Teachers and pupils started their first-term break when the academic year came to a halt a week ago, giving children the opportunity to enjoy additional free time, especially during the day after most parents leave for work.
When TimesLIVE visited Soweto to observe what young people get up to during school holidays, many children were in parks, some of which are in poor condition.
On every street, children were finding creative ways to get through the day, from riding bicycles on busy main roads to playing soccer on streets without adults monitoring their activities.
Some corners had groups of teenagers gathered around a hookah pipe, puffing thick smoke into the air.
Music seemed to be another fun activity, with some singin amagwijo, a call-and-response style of collective singing.
TimesLIVE
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