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In this week’s photo essay, photojournalist Zahra Haider speaks to a few of the residents of the culturally diverse inner-city suburb of Hillbrow
CALEB MUNTING
My life in South Africa is better than it was in Cameroon, but there is more violence here. Crime affects me at times. You can get robbed no matter who you are or what you are doing. Even if I know the person, they might still rob me. And if you involve the police, you might get shot. I don’t report crimes because it’s not worth the risk. One day, I want to move to Midrand and bring my parents here from Cameroon. It’s difficult to bring someone here from a foreign country because getting documents is a challenge.
VICTOR IBE
I really like Hillbrow. My neighbourhood is great. Crime exists, but you expect this if you live in the heart of the city. I’ve been in South Africa for three years. I work as a hairstylist. I love my job because I can pay for myself. I can pay the bills. But, one day, I want to be a singer. I like to rap and talk about life. I don’t know where I will be tomorrow because I want my music to take off. I have my family here. I got married two years ago and our daughter is one year and eight months old. My parents are in Ghana. They haven’t met my family yet.
NUR NOBI
When I decided to come to South Africa, I thought it would be a land of opportunity – one that offered me the chance to make money and have a healthy business. But it’s not like that; it’s not easy. Bangladeshis are shot every day. We have no power in this country. The government doesn’t care about us. I haven’t seen my family in seven years. I want to go back, but I need R20 000 for a plane ticket. I’m saving up so that one day I can be with them again.
JOANNE JADI
My dream is to have my own salon and cosmetology school one day. I know I will have to work hard because there is a lot of competition. There’s a lot of crime and corruption in Hillbrow, but it’s not as bad as it was. I’m here to save money for my three-year-old son, who lives in Zimbabwe. I miss him, but there are no jobs in Zim. I’m on my own. I don’t have parents – they died when I was younger. My mum died in April and my father died in September in the same year. That’s why I’m used to this hard life. You just have to survive.
