Coronation Park is a photo essay finished towards the end of 2009 and documents the life of 70 poor white families living in the public park in the West Rand of Johannesburg, South Africa.  The community has no running water or electricity and relies on public food hand-outs, and NGO aid to survive. Many have been retrenched due to the affirmative action policies instigated by the post-apartheid South African government while others are disabled and can not find work. Some are also social outcasts with most living in tents, wooden huts or caravans. Between 1997 and 2002 white unemployment had risen by 106%.

A line of poor whites wait to receive their food hand-out at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August 2009.
A line of poor whites wait to receive their food hand-out at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August 2009.
Jonny Swanapool, and ex race horse jocky, plays with his do while he cooks food on a fire outside his tent at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 1 September 2009.
Jonny Swanapool, and ex race horse jocky, plays with his do while he cooks food on a fire outside his tent at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 1 September 2009.
A young baby is held while residents go about their afternoon tasks at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August 2009.
A young baby is held while residents go about their afternoon tasks at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August 2009.
Two poor whites cut fire wood to burn so as to make hot water in a boiler at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 August 2009.
Two poor whites cut fire wood to burn so as to make hot water in a boiler at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 August 2009.
A poor white man walks past the mesh of a one of the many tents at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 August 2009.
A poor white man walks past the mesh of a one of the many tents at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 August 2009.
School children play in the nearby park while they sit on a broken seat from a power boat at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2 September 2009.
School children play in the nearby park while they sit on a broken seat from a power boat at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2 September 2009.
The community of poor whites pray during the weekly church service held in a tent at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 August 2009.
The community of poor whites pray during the weekly church service held in a tent at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 August 2009.
Poor white children play on a go-cart after school at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August 2009.
Poor white children play on a go-cart after school at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August 2009.
A poor white washes his cloths with cold tap water at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2 September 2009.
A poor white washes his cloths with cold tap water at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2 September 2009.
Peter Venter, ex factory foreman, looks out of his shack as he stands with all that he owns at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2 September 2009.
Peter Venter, ex factory foreman, looks out of his shack as he stands with all that he owns at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2 September 2009.
A line of poor whites wait to receive their food hand-out at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August 2009.
A line of poor whites wait to receive their food hand-out at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August 2009.
Peter Venter, a ex factory foreman, stares out of his shack, at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2 September 2009.
Peter Venter, a ex factory foreman, stares out of his shack, at the Coronation Park recreation area in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2 September 2009.

4 Thoughts

  1. Centro de Encontro says:
    2010/05/19 at 14:10

    Very good pictures. Didn`t knew this problem.

  2. Melodie van Brakel says:
    2010/08/26 at 20:31

    For assistance to the people of Coronation Park please contact Melodie van Brakel of THE CRADLE OF HOPE on +2711-660-4623 or melodie@thecradleofhope.org
    We assist mainly with the children and the elderly of this settlement as they are the ones that cannot fend for themselves and they are suffering the most. PLEASE help us to help these vulnerable people.
    http://www.thecradleofhope.org

  3. Martina from Varna says:
    2011/05/15 at 10:00

    No-one is immune from poverty, but from what I heard this is a result of deliberate discrimination by the black government.
    It can’t be otherwise (it’s illogical) if another one million white South Africans live and work abroad, all around the world. Obviously something isn’t right there.
    Does this black government realise what will happen once more European people and governments learn about this?

  4. Claire Froneman says:
    2011/06/27 at 13:00

    Who looks after the poor animals – doggies and kitties? It is not their fault their human parents fell on hardtimes. I hope someone does soemthing for the furkids. It breaks my heart, does not matter in which informal settlement – it is the animals who suffer

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