The struggles and accomplishments of Manenberg’s families are captured in Love from Manenberg, a book by New York photographer Sareh Stacke.
Published by Kehrer Verlag, the book was launched at the Manenberg library on Friday July 14. It has essays about Manenberg from Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela and Carl Collison, and its 250 photographs tell the stories of three families: the Lotterings, the Adamses and Pietersens.
The book has been over a decade in the making, says Ms Stacke.
The pictures describe the everyday lives of the three families – their struggles through unemployment, poverty and crime; their achievements and moments of joy.
Ms Stacke got the idea for the book when she visited Manenberg as a student in 2011, while studying and working as a photographer. The neighbourhood’s warmth and the hospitality of the families impressed her, and she has returned several times since then.
Manenberg’s complexity and rich history made it suitable for a book, she says.
“It was important to encapsulate that because I’m also a mother. There are lots of differences between New York and Manenberg, but the care and drive of mothers is common ground. I chose the families because I spent time with them and got to know them. They invited me to spend time with them, and they all know each other.”
While gang violence, poverty, crime, drug abuse and other social ills plague the neighbourhood, Ms Stacke says she hopes her book will show there is also a lot of good happening there too.
“It feels amazing to be a part of this book that so many people will see and read,” says Chante Pietersen, who appears in the book with her family. “People can actually see now how good and bad Manenberg actually is. My family feels happy and has had no issues with the book.”
Manenberg librarian Yusra George says the book means a lot to families in Manenberg as they had a rare opportunity to get family photographs taken, something many in the community have never done.
“We have a really good relationship with Sareh. All of the families came here for their photos. It was a good opportunity for people who don’t have phones to have physical photos of their families. This has brought positivity for the community and shown a different side of Manenberg, not just negative.”
The book will be available at Manenberg, Bellville, Central, and Hanover Park libraries; Obz Books; and Clarke’s Bookshop on Long Street.
