Hi-Way

is run by Mrs. Sontica, owner and manager.

And I have the impression the reins are in between tight fingers. 

Madam Sontica, firm and fast

"This business will never die, because people will always need shoes"

Madam Sontica has bought the shop 6 years ago

A widow, supporting her four children with the business.

Madam Sontica and her team in Mdantsane

Why a shoe repairs shop ?

" A business like this will never die completely ", she says

People always need shoes.

Shoes are important to people

( she is so right!)

Hundreds of pairs of shoes in the shelves are proof, that the owner is right. People will always need shoes. 

There are times, like this, like now, when it goes down. 

But it will never die down totally, she explains.

Shoes have become a status symbol for many

Shoes show what you are in life ! 

People accord great importance to the type of shoes they wear.

The latest fashion trends - gladiators

Skilled hands are at work repairing a tired heeli

No matter how old the shoe it can become "nearly new" and shiny again!

The machine is old and is breaking down soon! says Madam Sontica

The problem is the machine. It's old now and is breaking down soon !

And so I must do something, she adds, and not only take photos

He could not be bothered.....

Clearly understood !

And I have brought a leather flip flop from Kenya -just in case.

Repairing shoes is one of the oldest trades

which one of her three employees is repairing and hand-stitching right now.

10 cm stilettos get a new shape! At least it looks like that to us! Ahm!

The lesson learnt here is that every shoe can be repaired and made beautiful again !

No matter it's age or condition.

I am truly impressed.

But with so many repaired shoes and dozens of costumers

How can there be a lack of profit ? 

some pink between the black

Because the people do not have the money to come and collect their shoes, Mrs Sontica, says.

And the work never stops in Madam Sontica's shoe repairs shop! Sorry Easy Step Shoe Repairs Shop!

So we repair and wait until they come and pay

because everybody loves their shoes.

No lack of profit here....

All my shoes and all the shoes of my family members will go from now on to the 

EASY STEP SHOE REPAIRS SHOP IN MDANTSANE

TEL 043 7601415 

Close Up On Mazozo

Mazozo says, she is NOT photogenic at all !

" The Mdantsane Way"  thinks however she is a hell of a sophisticated, stunning and sexy lady,  born to have her pictures taken.

 

She is not convinced yet, but we are happy to announce that Mazozo has come on board. 

We are proud to have her and her knowledge with us.
A lot of interesting stories are on the way !

Portrait Of Strength And Humor

These portraits are symbolic for two of the inherent characteristics of African women

                 

strength and humor

Working Girl

Summer Fashion

Gitls Of Summer In Quigney At Christmas Time

MAKING IT NICE AND CLEAN - thousands of girls and women are domestic workers in South Africa

When work and money is scarce, all work will do. 

Domestic work is the only option for many women and girls in South Africa to earn money

For many young girls and woman being a domestic worker, cook or nanny is an option even if you have studied.

Tradition makes many girls leave school and get married

                                                                     are beautiful

and smart

Another obstacle is that you can not get out now because you have kids.......

"You take the job, because it might be a stepping stone for a better life. But sometimes you stay there forever, and what you do now is what you will do for the rest of your life if you are not careful".