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1989 Aron Mazel photographing

Aron Mazel

Exhibition Bio

In the 1980s and early 1990s, I worked as an archaeologist at the KwaZulu-Natal Museum. At the time, people in Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas were fighting hard against the forces of apartheid. Many people were killed and injured, and few pictures were being taken to show what was happening. As part of my own fight against apartheid, I photographed anti-apartheid events and injustices.

Some of my photographs were published in newspapers and magazines. Sometimes I left the museum during work hours to photograph political actions. One example was from early April 1990 when Nelson Mandela visited the area. He came to see the devastation caused by The Seven Days War and to give people hope.

References

History of Women’s Struggle in South Africa. https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/history-womens-struggle-south-africa; accessed 19 Feb. 23).

Fairbairn, J. 1991. Flashes in her soul: The life of Jabu Ndlovu. Durban: Natal Worker History Project.

Kentridge, M. 1990. An Unofficial War: Inside the conflict in Pietermaritzburg. Cape Town: David Philip.

SOCIAL2S_SHARE_TEXT

Mandela Bears Witness

Mandela’s visit, on 2 and 3 April 1990, was to see the destruction and suffering, and to give people hope. It was his first journey back to the area since his capture, on 5 August 1962, near Howick. Mandela had only left prison, after 27 years, on 11 February 1990. He wanted to understand what was happening. He travelled through Ashdown and Imbali and he met the people sheltering in the Welcome Church, in Edendale and he inspected the damage at the Mpophomeni Catholic Church. He gave a press conference in town, and spoke at rallies at the Edendale Lay Centre, in Slangspruit, and at the Mpophomeni and Wadley Stadiums.

Struggle, Displacement & Death in the 1980s & early 1990s

Pietermaritzburg and the surrounding areas experienced a lot of violence and death in the struggle against apartheid. In the 1980s, UDF supporters and Inkatha supporters conflicted. Families and communities were torn apart because of the fighting and dying. On the 25 March 1990, the conflict known as The Seven Days War broke out. Some UDF supporters stoned buses on the Edendale Road carrying Inkatha supporters home from a rally. For revenge, and with the help of the police, Inkatha attacked Ashdown, Caluza, Mpumuza, Gezubuso, KwaShange, KwaMnyandu and Mpophomeni. Over 100 people were killed and about 20 000 people fled their homes. Many houses were destroyed.

SOCIAL2S_SHARE_TEXT

1989 Aron Mazel photographing

Aron Mazel

Exhibition Bio

SOCIAL2S_SHARE_TEXT

1989 Aron Mazel photographing

Aron Mazel

Exhibition Bio

In the 1980s and 1990s, I worked as an archaeologist at the KwaZulu-Natal Museum. At the time, people in Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas were fighting hard against the forces of apartheid. Many people were killed and injured, but only a few pictures were being taken to show what was happening. As part of my own fight against apartheid, I photographed anti-apartheid events and injustices.

Some of my photographs were published in newspapers and magazines. Sometimes I left the museum during work hours to photograph political actions.

References

Mandela, N.R. 1991. Foreword. In: The Poster Book Collective/South African History Archive. Images of Defiance: South African resistance posters of the 1980s. Johannesburg: Ravan Press.

McQuiston, L. 1993. Graphic agitation. Social and political graphics since the sixties. London: Phaidon.

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Aron Mazel

Exhibition Bio

References

Mandela Bears Witness

Struggle, Displacement & Death in the 1980s & early 1990s

Aron Mazel

Exhibition Bio

Aron Mazel

Exhibition Bio

References

Opening Times