Ayanda Ndamane
Cape Town, South Africa
I am Ayanda Ndamane working full-time as a senior staff photographer and curator at the African News Agency (ANA).
Since the national lockdown regulations in March, I ‘ve been working remotely to cover stories relating to Covid-19. It has been very challenging because the corona-virus is a very contagious and dangerous virus. When President Ramaphosa announced Level 5 of the nationwide lockdown, I knew, as challenging as it might be, I needed to tell the stories of how the virus is affecting our people and communities. First was the stories of panic buying before the lockdown took effect, then how people cope with the lockdown and staying indoors, wearing masks and personal protective equipment as precautionary measurements followed by how to correctly wash hands and sanitise.
Then we had to cover mass testing for the coronavirus at various centres, the erection of additional field hospitals and the relocation of the homeless and foreign nationals. A major consequence of the lockdown is the fact that people, especially the poor,would be without food. Charity organisations like Give of the Givers and various NGO’s, sporting personalities and churches had to step in to fill the hunger gap.
To make matters worse, winter stepped in and I had to cover storm damages, flooding and fires in the informal settlements. When the country moved to Level 3 and schools were partly reopened we had to cover that as well. In the last few weeks we had our hands full with various service delivery protests, land invasions, protests and even a mass prison break-out in Malmesbury.

Work
Featured Work
Photo Credit: African News Agency (ANA)

Burundi-Informal-Settlement

Ncumisa Mkabile

Nontulele Quku

Ncumisa Mkabile

Olivia

Maryke Crause

Gift of the Givers

Monwabisi Park Protest

Nomzamo High School