Photographer’s thought-provoking exhibition zooms in on SA’s past and present

The exhibition The Damage Still Remains at the Botanical Garden Gallery on the North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom campus, is showcasing some thought-provoking images by renowned photojournalist Len Khumalo. Through his lens, Khumalo offers a glimpse into the country’s history to draw on how the past affects our experiences today. 

Co-curated by Nthabeleng Masudubele and Nkululeko Khumalo, the NWU gallery’s year-long series of legacy artists commenced with this exhibition which will be on display from 10 February to 17 March 2023. 

This series aims to promote artists whose work has contributed to the country’s cultural legacy and to offer a space for contemplation on the country’s past and present. As said by Amohelang Mohajane, the Curator and Collections Manager at the NWU Gallery: “This year we hope to build on legacy artists while they are still alive.” 

According to Mohajane, “this exhibition should be a conversation.” She pointed out that Len Khumalo’s daughter, Nkululeko Khumalo, co-curated this exhibition, emphasising that it is an intergenerational conversation.

When asked how she hopes this exhibition makes viewers feel, Mohajane unapologetically said that she hopes “viewers are triggered” and that ‘”we [the viewers] need to be reminded of what our country went through”.

In an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Masudubele and Khumalo explained that the foundations of this exhibition were laid after they went over newspaper archives of the ‘70s and ‘80s.  After looking through the archives, they realised “what was happening then, is happening now.” 

This exhibition provides an opportunity to experience some of South Africa’s most significant historical moments. But most importantly, these moments also portray personal histories. As Masudubele said, “it is the lives of everyday people that matter within the greater history of South Africa.”

One of the featured images titled “Golden Miles Bhudu with his Prison Inmates”, depicts Miles Bhudu dancing in front of a sea of people, evoking a sense of hope and defiance. 

In contrast, a recent article by the Daily Maverick published on 13 October 2022 titled “As prison overcrowding rate intensifies, Popcru threatens Pollsmoor strike,” affirms the ongoing struggle for prisoner rights. The first line of the article reads “The national overcrowding rate in South African prisons is now 31.65% …”

Another image “Funeral Bus” captures a sombre yet striking scene of a bus transporting mourners to Chris Hani’s funeral.

The context of this image bleeds into recent events surrounding the release of Chis Hani’s murderer. An article published by News24 on 30 November 2022 reads: “Blood spills on eve of ANC-led protest against the release of Chris Hani’s killer Janusz Waluś”. The article reports on the stabbing of Janusz Waluś during an ongoing court bid to have his parole repealed. He was released on 7 December 2022. 

There is also an image depicting a water crisis showcasing a little boy clinging to a faucet. Other images include journalists protesting for freedom of the press, and another of Miss Evelyn Williams, Miss Africa South in 1974 (only white women were allowed to compete in the Miss South Africa pageant, therefore black women competed in what they called Miss Africa South). 

The most provocative image in this collection is that of a victim of necklacing. Necklacing refers to the act of placing a petrol-soaked tyre around the neck of an individual and setting it alight. 

The exhibition also features a picture of Len Khumalo’s late older brother, Alf Khumalo, who was also a legendary photographer – pictured with the late Sowetan editor Aggrey Klaaste. 

The NWU gallery’s online exhibition also provides a virtual viewing.