On camera: Anti-gangsterism revolt

GEORGE NEWS - Covering the spontaneous September 2017 revolt of the Ocean View township people against gangsterism and crime, sparked a passion in photographer Samantha Jayne Dade: she wants to make documentaries about ordinary people's struggle for a better life.

She captured the Rastafarians' outpouring of grief after one of their members was murdered. She ducked stray bullets, but stuck to her camera. Now her mission is to work for major television networks or for the UK military special units as a photojournalist.

This determined twenty-nine-year-old, who currently lives in George, admits that she is fascinated by the darker side of life. "Initially, I just wanted to highlight the Ocean View township people's lack of services. But in the three-day protest, I became embroiled in a warlike situation. Wanting to know why gangsters turn to crime and the effect it has on society as a whole kept me rooted."

Bloodshed
She witnessed the volatile situation when the Rastafarian community marched into the gang-riddled community in Kommetjie, attracting a gathering of over a thousand people at the Ocean View police station.

The grim-faced Ocean View residents during their protest gathering in 2017.

"Eventually Dan Plato, the minister for Community Safety in the Western Cape, turned up and addressed the aggrieved community - and I managed to get this all on camera. I was curious to find out why there was so much bloodshed. I met up with community members and slowly found sources that were willing to talk about the gang-related activities."

She found it fascinating to talk to them about killing, raping, drug-trading and corruption.

"I experienced being tear gassed and while running between the protesters trying to get the best shot, I lived on the edge. I found that this type of photography was intense but the adrenaline kept me going. I feel that I helped to highlight this community's desire for change. 'Be the change you want to see' is my favourite saying. I witnessed this community's strong desire to bring about change and will always cherish having been part of a historic three days."

The Ocean View Rastafarian community went into revolt in 2017 when one of their members was murdered. Samantha was there to record it.

Inspiration
Samantha is inspired by her lecturers at ORMS Cape Town School of Photography and Kevin Carter, a photographer who was part of the "bang-bang group".

This group of photographers worked closely together between 1960 and 1994, creating visual content of the police and the wars that happened within the townships of Johannesburg when the Zulu and Xhosa peoples experienced the worst of the apartheid oppression.

She plans to start working in England in January 2019.

The anguish of the Ocean View people erupted, forcing the authorities to take note. The community blocked off the Ocean View/Kommetjie road.