[Compiled by Motlabana Monnakgotla, Gypseenia Lion and Karen Mwendera]



Image 1: 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/kabelo-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42403" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/kabelo-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/kabelo-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/kabelo-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/kabelo-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/kabelo-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/kabelo.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Kabelo Mpofu, an entrepreneur, took over
his mother’s shop in Meadowlands, in the South African township of Soweto. He
is hopeful of making the family business a success despite big retail stores
opening up in the townships and swallowing up the corner groceries.



Image 2: 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Youth-883-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42404" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Youth-883-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Youth-883-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Youth-883-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Youth-883-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Youth-883-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Youth-883.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Africa is the youngest continent in the
world. Every year, South Africa observes June as Youth Month, honoring the
anniversary of the Soweto Uprising on June 16. In this image, the country’s
sprawling township of Soweto comes alive with youth dancing in the winter
weather to local and international music at the Soweto International Jazz
Festival, an annual confluence of history, art and culture. 



Image 3: 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Women-hold-up-placards-stating-their-grievences-on-gender-based-violence-994-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42405" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Women-hold-up-placards-stating-their-grievences-on-gender-based-violence-994-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Women-hold-up-placards-stating-their-grievences-on-gender-based-violence-994-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Women-hold-up-placards-stating-their-grievences-on-gender-based-violence-994-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Women-hold-up-placards-stating-their-grievences-on-gender-based-violence-994-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Women-hold-up-placards-stating-their-grievences-on-gender-based-violence-994-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Women-hold-up-placards-stating-their-grievences-on-gender-based-violence-994.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Women hold up placards against
gender-based violence during a ‘Shutdown Sandton’ campaign; this after a spate
of brutal rape and killings in South Africa.



Image 4: 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Car-dealerships-were-among-the-businesses-that-were-set-alight-in-Jules-Str-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42406" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Car-dealerships-were-among-the-businesses-that-were-set-alight-in-Jules-Str-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Car-dealerships-were-among-the-businesses-that-were-set-alight-in-Jules-Str-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Car-dealerships-were-among-the-businesses-that-were-set-alight-in-Jules-Str-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Car-dealerships-were-among-the-businesses-that-were-set-alight-in-Jules-Str-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Car-dealerships-were-among-the-businesses-that-were-set-alight-in-Jules-Str-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Car-dealerships-were-among-the-businesses-that-were-set-alight-in-Jules-Str.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Car dealerships were among the businesses
set alight in Johannesburg’s Jules Street, during the spate of xenophobia
attacks in South Africa in August this year. The spark that fueled the raging
fire began in Pretoria, the country’s capital, when a taxi driver was shot dead
by a foreign national who was selling drugs to a youngster in the central
business district.



Image 5: 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Tatt-694-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42407" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Tatt-694-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Tatt-694-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Tatt-694-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Tatt-694-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Tatt-694-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Tatt-694.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Sibusiso Dlamini, the co-founder of Soweto
Ink, works on one of his regular clients at his tattoo parlor founded in 2014
with his long-time friend, Ndumiso Ramate. In 2019, Soweto Ink held the fourth
annual tattoo convention, and for the first time in partnership with BET
Africa, to break tattoo taboos in Africa.



Image 6: 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-525-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42408" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-525-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-525-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-525-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-525-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-525-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-525.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Mmusi Maimane, the former leader of South
Africa’s opposition party, Democratic Alliance, is about to cast his vote in
front of local and international media houses who had wrestled to get the
perfect shot in his hometown in Dobsonville, Soweto, during the elections in
South Africa in 2019. 



Image 7: 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-862-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42409" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-862-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-862-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-862-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-862-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-862-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-862.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



The brother of South African journalist,
Shiraaz Mohamed, begs for government intervention after Mohamed was kidnapped
in Syria on January 2017 by a group of armed men. The group demanded more than
$500,000 for his freedom. 



Image 8: 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Cyril-being-escorted-by-his-body-guards-out-of-the-conference-room-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42410" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Cyril-being-escorted-by-his-body-guards-out-of-the-conference-room-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Cyril-being-escorted-by-his-body-guards-out-of-the-conference-room-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Cyril-being-escorted-by-his-body-guards-out-of-the-conference-room-600x399.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Cyril-being-escorted-by-his-body-guards-out-of-the-conference-room-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Cyril-being-escorted-by-his-body-guards-out-of-the-conference-room-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Cyril-being-escorted-by-his-body-guards-out-of-the-conference-room.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
with his body guards at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South
Africa, where the three-day South Africa Investment Conference was held in
November.



Image 9: 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC_0100-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42411" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC_0100-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC_0100-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC_0100-600x399.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC_0100-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC_0100-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DSC_0100.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



In a world that’s embracing new
technology, inspiration is being found in bug behavior. The hard-bodied dung
beetle is now key to robotics research, in Africa too. Astounded by this
discovery early this year is Marcus Byrne, a researcher at the University of
the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg who has been studying dung beetles for over
20 years. He holds up a metallic replica of a dung beetle in his hand in his
office at the university.



Image 10: 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-923-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42412" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-923-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-923-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-923-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-923-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-923-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Elections-923.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Mzimhlophe Hostel, a hostel among many others in Soweto, erupted with service delivery protests prior to the elections in South Africa. In the same vicinity, an informal settlement was also allegedly set on fire. Brothers Mduduzi (32) and Kwenzi Gwala (22), pictured, had arrived in Johannesburg looking for employment. They sold African beer, but their shack was set alight while they were still at church. They lost all their stock and possessions. 



Image 11: 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/opener-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42413" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/opener-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/opener-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/opener-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/opener-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/opener-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/opener.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



A thrift market in the heart of Johannesburg’s central business district, not too far from a busy taxi rank, known for its pavement robberies. Despite the crimes, thousands of small entrepreneurs trade in this raucous market every day.



Image 12:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/dps-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42414" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/dps-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/dps-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/dps-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/dps-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/dps-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/dps.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



ANC, DA and EFF supporters dancing and chanting outside the Hitekani Primary School in Chiawelo, Soweto, South Africa,
as they await South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to cast his vote in his
former primary school.&nbsp; 



Image 13:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/VanninBalcony-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42415" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/VanninBalcony-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/VanninBalcony-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/VanninBalcony-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/VanninBalcony-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/VanninBalcony-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/VanninBalcony.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Tenants in the discarded Vannin Court in
Johannesburg look on from their balconies as jubilation erupts on the ground
floor.



Image 14: 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Vestine-Nyiravesabimana-makes-money-weaving-baskets-to-feed-her-nine-children-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42416" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Vestine-Nyiravesabimana-makes-money-weaving-baskets-to-feed-her-nine-children-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Vestine-Nyiravesabimana-makes-money-weaving-baskets-to-feed-her-nine-children-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Vestine-Nyiravesabimana-makes-money-weaving-baskets-to-feed-her-nine-children-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Vestine-Nyiravesabimana-makes-money-weaving-baskets-to-feed-her-nine-children-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Vestine-Nyiravesabimana-makes-money-weaving-baskets-to-feed-her-nine-children-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Vestine-Nyiravesabimana-makes-money-weaving-baskets-to-feed-her-nine-children.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Vestine Nyiravesabimana makes money weaving
intricate baskets made of grass to feed her nine children in Kigali, Rwanda.

Tag: photographs

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