#20 is so sad. no parent deservers the pain to outlive their children

Wow these pictures are very touching

If you can't afford to have kids, why keep having kids?

poverty knows no colour

dura realtà a vedersi......

This is an important story (note - just as with everything at The Big Picture, it's A story, not THE story) and poverty is debilitating to the body and spirit whether it happens to blacks and whites. Thank you for showing these photos - that takes a lot of guts, given that many commenters here will now probably call you a racist or insensitive simply for showing this story (even though you've done several on poverty among darker-skinned people too).

Thanks and keep up the good work from a Black South African.

they all seem happy.

Another view of white people...

@3

In a lot of poor societies kids are an assurance for the future, they are their parents retirement plan. they provide for the elders in the family.

#9 is a stunning portrait!

I had no idea.

Interesting. I must say though, the whites living below poverty line look a LOT better fed and slightly better conditions than the blacks living below poverty line. I must admit ignorance on their conditions, but it just struck me that way.

... but why is it a white-only settlement ? Another 'story' that shows without giving any clue to understand...

I am sorry for these people, true that poverty and misery knows no color. Having said that, for a large part of the world, the standard of living portrayed in these photographs does not count to be 'below poverty line'. Sorry to say that, but many many more people in this world live or rather survive in absolute misery. And, they do so every day of their lives, and for generations after generations.

There's always money for cigarettes

only difference.. no looting

must say most South Africans do not know about this, your story has been an eye opener pleasekeep the good work up and do something about these images.

What a good post from Moubitye Corosa at 6 above.

Your'e a good man sir.

Cigarettes suck from you, not the other way around. Be a good subject for this site no?

An excellent photo study, but the contents aren't that surprising for South Africans. There have always been poor whites in the country, mainly Afrikaaners, and if you look back at the rise of the National Party and apartheid in 1948, you will see that fear of poverty was a major driving force within Afrikaaner politics. The National Party itself was social democratic, using public money to improve the baseline standard of living for whites, and state-owned utilities were long seen as secured jobs for whites. During apartheid, many of the people you see in these photos would have been state employees - they wouldn't have been rich, always remaining at the bottom of the white social ladder, but they would have enjoyed "first-in-line" privileges over the poor from other races. When apartheid ended, that privilege also ended, and today poor whites are at a double disadvantage - they inherited their parents lower social standards (poor education, dysfunctional families etc), but they are also particularly sensitive to pro-black affirmative action, as they used to rely on pro-white affirmative action during apartheid.

I'm mixed race myself, from Cape Town, and I bear no ill will to the people in this story. I once had a wonderful relationship with an Afrikaans woman who was not very far removed from the people in this study. But things have to be seen in historical perspective. Don't forget that South Africa was never a very rich country: it derived most its money from mining taxes and support industry, which is no long-term basis for prosperity. Wealth was concentrated with a minority, so the have's seemed very well off. Now that the money is spread out, it's harder to appear as well off as before.

I lived and worked in SA in the late 80's and white poverty was unheard of. Although these photos served to remind me of the changes the country is going through they show life as it is in many African states. This is how the majority of people live in places such as Cameroon, Nigeria, Gabon, Kenya and Angola.

This camp looks like it is either in or on the edge of a forested area, rather like an ordinary camping ground or weekend picnic area (see pic. 5). The only difference is that these folks are living there permanently and are not just there for the weekend. Green grass. Trees. Presumably fresh air. And I didn’t see much trash or open sewers. What a big difference between this place and black townships.
Seems like even poor white folks still get better slum dwellings than black folks. I thought apartheid was over.

This is all Krugersdorp. Is there poverty outside of that slum? This seems all too focused on just one spot to get a real feel of exactly how poor South Africa is and how that poverty looks like... which is what I thought this post was trying to show.

"If you can't afford to have kids, why keep having kids?"

Lack of or limited education and lack or or limited access to birth control. The same reasons as all over the world.

we are all the same

Problems I see here:

1) Intelligence / intellectual predisposition of those people.

Intelligence is the biggest advantage of human kind in his fight for survival.
People who do not posses it are clearly finding it hard to survive in a decent manner if the country they live in is not rich enough and/or doesn't have strong social politics.

It's just as disturbing that poor people halfway around the world from me have an equal disdain for birth control as do the poor people in my own neighborhood. Keep having kids you can't afford--I'm sure somebody will help you pay for them. If they don't, just start wailing, "Oh, won't someone think of the children?!"

This is just a reminder for all people all over the world to take nothing in life for granted. Just be grateful for everything that you have. Be thankful for today.

Beautiful, insightful and thought-provoking pictures which capture the essence of real, raw humanity.

1. You could almost swap these photo's with those from Appalachia in the USA and not see any difference.

2. Many people look older than their years. For instance, the woman in #6 is said to be 41 YO but looks closer to 60 YO.

3. As was previously mentioned, one can always afford cigarettes. Shows the power of addiction, I guess.

Thanks for posting this story.

Every once in a while you get a glimpse of reality beyond own your small experience that reminds you: you have no idea.

I had no idea about this.
And yes, what commentator No. 18 said. A photo story on smoking and cigarettes would be (for the lack of a better word) interesting and definitely food for thought.

This is horrible.

Well to answer your child issues,

1) If you can't afford or have no other forms of entertainment, that is almost always what's left to do.
2) High infant mortality rate.
3) According to Marslow's heirarchy of needs, sex is one of the most basic needs of a human being.

Aside from that, amazing pictures :) For obvious reasons, they should quit smoking and use the damn money to buy birth control! :)

Knowledge is the answer and also power. Not the color... Great pic guys

Fascinating photos. #4 is very striking, the racial configuration is the opposite of what one is used to seeing.

Poverty like this exists all through the modern western world also. Take a look at Trailer Parks or Tent Cities in USA.

what is the government doing to those people?

i had no idea too. Where is this place exactly?

Looks like West Virginia, or South Carolina communities. Most race issues have basis in cultural and economic differences, not skin color. Skin is just the most obvious difference.

I used to live in Krugersdorp and had no idea this was going on there! This make me sad to see this as Krugersdorp is a wonderful town. My prayers and thoughts are with these people.

To those of you who seem to be arrogantly posting in regards to birth control, shut your mouths. Sit still for a moment and look intently at photo #20. Use what empathetic abilities you have and be silent. We're all entitled to our opinions and views but we are not immediately entitled to, nor do we have the right to simply speak those opinions into the lives of others that we have no social connection with. It's easy for many of us to feel informed after seeing a couple of pictures and even easier to spout off arrogant rhetoric about them on an anonymous photo blog. It is something quite entirely different to simply view these pictures not as a platform to give our opinions from, but as a very small window into the lives of a few human beings that we might learn some empathy for. Stop asking "How can I go about telling you what I think is right?" and start asking simply "How can I help you?"

Ignoring the content, the photos look awful. Looks like someone wanted to show his HDR skills. It looks so artificial and too "artsy". Also the colour saturation is over the top in some photos.

Poverty is a terrible thing. It's all well and good to look at this and make the statement that some here have made along the lines of "we're all the same" but the fact is we aren't. Race plays a MAJOR role in poverty the world over. In the U.S. it's been documented that people's job applications get thrown out if their name reads like they are a black person. There is all sorts of economic discrimination based on race..as much as the top echelon would like to deny it.

Even these people claim their race is a factor in their financial situation...although it's a complete vice versa to that which most of us are used to. So the next time someone "plays the race card" take note...they probably aren't completely off the mark.

Folks have no context of poverty. People seem to have cars, computers and a roof overhead and apparently below poverty line!!

No pensaba que blancos vivian en estas condiciones en SudAfrica, niños al colegio descalzos; todos los niños debe vivir en condiciones mas humanas mas alla de su color o religion. Buenas fotos denuncias.
.

some people smoke to kill hunger...

OoOoOh my gosh! this is sooooooooooooooooooo not true?? i live in south africa and we DO NOT live like that ! i dont even know where they got this pictures ! im a white south african teenage girl and omg i've never even seen a white person like that here !!!

This could be a poor area in rural W.Virginia, mississipi, Lousiana and many other places in the south. Inner city areas in Detroit, Cleveland, New Orleans make this look good.

@41 (Mugros) Welcome to the digital age. Yes, I agree that the saturation is high and the overall exposure depth is enhanced.

However, if you look at it from a human eye perspective and not what you are conditioned to seeing from previous technology photographs; you will appreciate the fact that photography is becoming much closer to what you would actually see if you were there.

We still have a very long ways to go towards realistically reproducing what the eye/brain sees, but I feel that photography in general has come a long ways very quickly.

Boston.com photo essays are consistently among the highest rated and most appreciated on the Internet today mainly due to the excellent realism and emotion conveyed by their photographers.

@7
They do not all seem happy. Every single person in those photos seem absolutely miserable...

@46
How old are you?
Grow up and realize that poverty strikes ALL nations around the world. Just because you have never seen this stuff doesn't mean it isn't around. The government does a good job of hiding a lot of it by sheltering the wealthy people in gated communities and such.

#46 Jadey van Zyl

You do not live like that, but other people do. Instead of denying it, this should be an eye opener for you and other whites in South Africa.

Poverty knows no race, and neither does prejudice. I live in Brazil, and believe me, I know about that.

The sad part is that we are already used to seeing black people under those conditions. And these pictures appeal a lot more to most, simply because we would expect these people to be common middle or upper class regular folks.

Let's not disregard the conditions these people are in. But please do not treat this situation as being more tragical than that of the vast majority of people who live in poverty.

And we should all remember that this is not something that happens exclusively in Africa, South America and Asia. I've seen people like that in Canada, in the US and in many countries in Europe.

Poverty is all around. Neglecting those right next to you and carrying only about those in the third world (as does Angelina Jolie) is much worse than simply not carrying at all.

#47 Well said!

#48 Be careful, these are Reuters photos. I had seen them a long time ago, but I guess the World Cup euphoria has turned people's eyes to South Africa.

They are always smoking ?

if you live in poverty how do you afford to get cigarettes?

@51 (Andre) You are correct, I didn't look at the tag line and see that the source was indeed Reuters.

That being said, I still think Boston.com is at the forefront when it comes to presenting news photographs. Now if they could just upgrade their commenting system to allow nested replies. ಠ_ಠ

That last photo ... I have seen basically that same photo over and over again when photojournalists go to economically isolated and depressed communities.

@53 El vicio es otro de los condimentos de esa pobreza

#25 is so sad. :( It forces you to imagine the look on her face, which is worse than actually seeing the emotion in my opinion.

why is everyone so preoccupied with whether or not the subjects are smoking... people smoke, get over it! if these people enjoy a cigarette in the evening then why not, they may not have much else to enjoy.

Also whats with the caption for No. 25, the girl was just beaten by her father? Sort it out and don't take pictures maybe?

Overall another knockout set of snaps!

Current black economic empowerment legislation is exactly that, empowerment for blacks, empowerment of poor whites. South Africa Citizenship

poverty knows no colour [2]

The contradictions of our countries. Are these people citizens of a country where there was a Jet jam at King Shaka Airport on Wednesday? A lot need to be done. Poverty whatever the colour is worse than death or disease.

The fact that there are camps for different types of South Africans (white or black) reveals the deep-rooted racial problems that face this country.

THIS IS PART OF DEMOCRACY

@3
So these people, who can't afford food or shelter, and live on the kindness of others, are supposed to afford birth control?
First-world ignorance.

@21 .. i second your thoughts .. why is this called unprivileged living ?

Come to india and you will see that educated people (who might even be paying taxes to the govt !!) live in conditions that are far worse than this !!
If it were India, these pictures almost resemble a rich / posh society (except for better built concrete houses).

So, if educated people, who can even pay taxes are forced to live in terrible places, how come the whites in SA getting free / subsidized food and living in neat environments be called 'Poverty'.

Come to India, and take a ride in a metro train in any city few times, it will show you what poverty actually is.
Seems to me that the author believes whites are entitled to a better life than others.

I am telling you .. this is in no way a poverty stricken place.

Amazing glimpse into one very small corner of the world.

Are they watching the World Cup somehow?

condoms

Seconding Jon T (#17) in commending Moubitye Corosa (#6), who is absolutely right. I found myself looking up the overall poverty rate in S.A. (~50%, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_South_Africa) to compare with the rate quoted for whites (450k / 4.5m ~= 10%), but his comment reminds me that the relative numbers of poor blacks and whites doesn't make life less horrible for anyone.

On the other hand, some commenters have very little empathy:

@25: you assume one can and will, without fail, lift oneself out of poverty merely by being intelligent. Won't hard work do instead? In some situations, no amount of either will.

@26: it took humanity thousands of years to come up with the concept of "birth control", and you expect the entire species to already understand and practice it. If these people knew what it was, why they should practice it, and how to get & use the means for it, *then* you could say they show "disdain" in choosing not to use it. But they don't know those things.

@43: there's a vast middle ground between the $1-a-day range and comfort. These people are hardly comfortable — as Jojo (#28) points out, they seem aged beyond their years.

Thanks for touching images. South Africa can not hide behind Mandela's monumental personality or fake racial expressive appearance. How much did World Cup 2010 organisation cost to the Nation? Also, Sth. Africa has made $1.7 billion in arms sales over the past decade to 58 blacklisted countries.
People are so pissed off with the system that they blow their vuvuzelas non-stop.

Give SA's history of apartheid, I think I'll focus the sympathy I have left somewhere else, thanks.

I don't see why this is so special. This photos could have been taken in any trailer park in Kentucky USA.

I didn't know it mattered what color you were if you couldn't eat.

I think many people commenting here need to quit being so judgmental of others. This is a story to enlighten and inform; not for you to complain about how much worse your race has it, nor is it for you to criticize them for their own choices. They should not be bashed by your rude and insensitive comments, just because a photo spread has been published about their lives.
If you think your race has it worse, then do something about it. Go help those who have less; don't try and bring down those who are poor, because you think have more than other "poor" people. Quit complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. You talk about the inequities in society, yet you are fabricating and creating race issues out of nothing. This has NOTHING to do with poor white people getting extras from the government or anyone else!

For those of you saying "condoms" and "stop having children." Why don't you send them condoms? or why don't you start a program that distributes condoms in third world countries? These people do not have stores at which they can purchase condoms. They should not have to live without sex just because they are poor.

I feel so shocked by these pictures. This is how South Africa will end up. Some say reverse apartheid, but I believe it's truly apartheid. which is not in favor of whites this time. If you look at the police forces, most of them have been fired mainly because they are white and more eligible than their black citizens. I have a friend in South Africa that says even some black citizens think of apartheid era better than how South Africa is today...

Economics have ALWAYS been a bad idea. this photo work is certainly thought provoking and I believe no human should live like this... but then again, what can we do about it? ideas???

Maybe we should give Mandela another peace prize? This fotos show how good he has done, turning the country upside down.

I was born in 1981 in a state hospital less than 2 kilometers from this site. I am white, educated (post-graduate) and extremely wealthy in comparison.

This is terrible. My parents still keep a house and business less than 8 kilometers away.

I am reminded of Matthew 25: 34-46, and am deeply disgraced at my own inaction.

More of the same sickness that betrayed the Rhodesians.

anybody who thinks these people are poor *because* of the changes in SA are either misinformed or deliberately playing a specific angle. These people would be poor if they were living in NYC or anywhere else in the world.

I am 71 years old, the kids going bare foot, especially to school, reminds me of growing up dirt poor in a root wild hog or die part of the south.

I simply do not know what the answer is for such and I can only speak from my experience. Those that have the want will get the how to extricate themselves from grinding poverty. Unfortunately for others, one can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make them drink.

Great story. Poverty doesn't recognize race, we all see it all around the world. Blacks, whites, browns, yellows. It keeps growing, and at faster rate as long as we don't bother in helping each other..

Its quite hard to digest these things.Praying for them.............................

"squatter camp for poor white South Africans"

What? still restricting things to races in SA? thought Apartheid was over

Wow. Very impressive item. You would not have thought about this while ou should be aware of the fact that poverty know no race.

Another "great" collection of photo's and their backgrounds!

@64: Birth control is free in SA. All you have to do is go to a clinic. (I am not implying that people should use birth control, I just wanted to point out that the cost of birth control shouldn't be an issue).

These pictures could have been taken in the USA. Or any other country in the world. Poverty sits alongside extreme wealth. Thats the heart of our economic system.

Beautiful pictures ..

Sad to know this is right in my backyard (I live in Johannesburg). It's easy for us people who have internet access and never see this in our everyday lives to judge these people, condemn them for smoking and having kids in poverty stricken conditions, BUT WE ARE NOT THEM!

ok im white and i live in st louis mo in the united states and no offense but i have seen alot worst then this in my life, i mean ya they are in bad shape but a few years ago i would have killed to be in there shoes. only those that have been where ive been and seen what i seen can understand. especially when it comes to gangs and racail violence, i rember seeing dead bodys floating in the public pools as i was yonger

JJ, So the fact that they were not taken in the USA makes the irrelevant to you. The American folk need to wake up to reality and realise that there is a world beyond its borders.

i hate when people say stop haveing kids if you cant take care of them but they are the same ones who say no abortion.

Non avrei mai creduto ad una realtà come questa .... grazie per le vostre foto, sono un ottimo sistema di informazione.

To №65 "Seems to me that the author believes whites are entitled to a better life than others."
You are correct, I think so.
And forget about cigaretts, birth control or photo's quality or is it new a photos or old! Look at the picture: people are suffer and does not even understand this! We must compassionate for a start. (Excuse my English, I'm just study only)

@41 : it certainly looks like tonemapped HDR, but how would the photographer take multiple images; I don't think the people are exactly posing??

I don't care what some people are saying, such as "why should they live without sex just because they are poor". Hello - they seem to all be smoking and cigarettes are not free either. I'd choose never to have sex again if it meant watching a child of mine living in filth and poverty like that. I bet the government or some agency would donate condoms. Plus, do these people have any water to wash their hands even? Food is donated, I'm sure there is a bar of soap in there. God help them. I feel horrible for them but there has to be something that can be done.

Though i know that poverty should and can be erased worldwide it is hard for me to feel sympathetic towards the white people of S.Africa considering the mess in the continent. But the question i have is how can you achieve colour and texture like the picture n.9? Its not every day i am impressed by photojournalism in colour...

No matter how poor or hungry people are, they will always find money for cigarettes.

Finbarr O'Reilly...
Great work !

My heart breaks for the young mother....

The quality of the photographs are amazing... The colour and texture look like they have been shot during the '70s and '80s but the content is current...

Who is the photographer? They did an amazing job capturing the poverty within the white settlement...

These were the folks that buffered the managerial and landlord elements when the table was set another way. They were the farm and industrial employees who were the immediate * overseers" and labor drivers before the world turned upside down. Then as now, their more privileged kin were insulated from the less savory aspects of their existence. They were expendable and exploitable then and now they are abandoned by their kin. We will soon be able to see a new population of this kind in the Gulf States of the United States as those regions are abandoned by the more affluent who have means to escape the changes there. The faces rendered in the submission and the circumstances in which they exist are to be seen in the faces of those pictured in images of the 1930s US "Dust-bowl", and the "Appalachians" of the 1960s. If we could see the faces of this class of Russian in the years following the Soviet collapse, there would be startling parallels. Poverty feeds on ignorance. The ignorance on which it is best feed is that of the ones who have escaped the circumstances illustrated in the images above.

@ 98 - Mary @Minnesota

Thank you. Most sensible (and sensitive) comment I have read so far. Straight from the heart, without any judgement, armchair tips on how *we* should change the world or photographical chitchat.

The Big Picture always manages to bring items to light that make me think - and I'm glad I am not the only one...

I feel so sorry for these people and thousands more whites in South Africa that live like this. For those who judge these people, shame on you all and I hope you will never get in this situation. Nobody is above this and it can happen to anyone of us no matter what education or background you have. If everybody who has so much to say about these people would give only R100 a month, these people's circumstances can change so much. Just think of how blessed you would be for doing that. I know how it feel because some of my family is also stuggeling and sitting without work. I will do anything I can to help these people and others like these, because it is only by God's grace that it's not me.

I dont understand why they keep having children in such circumstances. The poor kids that are brought into their world of nothing and hardship, yet they keep having them =/

The comments here are sickening. Who cares if you have seen a poorer person group? Geez, do you only have enough empathy for a select few that you deem worthy of your sacred emotion?

I lived in Krugersdorp for 14 years. I know exactly where this area is. It was/is a beautiful park next to the public swimming pool extending out towards a dam. It is not very far from suburbia on all sides. It is amusing that the teenager in her comment above finds these photographs to be fake. Growing up in apartheid South Africa one tended to practice a form of self-deception - this may be an extension of it today on her part. I suggest that people should read the New Internationalist publication, The No-Nonsense Guide to World Poverty, for some understanding of this worldwide phenomenon and its causes. War is a way of teaching Americans a bit of geography. In the same way the current recession and the accelerating widening of the gap between the rich and poor everywhere should be a way of teaching us a bit of economics. The whole situation is also not improved by the fact that all the current levels of government in South Africa resemble the same parade of corrupt clowns, and hardcore, business-as-usual, plutocratic corporacrats as those that we saw in the USA (Bush, Cheney) and the UK (Blair) not that long ago.

Reverse-Apartheid is an understatement.

The Afrikaner - Boer people are systematically denied government benefits, government housing, government health care... They're denied assistance with leaving the country, that is if they can even afford to leave (or want to leave since South Africa is the only country they have ever known). They're often the target of false arrests, imprisonment, regularly occurring violence, rape, and increasingly murder by black South Africans. Worse yet, their local police forces often refuse to protect them from the violence of the South African majority.

Replace "Reverse-Apartheid" with GENOCIDE and you'll get closer to the reality for the Afrikaner - Boer people of South Africa.

In any case, it's refreshing to see that the media is FINALLY reporting on this serious social issue.

It's generally not politically correct for the worldwide media to report on this, and the South Africa's ANC Government goes to enormous lengths to keep this story under wraps. During the World Cup, South Africa went overboard portraying itself as this shining example of a peacefully integrated society... ...while in reality nothing could be further from the truth.

If the world knew what was truly going on in South Africa, we would see serious debate about whether or not it's prudent to keep shoveling Billions of dollars in aid to South Africa.

Google the words "Afrikaner Boer" and "genocide" and you'll find quite a bit of info on this very subject.

I am so shocked at most peoples' comments. What kind of heart and soul can look at this situation and be judgemental, or be so critical. But for the grace of God, there go I. I feel extreme empathy for all people who struggle irrespective of race. It is sad that anyone should have to live like this. There have always been poor white and black people in South Africa. If each of you put your money into situations like this instead of your bias comments on pages like this - poverty would become less. You say they are worse off here or there. Have any of you who judge taken you annual vacation to help people in need? Or did you just lie in the sun somewhere! This year my children will travel to India were they will spend 2 weeks working, helping, changing nappies/diapers and taking much needed aide to an orphanage. Changing things takes commitment and action. Why not donate 10% of your monthly income to a worthy cause of your choice? that is truly help.

I had no idea. Would like to help in a small way. Who can we contact if we want to donate used clothes to the Krugersdorp Squatter Camp

I have seen this on my own. I was many, many years ago there for a rich company to do work over 12 month. I have seen poeple dying. I was a very young man and i had big problems to control my feelings about all this. I had stopped my work by this company because a terrible pain in my soul. Today i fight for these things. Also i ask the people what's going on and have you alone this problem? Think twice before you litter something of eating, waste water and bother someone. Also our childrens have to learn how to act with others. Our world now is sick and dirty, poor and bad, but also lucky and rich, overkilled and clean. People, please do something. You don't have to give money. Start at your own place. Help each other. Heal the world says Jakko and this was really the truth.

Wow. This is quite humbling. Is that person who says they look happy...... being serious?!

I have been travelling round SA and staying at various caravan parks along the coast and have come across quite a few parks where you you will see similar scenes as in the photographs above. There is a park in the Strand where people are living in shacks packed into a small area and if a fire had to break out there it would be a tragedy as lives would be lost and property destroyed.You can also see similar scenes in the old municipal caravan park at Hermanus. How that situation has been allowed to develop is beyond me.

I REALLY DO NOT BELEIVE IT. lOOK AT PICTURE #9 WITH THOSE CHILDREN'S CRISP SCHOOL UNIFORM. How do they afford those wonderful uniforms but no shoes?

This is the direct result of the ANC regime's policies of Affirmative Action and "reverse apartheid". The black regime is even more racist than the so-called apartheid regime ever was. Don't be fooled by the liberal media and the myths surrounding Nelson Mandela being "the great peace maker". He was a terrorist who sanctioned the bombing of civilian targets, resulting in the deaths of many SA citizens, both black and white. As in every "liberated" African country, government corruption, cronyism and nepotism has become a way of life. The fat black cats are raiding the cookie jar (mostly white taxpayers' money) with impunity. Check out the SA news websites for daily confirmation. This is the Banana Republic of Arsezania and it is heading down the same road of a failed state as ALL the other African countries.

Revenged apartheid. Though No.21 is really sad.

@74 As a black person I have to say that I seriously doubt that. I think your "friend" must have been high during that particular conversation.

@106...seems to me like poetic justice.

I two, am shocked and saddened by these photos-poverty degrades people beyond belief.
South Africa is a rich countryt in resources, but now that it is part of the world economy, its manufacturing base is being destroyed (by cheap imports from China).
This is the future of the American middle class (black and white).
Is there a charity that I can contribute to?

It's time for another pictorial on white pverty in the US.

Excellent story, excellent journalism, thanks you for posting this, and the photoreporters who made it.

I can't believe you call the people who has computer and internet access as POOR!

Ok this came as a big shock to me! i cant believe it! I am non-white but find it very hard to believe that there are people in South Africa living in poverty.

I wonder how often the so called poor people find money for cigarettes if nothing else. I mean in no country they are considered cheap. Also young people doing nothing in camps is not a sign of healthy democracy.

I am shocked after viewing the photos.
Where is the help from the South African government? ------ or international help.
Why is the attention always on helping black Africa?
What about helping Africa that will also include whites?
The "NEW" South African government should take their responsibilities seriously and help all South Africans.
Remember poverty has no color.
Education, employment, health care and better living conditions is a must!!! Do the right thing now and PEACE will prevail.

This is good to see that poverty doesn't choice race.

This is similar like here, in Brazil. As in rural area than in big cities (mainly). You we will see in the next 4 years. You will.

It is surprise to me that some white are so poor and live like poor black. Pictures are strongerer than words!

This looks true to me. I was in ZA few years ago for safari and I have seen big disparity among races there. Esp Boer and black people. At that time I thought how those guys plan to have soccer cup there??? Now it looks gleaming and shiny however I know it is not true. There are serious underlying issues. Just feel pity about those young boys and girls suffering from politics and mistrust.

I second the opinion expressed in #65. This is obviously not poverty stricken place when compared to any dire situation the third world country people live.
It is a complete contrast of black poverty places & white poverty places in the same country! If a black person, from the same country, of poverty stricken places able to switch places with this, he definitely feels it truly is a privileged place to live on!!

Saddening. I was unaware of this and it is almost right on my doorstep.

From Alice:
"@3
So these people, who can't afford food or shelter, and live on the kindness of others, are supposed to afford birth control?
First-world ignorance."

But they can afford cigarettes?

The school uniforms are donated by the school.

In South Africa most schools have a uniform depot where secondhand uniforms are passed along to poorer students.

Furthermore most of Africa and some of the poorest regions are on the internet via their cellphones, don't be so naive.

Poverty is on the increase worldwide, there is a global economic meltdown that has only started, it is not going to improve, the obvious logic behind this is population growth versus limited resources.

Those of us who live comfortable middle class lifestyles, should spare a thought for the thousands of poor around the world, who are not as educated or lucky as us to have a job and a home of our own.

There is widespread joblessness around the world, the statistics of poverty is rising almost everywhere.

The days of over consumption and uber materialism are drawing to a close,
there simply isn't enough resources to keep this pace of consumption going.

Within the next two decades expect to see and hear more reports of widespread and growing poverty and joblessness.

All of us should be grateful for that which we have, and instead of storing our excess stuff in the basement, we should be passing it along to poor communities near our homes.

Let this article be a warning to us all, the time of living in stupendous luxury is over, resources are dwindling, the price of living a modern lifestyle is high and by the end of this decade, thousands of middle class around the world will either lose a home or a job, and at the worst, both.

It's Kids Kids Kids - don't havve them. End of Story. We're at 6.89 billion people allready, There is no need for more. You'll kill yourself and the planet.
Better to smoke...

"If you can't afford to have kids, why keep having kids?" :-/ It's scary to see how limited some people are. I wonder why nobody asked this question yet : "why keep living if you can't afford a decend life?"

I am 54, White, and I have lived in Krugersdorp SA all my life. I grew up in a lower income home, with few worldy comforts, and I was taught that nothing in life is free.You need to apply yourself in every way. I worked 3 job to get myself to college. I had no social life, but determination to be better! This has got nothing to do with black or white, and certainly nothing to do with reverse apartheid. Every country always has poor societies. I see these people every day on my way to work - begging at the traffic lights. We give them money - they buy smoke and booze. So we give them food and clothes. They throw the bread away, and they sell the clothes. So how else can I help? They can put their names on the Goverment list for a free house. One room. They may have to wait a while, but so did our black people. I offered one of them casual work the other day, and said that I would pay R100 per day, which is the average casual wage for a gardener/painter. I was turned down because they do not work for that amount. I give up!! And getting tired of helping!!

These photos speak volumes. Very insightful. An illustration of the vicious cycle of poverty.

Please read this book: "Soul of Money by Lynn Twist".....you'll get some answers why this is happening.

I agree with James(106)
I am white, live a kilometre away from such a "trailer park" and were too little during apartheid. Yet, you don't have to be part of the old SA to realise something is not right. I was told a couple of months ago I am white (by my employer) and can forget to get a permanent position within the company. In the meantime my contract was cancelled and now unemployed. I am smart, willing and very able...now tell me that won't leave a sour taste in your mouth? Reversed racism is an understatement.

This picture painted about how integrated and united we are is bull! This will only last until the final whistle of the world cup. One other persons comment said something about a deep rooted racial thing brewing. It is true. This is not like religion where you can't see someone's believes. Here it is visible and cultural differences.
And no offence, seriously, believing in witch crafts and sangomas and called Dr s? Curing aids by raping a young untouched girl, if she is white even better? muti? Any idea how a lucrative business it is to trade human parts? I tell you we will NEVER see eye to eye. I must say it must be terrible being black and then run a country in a western way. It clash!!! SA is only developed because of apartheid and the new government piggy back ride and screw up everything from schools curriculum all the way to the agricultural sector. Limpopo and Western cape are the bread baskets in SA. Statistics show that none of the farms in Limpopo( farmed for generations with skill, and intelligence) survived new black owners. I can't be a dr I need to study for to be one? Farming is not in everybody's blood All they want is a goat, two chickens and a corn patch. Something you can wet by hand, further they sit around the house talking bull. Contributing nothing to the economy nor the unemployment rate.

The most recent shock :there is a mere 3% compliance level, with only 32 out of the country's approximately 970 water treatment plants meeting safe discharge requirements, according to information on the DWAF website. Sewerage leaking into rivers is not uncommon. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Incompetence, lack of knowledge, lack integrity and lack in priorities is mostly the problems facing the government. Black & white suffer.
I can understand why white boer people want an Afrikaner folk staat. We have the right, instead we are denied, yet other cultural groups enjoy cultural freedom. Is that democracy?People need to wake up.
I don't hate black people, Most are God fearing and like to live in harmony, but its easy to whip them up and the ANC government is the problem! Just hand out t-shirts and caps and they vote for you! FAT CATs with their grubby paws deep in taxpayers pockets making empty promises.

Wake up world.

#113
Are you one of those people that have emmigrated to Australia so that you did not have to live under the "Black Communist Rule" and are now so bitter that we are actually succeding in this country?
Poverty does not (and should not) discriminate based on race... it is not apartheid that causes this. Does the fact that the pictures portray white people make it any more or less of a problem?

I have been to one of those camps and it made me more angry than feel sorry. These conditions are terrible, but as I have experienced, most of these people are young enough, but to lazy to work. My heart breaks for the children and the elders, who are dependent. This makes me cry.

hmmm, I live in Johannesburg, not too far from Krugersdorp. These pictures are true and while they aren't in a main area, they still exist on the side lines.

The reason this poverty is happening, and why people there have cars/computers is that these were respected business people. (Or most of them were). When BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) was implemented in South Africa, ie: Black people got to have the choice of the job first, a lot of white people were fired to make way for the other race in business. It was thought that by doing this, SA could give the people who have always had it hard a chance.

Unfortunately, this hasn't worked out so well as the people being pushed out of their jobs are competent at what they do. Whereas many of the people being hired in their place are only there because of the colour of their skin. It's business apartheid that's all.

As we can see, changing the rules of apartheid from how it used to be to how it is now, all that's happened is that white people are being pushed out and other races are being taken in.

@21

No "Gene Netto" it's not apartheid that causes these people to live in what you rightly observe as being a caravan park. It's the result of gradual impoverishment. First you have a house. You loose your job and you have to move to a caravan park because it's all that you can afford. Then even more hard times and you cannot even pay rent in a caravan park. To try and make good on their electioneering promises -free houses and full fridges- the ANC government has made it almost impossible for a rightful owner of land to protect his rights when people squad on his land. This is what happened here. This caravan park was almost certainly the private property of a white person in Krugersdorp. You cannot throw squatters of your land. You can go to

This camp is just up the road from us, about 10km away. I am white. I have little sympathy for them. Apartheid was designed and implemented to protect the poor, uneducated white. Sorry for you, the rooster has come home to roost. They have had all the oppertunities of a privilaged white upbringing but are to lazy to do anything with it. 20% of us pay for 80%. Do away with social grants. That will light a fire under the lazy, black or white, to go out and get an education or work.

@ 112 comments "No shoes": I found it amusing because like me, most middle class school kids having grown up in the this part of SA attended primary school barefoot in summer and we definitely considered that a huge privilege.

Anyway if you wish to fund a pair of shoes or cup of soup please view the valuable work done by 'Helpende Hand Project' at: navrae@solidariteit.co.za or enquiries@solidariteit.co.za

This is nothing ! There is a HUGE white township growing in Pretoria West that would really shock you - this still looks very civilized !! My brother-in- law also worked in a government hospital in Pretoria West - the stories with what he has seen here .... you would not believe! We are are very privileged and should appreciate our lives - poverty of any race is a terrible fate and soul destroying - people here can only live by the day - EDUCATION is the only way out .... bless everyone who does not have a warm bed at night - we must help and not judge - it is not our right to judge !!

If I see these picture,,I would say to myself and thanks to God because I was given a better life than them...
Anyway,,this life is also common here in the Philippines...poverty.....
never ending dillema....poor becomes poorer...How sad...
All I can help is that I will pray to my God that sometimes they could feel that they are not left behind...happiness........

How can we help? Do they have a fund we could donate to?

The governement doesn't help anyone. The lack of assistance is nondiscriminatory. A great deal of the comments on this post are quite uninformed. Yes SA does have a great deal of impovrished white, black, indian, muslim, coloured people. Since when is being poor a race thing? Maybe in America it is and that is why you all seem to be so shocked by this. Visit Brazil, Argentina, the Carribean, AMERICA. White people can be poor too.

Unfortunately SA is not a Welfare state, so being poor or homeless is prevelant, rising and will probably stay that way for a very long time.

I love the quite snob tone of many comments. It is a well known fact poor people reproduce themselves way too much and have nasty habits, such as smoking. It explains why they are poor, they are stupid.

And I guess your hearth is bleeding for them as well. Good for you, you have a conscience.

Let them eat cake, I guess, is the next thought that comes to the mind of these caracters.

Just a question, how come every second person smoke? A packet of cigarettes in SA cost about R30, with R30 you can buy 3 loafs of bread. A pair of school shoes is R80 at Jet, I think the parents are extremely selfish.

The poor white situation in South Africa goes back much farther than the demise of apartheid. It started with the Great Depression and the Drought of the early thirties (think dust bowl) when many farmers were forced off their land, first by poverty and second by the government of the time whose longterm plan included setting aside certain rural areas for future Apartheid states such as Bophuthatswana. Most of these people (essentially unskilled) found work building railways (again a large part of the apartheid philosophy and the distant homelands). Once these jobs ended, many of them never managed to extricate themselves from the spiral of downward mobility. I know about this as my mother was largely raised in a railway camp. She has instilled in me the values of hard work, sobriety and cleanliness being next to Godliness. My parents managed to work themselves into solid middle class by dint of sheer hard work and resourcefulness. Two points to be made about latter fact: They would never have been able to do that under the current government as they would not have had the protection of being part of the ruling white class (albeit ever so marginally). Second: Sadly, though, nobody - black or white- could pull themselves out of this quagmire in current South Africa, as nobody is protected any longer. The government has managed to destroy most basic infrastructure and support for the needy (what there was) and things will not get better, world cup or not.
This said, these people are still way better off than their black counterparts, as many white Afrikaners (these people are primarily Afrikaans) still have a residue of conscience left as far as their own is concerned and look out for them through churches and other community organizations. Sadly, most of the poor blacks in south africa do not have that safeguard, most notably the poorest of the poor who are streaming across the border from other even more destitute african countries such as Zimbabwe, Angola and Mosambique. IN addition to poverty, these people then have to deal with xenophobic violence which is steadily rising in South Africa

Why is it when we talk about a "war on poverty", many seem to assume that should include a war on the impoverished themselves? Judging by some of the remarks here, it would seem that the poor are still being blamed for being poor.

Best hidden anti-Marlboro campaign ever.

Yet The ANC can spend a few billion on a sporting event and 50 million from state owned entities for SWC tickets

Amazing work, congratulations to Finbarr O'Reilly. Some photos are hard to see and some comments are hard to read.

Thanks for exploding the myth that only blacks can be poor. You usually hear only about black exploitation and white oppression.

Poverty is not a racial issue, it's a human problem. And the largest enemies of poverty in the history of the world has been democratic capitalist economies. No other system of government has created more jobs, more wealth, and more opportunity than capitalism. While not perfect, it is far better in improving the quality of life than any socialist planned economy.

wealth and privileges are not africaners' legacy.

I think the comparisons some people have been making between this level of poverty, and the poverty in other countries (ie India), is a valid observation. We are used to seeing white people doing much better than this, so to see them in (fairly sturdy-looking) shacks looks like poverty by comparison. However, if we were to see people of a different skin color in the same conditions, we might not think they were so badly off. By the same token, we tend to see images of poverty in other nations all the time (ie India) and have become so accustomed to it that it doesn't jar our perceptions as much as seeing white people in these, relatively comfortable compared to many, conditions. While I don't think these people are happy or comfortable or deserve in any way to be in this position, I think this is an opportunity for all of us to examine our own perceptions of poverty and how race enters into it. As a pale person myself, I tend to have reservations about poor whites. Out of everyone else, I think we have had the most help and opportunity. At a certain point I think we have to stop blaming governments and start looking at individuals. Nobody would choose to be in poverty, but plenty of people choose a lot of other things that can put them into these positions. That doesn’t mean they deserve it, and maybe they couldn’t have done better for themselves without help, but the government and society can’t save people from their own decisions, or even their parents’ decisions. It’s sad, but maybe it’s the price we have to pay for the right to make our own choices.

Laziness! Laziness. This is all about laziness.
Why emphasizing on the racial side of the somehow ugly pictures? Does this mean it is no event when black, yellow, green … people are dead poor?

interesting....perhaps this photographer shd go to camps bay in cape town and take a snap at how the rich live....incidentally most of them will be all white....in an African country

Poverty is universal, just coz this ones happen to be white don't make it special...UNLESS of course being white and living in a squatter camp is an anomaly......

Apartheid and it's ripple effects are SO much bigger than what is shown in this pics

wonder if the poor people of India have money to smoke like them?
Or do they get the smokes for free? I would stop drinking and smoking and buy some shoes for my child! I live in SA and did not know but this I know alcohol is a problem with smoking and other drug use!

@ Alice...

Contraceptives are available for free from most clinics, pharmacies and hospitals. A lack of finances is no excuse for getting pregnant!

If you can't get any contraceptives then keep it in your pants until you do! Having more mouths to feed helps no-one when you in these types of situations...

All Afrikaans primary school children, rich or poor, go to school barefoot during summer/spring. It's an Afrikaans thing and has nothing to do with financial status.

Great photos! Knowing what these people are like, I think the photographer captured it well.

Well, let's prepare, because this is our future in the whole world and even worse, in hands of world banks and companies, at the end they will sale us air and water, no loss!

Number nine is such a work of art!

this is nothing, the kind of poverty n hunger we see in our country, i must say these people r blessed

Jose Luis. Un saludo y quiero agradecer el aporte tan grande que has hecho con estas fotos. La foto numero 4 es impresionante. Por eso es que la fotografia es tan importante. Se registran instantes sobre los cuales se pueden tejer historias y se pueden deducir cosas sin necesidad de estar uno alla. Definitivamente un valioso documento.de fotografia reportaje.
De nuevo gracias. Un abrazo:
Bayardo San Roman

So weird to see white people in poverty (form my point of view), one is accustomed to see the rich white boys, and the brown or blacks are the poor people, it is strange to see blond formed in a line for free food, it seems more a scene of devastation after a hurricane or something like that.

The pictures are schoking due to the history of South Africa. here is a few facts.
"Solidariteit helping hand" took Pres Zuma there to show him that there are poor whites as well. They even took the leader of the communist party to see for himself. There is a perception that whites benefit so much from apartheid that they will never get poor.
Please read how much public money is spend, by black officials, on worldcup tickets. This while Eskom wants to cut off power while account are not paid.

It has nothing to do with condoms or race, this is what happens when the economy breaks down. Condoms can't stop you from losing a job you retards! I look at this and can't help but to think about those kids and how little of a chance they have, they deserve more. Their government is more corrupt than the US government. I also can't help to think that this is entirely possible in the close future in the US if we don't start electing the right people. Obama seams like he's pushing us toward this end. Pathetic. Most government employees (meaning the Congress and Senate, the people that actually make policy) show themselves as highly fed and lowly taught, that's probably the way it is all over the world.

Shocking photo's but I feel very little sympathy for them. I grew up poor, I had nothing. I started working at 17 years old for very little money, barely enough for monthly food. After 10 years of working and studying and doing my best, I have achieved alot more than anyone ever expected me to. In SA we have lots of opportunities, all of us, regardless of colour. But you have to be willing to work your butt off, for a long time. There is no excuse for a young person to sit at home doing nothing in the middle of the day, go out and work!

Reading this conglomeration of positive and negative comments, interspersed with those of extremely ignorant ones (especially those empathetically-blind, who missed the bigger picture and only saw the ART, heaven-forbid - the ARTISTRY in the photos!!!), it was like a roller-coaster ride.

To # 133 &156 : you've put it in a nutshell - I hope that every blogger reads yours repetitively until it sinks in and etches the picture in true perspective in their minds, Congratulations on being honest, open-minded white citizens and sincere humane persons!
To #100, Extremely well said! In light of all the ignoramuses, perhaps you should have broken it down a lot more for the dummies who have made their tunnel-visioned comments.
Well said, # 80, 81 & 82 too!

Poverty can strike anyone, irrespective of race or colour. What you do to get out of it is what matters, and to get down to grassroots, it is based on the values your parents set for you to empower you with the will to succeed and rise from adversity. Poor children and rich children have something in common - they are both victims of their circumstances. How they are made to feel about taking their stand in life is what determines whether they get out of that hole of need or greed. Some people just accept their circumstances as being their comfort zone, so to help them get out of it, educating their young would be one way of enlightenment. No amount of money or hand-out is going to 'teach' them life-skills....resetting and developing their thinking, supplemented by training them to acquire constructive skills will motivate them to create a better future for themselves. The will to succeed has to come from within.
(Incidentally, as a 'coloured' person who grew up under the Apartheid Regime, how could I have been brainwashed into believing that those dark people were in fact white, when they are visibly darker than my own family, and we had to suffer the indignation of the 'white' regime?!) Does # 106 actually realise that his first paragraph applies to EXACTLY what we had to go through and some of our friends' family members were MURDERED by the white police for just being in an area where riots were taking place? They were on their way home from school and work, with no other entry to their area, and were shot down simply because they were there?! Their bodies were refused to be released to their parents without them signing a declaration that their children took part in the riots! So you either signed the form to give your child a burial, or your forfeited your child's body to be true to yourself. Was he faced with such a decision? These were people who lived on the borderline of poverty too, because we were denied the same wages that white people earned.

What you reap, you will sow. The ones I feel sorry for are the innocent children who are born into unfortunate circumstances, irrespective of race, creed or colour.

With regard to the smoking and contraceptive comments, please do not deprive them of everything. Contraception is a personal thing; procreation is a gift from God. Smoking, while it is a waste, if that is their only pleasure, then at least grant them something that is affordable to them while those more fortunate have a greater variety of pleasures available to us.

To JJ (post 71)....this is exactly why those photos are interesting....because they could have been taken anywhere

Great idea & great pictures (especially portraits)!

There's poverty all over the world. In many cases far worse than the pictures show. Many cases are the result of self inflicted poverty, meaning people too lazy to work and living on the handouts because that's easier than working. Most cases are the result of governments and businesses preaching human rights this and fighting poverty that, but only caring about the profit margin.

South Africa is slowly turning out to be one of the most expensive countries in the world because business ONLY cares about the profit margin and government are incapable of regulating price fixing properly. I am specifically talking about business in South Africa which produces consumer goods like food and clothing. These companies churn out BILLIONS in profits each year yet they are fined mere millions for price fixing which does not really benefit the poor.

A point in fact is one specific company being fined $11 to $12 million for colluding with other companies in the fixing of the bread price - a very basic commodity - and then increasing the price of a loaf of bread the very same week that the fine is issued.
Where did this investigation by government and fine to the company benefit the poor? Nowhere. The poor ended up paying more for basic food stuffs and the working tax payer footed the bill for the investigation. VERY CLEVER NOT!!!!

The point I am trying to make is that there is more than enough wealth in the world to give every single person a proper education and a proper job with which he or she can live comfortably.

The problem is NOT race or apartheid as some of you so stupidly believe.

The problem is the current economic model of the world where only a handful very powerful people control the finances of the world and then not even doing such a great job at that.

This problem directly effects 90% to 95% of the people of the world and if only we could leave our petty differences aside and take control of the wealth which is our right as human beings then maybe the world could become a better place.

But then again we as human beings need to change first - rich and all the poor - before that can happen and I honestly do not see all the different people of the world standing together for a common cause, unless some unfortunate disaster threatens our existence as a species.

Posted by James July 11, 2010 01:40 AM Comment 106

Are you serious? You make me laugh! Genocide? I'm sure 25yrs ago you would've been alot more comfortable hey?

I am a coloured South African, not white enough under the old regime not black enough under the new regime, however I have friends of all race's(including Afrikaaners) and every morning I get up and work hard at improving my life and accomplishing my goals. Yes alot of these people are in dire circumstances but I was taught from a very young age that every man makes his own destiny. There is work out there and in order to get ahead you need to work hard which is what I have done without help from the government or anyone else. So I think poverty is only really applicable to children and those physically not able to work. We come from the land of Nelson Mandela who showed us with the will to work hard anything can be achieved. I wake up every morning in this beautiful land and I don't complain, I put my head down and work hard and I think everyone should do the same and we will grow as a nation.

Yes I do feel for the people in these photo's they are South African which make's them my brothers. I give when I can and donate old clothes or items I dont use to charity and those less fortunate and I think everyone should but playing the blame game only causes problems. Its time for everyone to realise that they need to get up and go work to better their circumstances. There is money to be made if you are willing to work.

It is so sad to read many of the comments here. The pictures do depict the status change in South Africa. But it is wrong to blame it entirely on reverse apartheid. The difference is many of these whites were protected by apartheid in the past and for that reason where not so disadvantaged.

It is also wrong just to feel sad for the whites when there are millions more blacks in the same situation. Yes reverse apartheid has made it difficult for many to get a job because they are white and that is wrong. But we should all be fighting to help everyone live a better life, not just whites.

The tide will turn and hopefully everyone will stand the same chance of getting a job. For now, we as South Africans should be working on improving the economy as a whole and that will mean more jobs for everyone. Hopefully the world cup will be a start and soon everyone will have equal rights.

I really feel for the kids living like this. How do you get to develop yourself when you live in such impoverished circumstances?

To the leaders in power, give us all a fair chace, otherwise one day it will come back to bite you.

Awesome photography!

"Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for you."

Any of us could find ourselves in a situation like this, depending on circumstances, and I can only feel empathy for the people in these photographs. This incredible photo essay shows us that one person living in poverty is one too many, and that poverty knows no racial boundaries.

The fact that the people depicted here are white doesn't detract in any way from the fact that many black South Africans live in similar or much worse conditions, it only serves to make the picture of poverty in our country more complete.

Approximately 40% of the South African population lives on $2 (about R15) a day, and unemployment is as high as 38%. The vast majority of those living in poverty are black, partly because of the legacy of apartheid, and partly because this reflects the demographics of the country (there are approx. 49 million citizens and approx. 79% of these are black, a figure which excludes the estimated 5 million undocumented refugees living in the country, most of whom are black too).

Suffice it to say that democracy has failed in our country if so many of our people - black and white - live in poverty. As Nelson Mandela has said, one cannot live a happy and secure life if one's neighbour is hungry and vulnerable. It is up to each and every one of us to work diligently to change the course we are on, and to re-define what it means to live equitably and democratically.

I don't doubt that the people pictured here have it bad, nor do I discount the circumstances of these people, but there is a much larger population in South Africa of black Africans in similar and worse situations. Keep that in mind as you see these pictures.

It looks like the girl who was beaten in #25 was the same person who was grieving at the funeral in #20 earlier that day. Tough life

remember each person in SA is only a paycheque away from ending up in one of these places....there but for the grace of God go I....Do not judge lest you be judged by the same token.

@112 It is normal for kids to go barefoot to school in many Afrikaans schools in South Africa.

Here in Finland we have things like public healthcare and social security. The weird thing is that african immigrants get higher support than the poor native people. All homeless people who live on street are white. The black people who cannot the language etc... they are serviced so well by the government that they get everything what they need. Home, furniture, decoration, clothes, food, hobbies as much as they dare to ask. They are like kings in a foreign country.

COMO O SER HUMANO É UMA CRIATURA INJUSTA........
TANTOS BILHÕES JOGADOS NO LIXO..............
TANTA FOME, TANTA DIFICULDADE, E O SER HUMANO GASTA O QUE NÃO TEM PARA PROMOVER UM EVENTO QUE DURA 30 DIAS.....
LAMENTÁVEL...........
MAS DEUS ESTÁ VENDO TUDO, E TUDO TERÁ UM RETORNO.......ESSAS PESSOAS AVARENTAS TERÃO O QUE MERECEM E PAGARÃO POR ISSO............

I dont understand why this is so hard for people to digest,this is nothing new and why should it be such a shock to us all just because these people are white?Well more than half of the black south african's live like this but thats just become the norm.

I feel sorry for these people.
However, it will get worse and never better.
This is not their country, they had a good life but it has now changed.
I have no idea how they will do it, but they need to leave and go where there is some hope for them.

What needs to be addressed here is the fact that the USA, Canada and the Western European countries coerced South Africa to turn the country over to black rule. What is happening to the white working class and lower middle class should have come as no surprise to anyone.

The USA has a dry land clause for Cubans. This country is letting in Haitian refugees, Somali refugees and basically winking at their own immigration laws to let all of the brown-skinned of Latin America in. However, there is no plan on the books to let poor, dispossessed South African whites (who are reasonably skilled, educated and know English) in, not even on a humanitarian basis, even though many of these people are facing genocidal conditions at the hands of a racist regime who likes to sing "Kill the Boer" at public gatherings.

Europe, too, is letting in every brown Muslim and black African. England could have reserved any openings for white Anglo immigrants from the former Rhodesia and South Africa. Yet, England has made no move to do so, flooding the country with Pakistanis, etc. Holland had a celebrity murdered in her streets by one of the many Muslim immigrants they imported, yet it never occurred to that country to give refuge to the Dutch Boers; skilled, white, Christian and whose tongue is very similar to their own. Same with Germany.

The hostility against the white South African minority is that the politically correct see them as occupiers who should vacate the area for the black indigenous majority. Fine. The white indigenous homelands of Europe should expel anyone not of European lineage and sanctuary status should be offered to the white South Africans. The USA and Canada need to do their share, too.

Last, but not least, I am appalled by the number of white people pompously clucking their tongues over these white squatters having children to feed. These are the same bunch of people who felt very saintly and self-righteously throwing more money at black Haitians breeding like rabbits, who only bred more like rabbits.

They live in a country where white, self-supporting parents of large families are treated like freaks (the Duggars, anyone?) but don't blink an eye at bilking the tax payers to pay for black welfare queens with ten different brats by ten different baby daddies and don't dare even look so much as cross-eyed at them. Not to mention encouraging Pedro and Conchita to cross the border illegally, get on welfare, while working for cash under the table and ... you guessed it ... breed like rabbits!

The white race has to be the dumbest, most suicidal race on the planet. With the attitude on this board, I expect the white race to be totally extinct in the next 200 years, if not sooner. Dummies!

'Nuff said!

STOP HAVING KIDS!
problem solved

I am a 66 year old white male born and bred as they say in SA and would like to say that the people who have been photographed in this camp are the real lowdown and useless whites.Most of them are to lazy to work and always have excuses when they are approached with job offers.They remind me of the whites that I have seen in Kentucky in the Apalachian mountains.
These people seem to have money for cigarettes and booze.
I also do not believe there are 450 000 unemployed whites in SA.For the most whites if you want to work there are SA. I know we have a useless and corrupt government but this does not memean that you have to be lazy.

I am always amazed by the critical comments posted mainly by the Americans toward white south Africans. Its like you dont even know your own history. You do realise that the klu klucks clan began in your neighbourhood dont you? Tell you what give all the starving apartheid survivors free passes to your beautiful country, give it 50 years and then comment on the racist South African white. Are you all born narrow sighted or is it just a general belief that the world ends with the borders of America. The pot and kettle come to mind.

Why is the world living like this? Poverty should not exist i do think we need new politics ,,,And for the photographer great job. So the next time you have a hard time to decide what size of TV you want or if your if the water your drinking is not cold enough ...Think of them ,,,,Thank you,,,

Maybe since these horrible images depict white people suffering, someone will actually care enough to try to help.

This breaks my heart! Not because of the colour of their skins, they could be asians, blacks and indians for all I care. They have been dealt the bottom side of the coin, it could be anyone of us upper earners, and educated people living only about 25km from them!
I do not understand the cigarettes that they will always find the money to purchase, and basically condoms and the pill are FREE, so why have extra babies in those conditions? How do you bring up kids like that? Also you can see that most of the men are hard time drinkers - where the money for booze comes from-such a shame actually!

Where are all the Fat Cat Afrikaaner Churches/Christians who believe that they are the "Chosen Race" in this sorry mess? I do like the one where the black man hands out food aid to whites.. In the days of Apartheid, the reverse would never have been seen.

ex Krugersdorp resident.

I beleive there is poverty in this world but also laziness. We have the same problem here in australia. Lately a family of 5 have told a journalist that they have been on the doll (unemployment benefit) for the last past 12 years for the youngest one and were happy about it!!! (the grandparents and parents have never work in their life and who pay for them? US. They are a burden and parasite to our society. This lazy people have been offered good job, decent housing commission houses etc.... but they refused it. Yes there is poverty and its hard to see who is real and who is not. I feel sorry for the people who are really poor and if the people on these photos are the real poor I do hope that God will help you to go out of your poverty.

I am South African and all I can say is that poverty affects everyone. There's no genocide or trying to hide the real race issues in SA(like 106,113 and the lot said). I think there's enough freedom of speech in the media to know more or less what the social climate is like in the country. Fact: White people are still way better off than black people(economically). Crime also affects everyone in this country(if not mostly black people). Affirmative Action is a failed process in the private sector(where the money is). They simply do not comply because of the slow filtering of skilled black people from the education system. I have yet to find a white person that has gone to college and is qualified struggling to find a job. And there is, for every white person struggling for a job, there's 10 black people in the exact same situation and that have the exact same skills. Maybe take away the language barrier from the whites, seeing that most business use English/Afrikaans to do business(spoken mostly by whites).
Another thing about South Africa(like someone stated in these comments) is that we're a capitalistic country. The businesses are simply out to milk the people(mostly poor) of every last cent they've got.
From the banking, motor, mobile phone companies and all the way to the government. This country is a great country if you're well off.
The problem is not race or this looney talk of reverse apartheid. It's your age old the rich getting richer and the poor(some previously middle class) getting poorer. White/Black people in SA should stop playing victim about who suffered/suffering the most.
These look surprising because this is not something you'll see white people experiencing. Even their own kin would rather donate to a black squatter than help their own(at least for people that see this as a race issue). It's almost embarrassing for them see a white man struggling. How many garden workers, house maids, cleaners or construction workers do you get that are white? Very minimal to non-exist-ant!
The government can mess up all they want to but that comes to nothing compared to power that the big corporations have over the the state of poverty. As long our problem with poverty is thought to be a race issue, then the big white shareholders(partnering with some AA fat cat for perks) will carry on laughing all the way to the money bin. Poverty affects everyone!!!

Wondering!!! As there were no black people in Africa?

In response to comment 112 - I have been there to drop off things, some families are worse off than others. it is so very sad, I beleive that some people are there for the "freebies". However in a way you are correct, as children in some schools in SA, can (are allowed) to school without shoes (brefoot) in summer.

Poverty is evolving .... the world is changing ... a new type of poverty is rising in the developed world ... psychological poverty ... when people suffer from isolation, abandon, neglect, exploitation, hypocrisy ... when they no longer correspond to what society wants them to correspond to. Alongside the succeesful story, they are more and more people who feel neglected by life. Our global world is producing today loads of sole people, loads of isolated people, loads of poor.... Veronique Fagel, Belgium

Poverty is evolving...in the developing world, there is a new type of poverty... wether we are black, yellow or pink. Many people today live alone in the big cities. In our modern, global society, there is very little place for the one who do not correspond, who do not belong.

Without prejudice,i would like to say that whilst South Africa,including most countries are being affected by the "credit-crunch",there are some factors which cause white people to end-up in places such as these.
Positive Attitude,and resilience is always a lacking factor,where people who may have been,"previously-advantaged" are not willing to do menial jobs in order to make ends meet.Many white people in Pretoria West,were once accomodated in "free-housing" schemes which was sponsored by companies such as Iscor,and which was part of their income-packages,while being employed,as operators,cleaners,storeman etc....
A lack of qualifications and work-flexibility also plays a part in the make-up of folks,who in this case,come from extreme "rasict" backgrounds,and may not have been willing to blend-in with the new democracy!!!
I was employed by ARD (Arthroplasty Research and Development) in Pretoria West,Industrial area as a CNC-foreman(Toolmaker) for 9years, and had many young white males,working as operators in my department at the time,who had primary-school qualifications and no more.

The sad thing about these pictures,are the negative effects that the situation will have on these poor children,who will grow-up with a mental attitude of "lack" and bitterness,and eventually follow in their parents footsteps.
Last,but not least.......I have lived in a caravan-park,and have lived in a garage(with my sons) for a short period...which was out of choice.....and became part of a sabbatical for me.

People who are affected by poverty,are not always unintelligent/unqualified.....yet sometimes lack the will to go out there,and change their circumstances to a positive outcome.!!!!

"I REALLY DO NOT BELEIVE IT. lOOK AT PICTURE #9 WITH THOSE CHILDREN'S CRISP SCHOOL UNIFORM. How do they afford those wonderful uniforms but no shoes?"

The same reason you see pictures of poor black children with crisp uniforms and no shoes. The uniforms are something to cherish, like church clothes. Because schooling and education is something to cherish. It is something to be proud of that you can send your child to school. It is something you give your children even if it means taking the shirt off your own back and the food out of your own mouth. Your child will wear good clothes to school and be proud, schooling will hopefully give them a better life. Shoes in some places are just not as important.

Those uniforms are not just clothing, they are special, they have meaning. There are many pictures of all races where the children live in poverty, no shoes, tattered bag, but the uniforms, those are crisp and clean and taken care of, proud.

But by the way you spell and express yourself, I don't think you will ever understand that.

Barefoot children going to school in photo #19 reminded of my wife as a child who walked to school barefoot on muddy streets & in rain in rural Philippines. She has come a long way since then. She's thankful for nameless American missionaries and Peace Corps volunteers who came over to teach them livelihood methods, and increased their faith in a God who is ever merciful for each one of us. These people gave a part of themselves never expecting anything back, never expecting instant results, even got rejected by some people, persecuted, even kidnapped.

Some comments here criticize the attitudes of these poor people and some gave up on helping too. Results don't come overnight. It may take months, years, a lifetime, beyond a lifetime and even generations for results to occur. The only assurance of good results is known by God. Goodness He has instilled in each man and woman works wondrous ways. It's like a seed planted, which though dormant, will one day spring up to be a beautiful plant. Nowadays we share our blessings with other family members, friends, orphans, widows and the poor. Anyone can do likewise whether rich or poor.

We need not go to South Africa to help. As said in #109 let us start in our own places in helping/blessing others-.the fatherless, orphans, the dying, the sick, those in prison, the aged. We can give, not only money, but our time, prayers, and talents. These weren't given to anyone for themselves. Plant seeds of goodness and one they will blossom. Negative criticism when planted would yield negative results. Let us be positive as the world is pressing all negative things towards us. Let us ask ourselves always each day- what good have we done today? Even a bit of good does make a difference.

If they can afford the cigarettes it is NOT that bad then !

incredibly REAL photos, incredibly touching...

The dark side off the white dominants. Looks to me that all are smokers.

it just shows that they cant run a country! :(

Apparently cigarettes stave off hunger pains. I think it would be wonderful if the residents could somehow start growing their own food and become self-sustaining, If I lived there, that is what I would like to do - teach them how to take care of themselves. Taking handouts is easy. Taking responsibility for yourself is priceless.

y pensar q yo era el unico en mi clase de pobre pero esta gente es mas pobre q yo me da mucha lastima ver como mi raza humana sovrevive en este mundo solo tenemos q pedirle a dios q nos cuide y nos proteja

y pensar q yo era el unico en mi clase de pobre pero esta gente es mas pobre q yo me da mucha lastima ver como mi raza humana sovrevive en este mundo solo tenemos q pedirle a dios q nos cuide y nos proteja

nothing really surprising for me despite i've never been there...

we'll never say it enough, technicaly speacking, SA is one of the richest countries on the world with it's natural resources

pradoxically and sadly, it's also one of the places where there is the most cruel forms of poverty and inequality.

from casablanca, morocco.

I have also been to South Africa about 10yrs ago and didnt see anything like these pictures show. The tables have turned, there once was a time when the white man was at the top of the food chain - now it is the crippled black folk who had and some still have nothing, have finally been given a step to climb and have risen to the top of the pot.

Slowly but surely.................

That may be truth,of course!But why should'nt some white people live under poverty in SA while some live in less better conditions in USA or EUROP?Then compare the rates of white and black people living there in poverty!And notice that since that abomination called apartheid some white people live in poverty in SA.
Stop telling nonsense if you do not have any subject to talk about!BECAUSE YOUR ARTICLE CAN INCREASE RACIAL HATRED..!

For years and years the whites where quite during apartheid where blacks where not able to even drink at the same water fountain as "whites"! So people rebel and end the apartheid, but they don't redistribute the land or money! Most wealth is STILL in hands of whites in SA, to not say all!!!!!!
Take these pictures for what are, pictures of poor whites, this is not the general images of whites in SA, I mean come on!
And I'm whiter then white, you should know.
One general rule that people should learn. Land and money are power, you cannot have democracy (rule of the people remember?) or change if power is not distributed to the people! There are corrupt blacks as there are corrupts whites of course, skin pigment doesn't usually affect your morale...

uff. thanks.. god bless you..

Wealth that should be made available to uplifting the poor comunities via jobs/work programs etc is being used to fuel the gravey train for the extravigant pleasures of the wealthy beurocrats.

Everything on Earth is arranged in such a way that the strong survive and the weak are destroyed. This is nature. When we start altruistically trying to protect the poor, uneducated and unhealthy with resources that are not their own, we throw out the natural balance and end up with this sort of thing.

If people can't afford to eat (white, black, yellow, brown), or can't be bothered to grow their own food, then let them starve to death. Populations will drop to a sustainable level and there will then be more resources to go around. If someone has a terminal illness, instead of wasting food and money keeping them alive, give them a few days to say goodbye, then put them to death like you would a diseased cat.

Otherwise every other species on the planet will end up suffering along with us because of our so-called "helpfulness". It is sad that some animals (including humans) are born into less than adequate environments, but frankly, that's the way the world works.

Oh god, #20 is so sad. It's so heartbreaking.. look at the expressions on their faces. My heart goes out to them.

To all the people: green ,white, orange, yellow ,black , pointing figures will not get us anywhere .
We live in a world in a country where things are not transparent fair and balanced , it’s always easier to label and discriminate.

If it’s not a race thing , it’s a gender thing .

Under the gender “class”(green ,white, orange, yellow ,black) “female “ & males they is discrimination between the beauties and the brains , the skinny vs. the obese , Rich vs. the Poor , Educated vs. Uneducated , Porch drivers Vs BMW drivers , Zulu’s taxi driver vs. other race drivers , white middle class vs. white trailer trash, Government school kids Vs Private School kids …………Rugby Vs Soccer ……(people enough is enough )


They are many reasons why we should hate and breed more hate and instill detestation to the next generation to carry forward our legacy of HATE . It’s easy to HATE and its cowardice, let’s build our nation one brick by brick ,starting in our homes by using the right foundation and teachings .

Some one asked where the help is...Im kinda wondering if you viewed picture 4 and 23?
Any how, why are they not integrated with the rest of the poor pple in other squatter camps?? Why are they living separately?

Reading the posts of most of the Boers here is quite telling. Firstly, they come to South Africa and introduced their peculiar ugliness to the ugliness that was already there.
Apartheid had to be the next logical step because the bible and the gun made them what they were and still are.
Had the British not beaten them, they would have been more unbearable than they are now.
Since things have changed, they have deserted the poor boers but they still keep a hand or two extended towards them (" at least they have community organizations and the church ") because if things do get serious, they will need them as fodder.
Boers are like the Zionists in Israel. Nature and time will do the job of weeding them out and making them more human than the beasts they presently are.
Everyone is moved because we see " blond haired" poverty ! the kind of thing we associate with and only want to see with blacks and other"inferior types"! We get foolish remarks such as "apartheid was designed and implemented to protect the poor uneducated whites" and other clap trap about people being lazy and some Boer spouting off about offering a job to a black which was refused etc,etc.
The fact is that whatever they accuse the blacks of, they themselves are guilty of also. This includes governing a country.
When it was only poor blacks, all we heard about was that these people cannot be helped because they are designed to fail ( so says the Bible and the boer with his gun). Now that they are poor whites also, it becomes a "it's not about race, it's about poverty" blah,blah,blah. Oh Really!!!!
Had the Dutchman ,when he came to South Africa instead of killing off the Bushmen and engaging in fights and games with the Zulus, since he as a European was superior to these savages, implemented a system of government whereupon merit and ability regardless of the bigoted racial nonsense of the bible,was utilized to develop and civilize the country,we would have seen the transition of power to the Blacks,which was inevitable due to the population density, a thing of wonder because we would have had qualified and educated people from all background doing their part and all credit would have gone to the Boer. However, we have one series of ignorance replacing another and things worse than ever.
On top of it all we have the Boer trying to convince the world that at least he was a better savage ?????.............

The situation is bad. I agree. But you have to agree that many folks in these pictures seems happy. Money =/= Happiness . Life is about happiness not how much money is in your pocket.

Proof in these comments that liberals and minorities hate poor whites.

Poor whites of the world must revolt and kill their oppressors.

#181-Thanks for sharing this concerning being barefoot in school. In much of Asia it's the same thing and it's not a big deal. It's only a big deal with emotional people who can't imagine having no shoes at all and who have no clue of the world beyond theirs.

By the way, we have similar scenes in America-right in our low income apartment compounds (or so-called "hoods") where you see a lot of mothers with children but no fathers. Not meaning to be racist or demeaning but just speaking out of experience helping the kids. It does affect African-Americans most. Most of them are either in jail, gangs, drug dealers or plainly abandoned their families and not wanting responsibility. One cannot simply blame the government because it's actually people who make the choice to be poor. I've seen it all over the world.

I HAD TO LOOK AT THE PICTURES OVER AND OVER AGAIN BECAUSE I COULD NOT GRASP THE SITUATION OF POVERTY THAT I HAD SEEN AND I WAS NOT USE TO SEEING WHITE PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS CONDITIONS. LORD HELP THEM IN THE NAME OF JESUS! Amen

I'm from Brasil and could not imagine that in SA exists white people in poverty. Here the most of poor people are the black and mixed. This camp will be a source of prostitution and drugs and crime like here and in USA.
Here we have a strong policy to sharing wealth and programs to include the poors in the universityes. I hopé the SA politcs act to relief the suffering of these people, and of the black in the poverty also. This will avoid many problems related to drugs an violence.

Looking over again at the pictures, I pray that GOD will help them. I have to wonder about history? Are these people suffering because of what their forefather's did by stealing and causing division among the African people to take over a land, diamonds, gold, oil...etc... that was NEVER their forefathers from the beginning? Could it be the CURSES that they must suffer and endure until those in control of South Africa do the right thing and give back to the African people what they have now stored up? We all have to ponder the thoughts...

For those blaming the present South African government for the poverty realize that the Present government has to care for 50million people while the Apartheid government had only to care for three million whites.The present government has quite an enormous task in trying to correct the imbalance of the past.

saddening.... why why why?

Human beings should not live in poverty but they do and it happens all over the world, people are not immune to suffering based on the colour of their skin. Is these people's plight seen as worse because they are white, is that now the fault of a government that is black, would this not be the case if the ruling party happened to be white?

I would like to think that the people commenting here are educated in some form and not completely ignorant. Think of the many Eastern European countries with people living on less than $1 a day, yet no black man in sight to blame. I am in America and have seen real suffering, white black hispanic asian, who do you blame? and where will blame get these people?

South Africa has one of the most open constitutions in the world. Think of your own countries and all the suffering that takes place, is anybody immune to it. Those of you who think this is reverse apartheid have clearly never been to South Africa, and those that have and still say it is are blatantly dishonest.

Claiming apartheid was ethical is like saying the Jews didn't suffer the holocaust.

The pictures are heartbreaking. And it doesn't matter if they are white, black, or anything else. No one should live like that.

However I'm stunned at the people saying how they've never seen white people living like this. Where do you come from exactly? Have you never seen homeless people or beggers on the street? Why is it so shocking to see white people living like this, when instead it should be shocking that *people* live like this.

And you guys can look down on me if you want, but I agree with the not having any/more children when you live like this. If you can't feed yourself, then you can't feed your kids. And it's just cruel to bring a child into a life where they have to struggle and live in filth.
And again this won't make me too popular, but if you are living like this then the smoking and the drinking need to go. Buy food, or save money to try to get out of there. Don't waste it on booze!

yes i been in this camp and manage it for the past 4 years.the flow of people that was in this camp +-4600 till now.curently only 230 people but they get job`s and move on.people still come here for help.we help them 2 get back in a normal life by helping them 2 get jobs and support them during this periot.no one return after they left this camp deu to the fact that they manage. remember this can happen 2 any one. "YOU ONLY A PAY CHECK AWAY "thank GOD it did not hapen 2 you jet but please dont judge this people rather help them.if you need more info contack us "caringangels.hugo@gmail.com"phone +2776-246-5710

To #220:
"Boers are like the Zionists in Israel. Nature and time will do the job of weeding them out and making them more human than the beasts they presently are."

What has this got to do with the price of cheese? You're an unadulterated anti-semite looking for an opening to ply your trade! In other words, a plain idiot!

Black or white, same difference! Poverty is poverty. Blacks have been living like that since Jan Van Rebeck graced our shores. And atleast there are people providing them with food!

No child deserves to live in such conditions regardless of their race. Well, i guess only education can save them!

Poverty has no race, skin, and culture, we are all the same and we have needs and wants that are the same. It is so painfull to see that while other people have the previlage to live thier lives luxurious, there is a lot of the people who are suffering and living with porverty. I think the government should pay more attention and put more effort on helping these people.

To Seymore's comment on Minette's e-mail. No she did not run away - we work with these very same people. Have you been there Seymore? Have you ever played with these kids, sat in their shacks and cried with them over the loss of a mother or a child? Have you ever dirtied your hands and picked up one of these little ones? Have you used your money to take them to a private doctor because their feet have become infected because of the dirty and wet ground? Do not judge or you will be judged and found to light.
Do you know ANY of these kids by name? Do you know that some of them got burnt badly in a caravan fire? Do you know these children seldome get any real nutrition? Sometimes they go through a week with 3 meals (if they are lucky) for the week?. Cradle of Hope mainly works out here and we support them and we try our best to make an effort to play with these kids at least once a month. Which is not always possible. We need more willing people and hands and feet that can run and play.

So before you feel sorry for them or want to judge people - experience it and go and get out of your comfort zone and and don't just be a spectator jelling at the ref. Become a player in the game of changing lives for the better. I DARE ALL OF YOU!

well in the country of utopia, nobody is not working and nobody is poor.....

I really feel for the kids. #26 it's so sad. Quit smoking lady and buy some fresh water oo keep your kid clean! I think that most of the people here live in those conditions because they are LAZY! Computers, generator, most of them smoking...makes no sense to me.

and yet our government has how many cars? too many....a glamerous house....it is so sick that he lets his people both black and white suffer, as he is only thinking of his needs and his million "criminals" that are working beneath him to keep him in power......

its heart breaking...

@237

wouldn't you also smoke if it were the only pleasure you had left in such a miserable, humiliating life?

shukushukuma in motherwell, soweto on sea, veeplaas, zinyoka missionvalle and whole lot of the unmantioned black own squater camps in port elizabeth have worse than this. they dont even get communal meals its dog eat dog. They cant even afford to bury their own and you tell me that this is worse!!

A Europa vai deixar seus irmãos nesta situação?Os europeus são muito preocupados com direitos humanos, mas esse direito não vale para os brancos.

i must say, the pictures are really something. good job.
My heart bleeds for these people, specially the kids. makes u wonder where's the divine power, hey BIG GUY...... the kids man, help the kids !!!!!

in the USA most homeless people are not only drug addicts or alcoholics, but suffering from mental illness as well. I wonder how many of the adults pictured here are in the same boat-many appear to have faces lined with years of drug and alcohol abuse, prematurely old at 41 or 42. The children-and the young victim of domestic violence-I will pray for them too.

Comment #215... I agree with you Warren

It's all to do with POWER, GREED and CORRUPT GOVERNMENTS... it's as plain as day...

With the amount of financial aid that Africa receives from the rest of the world, the poverty is inexcusable... where are the funds going? Into the Fat Cats pockets. Yet it truly amazes me that there were ample funds available to host FIFA and to build the necessary infrastructure that was needed to play host to wealthy visitors to your country. Share that wealth around. Where are the programs that offer support to the less fortunate in your land? Where are the not-for-profit agencies that offer support to the less fortunate in your land? I am not talking about overseas aid... that's a given. We in the western world are known for our acts of charity and our charitable organisations that go abroard to give assistance to our overseas and impoverished brothers and sisters (worldwide).

Charity begins at home! It is obvious that all the charitable wealth is not reaching the pockets of those it is meant for in your country, it's lining the pockets of the Fat Cats & Beurocrats.

In Australia we have native land rights for our Aboriginal (Indigenous) population... yet they have to prove ownership of that land that was always and will always be theirs - they were here first. I've been to Aboriginal communities in our Australian outback and they reflect what is in these images, I've been to Western Sydney where it is a very low socio-economic welfare population and have seen exactly what is reflected in these images. My point being poverty exists all over... governments create it and perpetuate it they need it to keep their economies balanced or should I say in "equilibrium".

It's all to do with POWER, GREED and CORRUPT GOVERNMENTS... it's as plain as day...

Ecclesiastes 8:9 "All this I have seen, and there was an applying of my heart to every work that has been done under the sun, during the time that man has dominated man to his injury."

What can i do and were do we start

I'm surprised that there are so many people who have commented here that are racist. Growing up in SA, I'm used to racism. But we have comments from people of all creeds here, and I am gobsmacked by the narrow-minded views. People blaming the bible, people blaming the black govt, people blaming zionists, people blaming these families for having more kids!

I will never fully understand racism, but I do know that only knowledge and education can open your mind.

If you have hatred in your heart, please go out there and read. Read. And read some more. Choose a race/religion a month, and learn all there is about their history. Your hatred will disappear. Guaranteed.

what does sustainable development mean for all these pleople; not development nor sustainability is possible when selfishness if the priority in nations.

if whites could swallow their pride and work every job they get then the porverty rate could drop. the peoblem which still lies with whites is that they think porverty is for blacks and the sooner they accept that porverty is for every one who does not have money the better and there are social grants which they can get and stop whirning about the promises of the national party gorvenment. if the youth could go back to school and be educated and get qualifications then the affirmative action i really dont think could work against them becuse education is power not race not color.

although i do feel sorry for these people, this is as a result of their own bad decisions made earlier on in their lives. White people tend to feel like they deserve sucess and that they dont ever have to work for it, this is the result of such thoughts of superiority. People want to blame B.E.E for this, but let's be honest, we all know that isnt the case

its amazing to see and know that this what white people or any other person think its poverty. These people have got shelter, the kids go to school, theey get food and clothes and you tell me this is poverty... maybe it is because we all have different views and explanations to poverty and mine is a black family living in a small plastic shelter with no food and a lot of children who are sick and not going to school.

I was born raised in SA but had to leave the country in the late 80s. I have only been back once and all I saw was poor and displaced black people. These poor white people must be well hidden because as far as I could see the white people still looked pretty good to me. Stop with the barefoot comments. That is a very common thing in my country. Now all you bleeding heart commentaters should stop talking and do something. We all know there is still alot of very rich white people. Why dont they share their wealth with their own kind. In the township I grew up we looked out for each other. Stop blming the government. The white government treated black people like dogs for years and none of you all said nothing because you were reaping the fruits of the black mans labour.I feel as though I am maybe just wasting my time but I had to put in my two cents. Ek haat nie die witman nie. Ek is met een getroud, dankie here hy is Amerikaner, maar ek is moeg om te hoor hoe swaar die witman dit het. As jy dit nie like nie loop. ps whats up with all the smoking. Seems to me itsall a setup

q tengan suerte

If the AWB was in power ,something like BEE-afirmative action wouldnt be in process and as effective as it is now. It is good that we have it because to some extent it is helping in striking a balance between the amount of rich white people and black. Those afrikaaners are getting a taste of their forefathers medicine whom are not here themselve to take the blame,and its unfortunate that their decendents have to take.Those condition are not even as drastic as how some black people have had to live in,in informal settlement,most which wasnt even reported.You lucky that utata Mandela had forgiveness and taught the rest of us to forgive.

Poor whites my foot

I think there are people of all colours living like this all over the world. It's not to compare that we should not sympathise because there are people worse off, but we should look at how fortunate these people are that they have cars, have computers, have matching clothes, have a wellfare truck that delivers food and have a community.
They look happy and if they wanted to make more of their lives I'm sure they would find a way.

I just found this site and some of the comments are disgusting...people have their mouth full about the down and out....the same thing could happen to you "THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO YOU AND I!"
if you cant say somthing good then "shut up!....there are small kids and they also deserve a chance....so the photos show people smoking maybe its the only one they had? as for the remark about contraceptives all i can say your parents should have used it to prevent something like you being born!"Laziness? what do you know what happened in their lives? but i can see when you say black yellow and green people you are truely an uneducated person.

@leoshabaan re:"perhaps this photographer shd go to camps bay in cape town and take a snap at how the rich live....incidentally most of them will be all white....in an African country"
OK, so only NO whites or POOR whites are acceptable in Africa for people like you? Do you think the rich whites should be expropriated and their wealth distributed among majority Bantu population? It was tried in other countries in black Africa and had catastrophic consequences. SA Black Economic Empowerment is a (reverse) racist programme any way you look at it. Whites that are qualified for a job have been denied one based on their race or have been replaced by incompetent black people in many cases causing problems South Africa is facing now, e. g. extremely high crime rate. Poor whites have been denied public assistance by even though white taxpayers contribute disproportionately more than people of colour in SA.

ek ken van daai mense en ek weet hoe hard lewe is maar ek stem saam hul moet ophou roooooooooooooooooooooooooooooook al is dit al plesier wat hul het

I would rather live there than a housing estate in England!

When, and if, you have nothing why spend the only money you have on cigarettes and booze? Why spend the days wondering around and sleeping in the daylight where you could have walked around looking for a job. Laziness is all I see. Even the children are brought up to hang around and do nothing. My heart and hand is always open for someone who I can see is trying their best to make something of themselves. But giving money to someone while knowing it's going towards tobacco and booze, I am very sorry. NOT MY MONEY. I have worked my ass off for what I have. Why can't other people do the same. It looks like they are enjoying the handouts and are using their circumstances as an excuse. NONSENCE!!! Try harder and you will get work. Why is it that when someone looses their job, their teeth starts falling out, they never (hardly ever) comb their hair and they are always dirty. If I am in a situation where I need the help of someone else, I will make myself presentable to ensure I make a good impression and succeed in my goal in getting a job (or whatever).

Alot of great commentary and discussion in this comments thread! I actually read this whole thing start to finish.

One point I'd like to make towards giving clarity to what's seen in these photos and how it is seen by some commenters as "not so bad" or "not real poverty". Take two people: one with an education and skillset, the other with no human capital whatsoever. Now deprive both of all material assets and income. Let them stew awhile. Go back and regard their circumstances. Would you be surprised that the first person had put together a more orderly and comfortably furnished shanty? That he had managed to scavenge and reuse materials? That he had jury-rigged access to water or electricity?

This is poverty because these people lack access to an income. That they are resourceful enough to furnish comforts in these circumstances doesn't change that they are in poverty. Poverty is about means and opportunity, not physical comfort.

There but for the grace of God goes I! To say these people are lazy is to simplifyt the situation. Some just don't have the intellectual capacity to find a way out of poverty. Although it is true that it was easier for them to get a job during the so-called apartheid era, ther is nothing wrong with looking after your own people. The racist comments on this web page is a real shame! These people were not the rulers and they don't deserve to live lik this. Blacks don't either. The present government could do a lot more for poor people, but they are such a bunch of corrupt people who only want tot ernrich themselves!

It's hard times...sad, no matter who has to go through this!

Your comments may never end so long there are people around to discover it, read it and refer it. These families who are living in poverty is a world wide issue. Government and Politics really don't belong to say to much because it's alternate way to get one's vote. What are they promising anyway? We are facing a nation of people who are no longer caring people. Why are we allowing this to happen? The individuals who found their way to afford addictions are already dependent to the substance and now have abused it. This did remind many of us who were around in the early 50's and 1960's. It all began to tremble by the risk of what people do to get a natural high. Indeed it is a shameful way to show the real life of how families in poor areas live, however money cannot always be the reason. Job refusals indicates more than being lazy, but it may tell us something they are already hiding. But for some people they may indicate that they do not have the experience or qualified skill. Most jobs today require a police clearance, court clearance, drug and alcohol test. Already they cannot afford those costs. Another factor is that there are to many children and babies being born with no one to care for them. What mother would want to leave her children alone with an addict unless she is an addict too. The US Government means well but cannot afford to feed the entire world. It's not their money to begin with, it's the tax payers money. the working class citizens of all over the world. Why would a Government want to spend tax dollars on the poor who don't already want to help themselves. That's what the workers have to say. Receiving Public Housing, Welfare and Food Stamps is meant to be temporary to get the family going. What a shame that this is not being monitored. Life with people are no longer a value because the other may want something in return. Not a way to help people do better for themselves. We have the very same problems from where we are at and the majority are not from here. This is a serious concern for many island residents. Because we are now living in a unclean world of air, water and even polluted soil it is like world wide plaque that cannot be treated in a timely manner. Education, Planning and Prevention is the key element in undertaking a major disaster. Political and even Military leaders are causes of some of these unforgiving circumstances. We should have never invaded the property rights or country in the first place. This has lead many to a fight us back. We are aware that terrorism will not stop and that's because we are unable to afford everyone with the same pay. People do more complaining that actually getting the job done. That's plain laziness in the Government. So we ask ourselves why people live in poverty? Let's come to a reality that we the people were not always nice and caring to lend a hand but just ignored the poor families which it then became worse. Countries need to stand their ground and help their own people. Money should never be the real reason to survive because this is the beginning of time and farming and fishing. The brain that God gave man to use wisely. It is also very sad to learn that in other cultures, man is over women and children. Women have no voice in the decision making. For some they are unable to defend themselves or protect their children. When a women refuses, they get beaten for disobedience. These actions are all done by human beings. Sounds like the end of times soon to come. If people can do one good deeds, it is important to acknowledge that. And to answer your question about alcohol and cigarettes, it's all done out of trading goods for services. Our country can do better than that. So lets focus on real issues that resolve solutions. After all we can't judge anyone of color. We did the mistakes and chose not to make change for better ourselves. My opinion about contraceptives and condoms? It only promotes human sexuality even more. It's a battle we cannot win all the time. Women and children are victims of this vicious cycle. It is better be honest about our mistakes than to go on living another lie because it eventually will come back to haunt us.

Regardless of race, it is heartbreaking to see people living in these conditions. Alcohol, drugs, violence, the spiral of negativity seems to have gotten hold of them. And the poor kids...
It is amazing how they all look so old, and defeated. I wish i could help them all.
If you visit South Africa, give a little money to local organizations who help people in need. It might just make a huge difference in someone's life.

The poor folks in this photo review are not lazy - as some have said, they cannot get work or employment because they are refused by affirmative action - most of the work is reserved for blacks.
Many of these poor people are absolutely destitute and have nothing, they have lost their homes, jobs, in some cases even their families and self esteem.
Yet - even when people are destitute like this you get the idiot that feels good when he sees other people in trouble like this, these folks probably have never done anything racially incorrect to blacks, yet they are the victims of an over zealous president to forsake his own people in the name of non existing political compromise. What a shame !
Its damn hard standing with a piece of cardboard on a street corner asking for a pittance or a job, when you dont have a roof over your head, havent bathed or showered because there are no facilities and your children are crying for food and you know that you dont have anything to give them to eat.
Perhaps someone can reach out and help them ?

So sad.

Also, I find it interesting that the girl who was crying in #25 is the same girl as the one at the funeral in #20.

Just wonder why the title is "Poverty within white South Africa"? Is it not possible to have poor white or poor should only be Black, Brown and Yellow people?

Since "democracy" arrived in South Africa in 1994, systemic reverse apartheid has been instituted by the ANC regime, disguised under terms such as "black economic advancement," and systematic reverse discrimination, with whites as the victims, have been instituted.
As long as blacks were the victims, the liberals of the world cried shame; now that whites are the victims, everyone turns a blind eye and reverse apartheid is accepted by the same liberals.

The blogger should not so easily publish hate speech about Afrikaners. I am not circumcised, like most Arabs, the close brothers of the Jewish race, do not read the Torah and thus have no affinity with Zionist beliefs, neither do I believe every word written in the Bible. The vast majority of Afrikaners do their bit for South Africa and assist all people, also those of colour. Being conquered is a state of mind and it can happen to everyone and anyone in any culture. North America Indians lost their tribal lands and went through.similar experiences and so did the original people of South Africa, the Khoi. All the smoking and drinking remind of the PisceanArchetype that easily gets a hold of down and out people. .

Ja nee ek weet net nie

I did not know their is white people living like that. My hart broke. I would like to know where I can send something to them.

Its suprising to hear South Africans talking like this with their brothers,but my comment is that porverty will never be eradicated, there will be always a poor in a country, and the other thing is that goverment must not give preference to rural areas he must also recognize urban areas. That is why it seems as if there is racism in this country, My only promise is that you will get help it only that your'e time will come

It is hart breaking to see the kids growing up in such conditions.. but yet we must remeber that everything is as it should be in the divine design. We can help but the only ones who can save them are they themselves.... young and old.... x x

Maybe a 'new age' spitirtual teacher is required here .....

The reason why its shocking is because for many it would be the first time to see such photos but over time we will be numbed to the scene. Its sad because these people came from lives where they where adjusted to society. As I am white seeing photos like this helps me see more how black South African's have lived for along time as I can relate through my own colour and think "this could be me" . Its definitely not fair to blame ANC or the new "regime", the fault lies with the old government that didn't think about the consequences of their actions and not forgetting that black South Africans went through a more harsh period than these disadvantaged white people have. (Imagine how great this country could of been if everyone had the same advantage from the beginning!)

In the end we have to see it that opportunities are now given to people who never had any and no doubt they will contribute to the growth of this country (economically and socially) and work so that they never have to return to a place they once where.

Perhaps through this process we can create a safety net for all South Africans and even refugee's who enter its borders.

It's ridiculous to see all the comments basically saying well now it's the whites' turn to be poor. Do you really think THESE people were rich fatcats during apartheid? Poverty like this is tragic no matter who it affects.

I have such mixed feelings about this photo-essay. I don't deny what these people are going through. BUT, I wouldn't call it poverty. Also reverse-apartheid doesn't exist. Back in the days of Apartheid the majority of South Africa was side-lined and forced by the government (they had no choice, even if they made money somehow) to live in conditions like these photos. That is Apartheid. During that time, the small portion of the population with white skin that the government actually chose to call its citizens were given 90% of the resources, all the skilled jobs and most of the charity. The people in this photo essay, if they had skills, would still be able to find jobs in SA. Business is mostly still keen on hiring white English- or Afrikaans-speaking South Africans because of language and skill divides. The reason they are in these conditions is the same as the multitude of reasons poor people are poor all over the world, not because of "racial hiring practices". The people who use the term "reverse-apartheid" are usually just upset that whites do not get the same privileges they used to. They grew used to first-world living in a third-world country and obviously things will be different now that the entire population is equally entitled to benefit from the country's jobs and resources.

I am a white South African, recently moved here from the UK, where I spent most my life, although I was born in SA. I lived comfortably in the UK, and since I moved here I haven't been unemployed, but I have extremely inconvenienced by the lack of student jobs. What would be considered student jobs in the UK are jobs for blacks here.

It's impossible to live like this. If I'm studying all day, how can I work and earn the money I need for the rent? I need weekend and evening work. OH WAIT! I won't get one unless I'm black. Waitressing, bar work, ANYTHING.

I see these pics and it breaks my heart ...this prove that no matter what color or race you are we all go through the same struggles in life

@Clytemnestra

"The white indigenous homelands of Europe should expel anyone not of European lineage and sanctuary status should be offered to the white South Africans. The USA and Canada need to do their share, too"

I won't even address the rest of your ignorant tirade, but this quote made me laugh out loud. You do realize that the USA and Canada are not "white indigenous homelands" right?

It is easy to judge, but the unemployment in South Africa is really almost 40%. 25% according to the government. The other 15% have given up hope - so they are not counted. It is how economics work. If you give up looking for work - you are not counted.

And what some people haven't realised is that these whites are poor because the black government is a failure. 40% unemployment - it was 18% under apartheid. Sorry folks I know the truth hurts but it is still the truth.

Do not be mistaken, the cigarettes seen being smoked, are most often handed out by the photographers themselves.

Thre exists racist laws in South Africa today that prevent white people like these from getting jobs. FACT.