A MIGRANT’S STORY IN THE ‘CITY OF GOLD’ VOLUME
44
PRIMROSE
2
A migrant selling charcoal.
I like cleaning and cooking best.
Primrose came to South Africa from Zimbabwe to look for a job. Since South Africa is the richest country in Africa, she opted to locate in Johannesburg- the City of Gold and lights.
town she couldn’t raise the money for a caravan. Migrants come to Johannesburg to look for money in different ways so that they can send the money they earn back home, to the children.
Life became difficult in the City of Gold and she joined the sex industry because they don’t want any certificates. She joined the sex industry so that she could raise money and join the catering industry with a mobile caravan.
She was the happiest person when she was chosen to go to a photo shooting project and also documenting her story to the world.
There were too much cops in the street where she was working. Being a migrant was even worse than the cops. If there are no cops in the street this business is the highest paid ever. In which field can you find a person paid three hunred rand per ten minutes. But, because the cops were too much in
Primrose’s ambition is to get a well wisher who will help fulfill her dreams of owning a caravan and turning it into a mobile kitchen. A mobile you can park where it is busy, because food industry has got fast money. Sex working is a gradual death.
VOLUME
44
PRIMROSE
2
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1. Where I live in Berea, Johannesburg. 2. I took this picture because I like to be clean. I bath everyday before I go to sleep. 3. In hopes of winning the lottery. A migrant’s wish. 4. In Johannesburg CBD. It’s where I used to do my business. Back in the days we used to pay R5 for entrance for using the place, but today we are paying R10 to the one’s who are watching dilapidated buildings. 5. Johannesburg, South Africa 6. Whether you are from the North, East, West or South you need to eat and this bone shows that someone bought food and after eating he threw away the bone and the tooth pick. Most smokers smoke after eating food so you can see the cigarette stub after the meal of chicken. 7. Many migrants left children back home. I came to Johannesburg so that I could earn money and send the money back home. 8. Migrants earning money in different ways.
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