'BREAK EVEN' PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION

My name is Gopolang Ledwaba, and I am the Founder and Director of MaNdebele Photo Gallery-a small, independent photographic gallery based in Bram Fischerville, Soweto.

For the past seven years, I’ve self-funded this space, building it into a cultural and educational hub for the community. In an area where access to galleries and museums is limited, MaNdebele Photo Gallery has become a place where people can engage with powerful visual stories — many for the first time.

Over the years, we’ve exhibited the work of some of South Africa’s most important photographers, including Dr. Peter Magubane, Mike Mzileni, and Len Khumalo — bringing historically significant work directly into the community, where it belongs.

On 30 May 2026, we will open a new exhibition marking 32 years of South Africa’s democracy. This exhibition reflects on our journey beyond 1994 — the progress, the challenges, and the stories that continue to shape who we are today.

It will feature work by renowned photographers such as Andrew Tshabangu, Alon Skuy, Cedric Nunn, Graeme Will...