05 April 2020 1 Min Read
IN PICTURES | 'We don't sleep' - SA's unsung heroes in fight against Covid-19
A gallery of beautiful photographs paying tribute to South Africa's unsung heroes working the streets during the national lockdown
- Vusi Zwane, 39, David Zwane 42, Tony Tshabalala, 39, and Tebogo Motswedisa, 32, collect refuse in the Johannesburg CBD. “We are working hard here to make Joburg clean and corona free,” Motswedisa says proudly, his smile visible through the protective mask on his face.
- Firefighter Sipho Ngubane helps put out a fire from an overturned truck on Kliprivier Drive in Glenvista, south of Johannesburg, on the sixth day of the national lockdown. "I have been serving South Africa for 20 years as a firefighter, and I'm proud to work during the lockdown."
- Kholofelo Chauke drives for just under an hour from her home in Pretoria to Illovo, Johannesburg, to arrive at work at 7am where she tests residents for Covid-19 at a drive-through testing station. “If you can just stay at home for us, I'm so hopeful we will win this fight. We will overcome this.” She has been working as a nurse for 14 years and after work takes the same hour-long drive home to her 20-year-old daughter.
- Delight Masilela, who works as a cashier, will celebrate her birthday during the lockdown on April 10. "People still need to eat, we need to help the community. At least if you have food and are eating healthy. It helps," she says.
- Jarrod Gallon, 20, poses for a photograph in front of a wall featuring the handprints of previous volunteers, at the TLC Children’s Home in Bronkhorstfontein, Johannesburg, on April 2 2020. He is spending the 21-day lockdown assisting orphans at TLC, an organisation that fosters vulnerable children and places them for adoption.
- Thembelihle Silamsi (right) is volunteering at a homeless shelter while looking to study theology. "To me I'm serving God, and proud and really enjoy it. I once saw volunteers feeding people in the streets and was inspired."
- Daniel Phasiya, aged 46, works as a petrol attendant. "There is stress (of contracting Covid-19) but it's part of my job. We don't know who we help but one thing that is nice is that I can put bread on the table. I feel sorry for those who can't, we are dying for this bread."
- Kagiso Maoka is a 34-year-old administration assistant who also runs a shelter for the homeless in the Johannesburg CBD. He ensures there is food and a place to sleep for about 240 people. "We don't sleep."
- Nkululeko Mazibuko was an addict for 16 years and spent seven of those years living on the streets. The 36-year-old went to rehab through a community outreach programme and now works with addicts who live on the streets and helps people with their recovery.
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While most of us are at home during the national lockdown, some South Africans are putting their lives at risk by providing an essential service.
Despite the possibility of being exposed to the coronavirus, these heroes are working hard to keep SA running during this period of national disaster.
“If you can just stay at home for us, I'm so hopeful we will win this fight. We will overcome this,” said Kholofelo Chauke, a nurse who tests South Africans for Covid-19.
"We don't sleep," said Kagiso Maoka, who runs a shelter for the homeless in the Johannesburg CBD.
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