Ozier Muhammad Photojournalist

Alex Township Sunday Worshippers 2013

Alexandra Township, referred to as Alex, to most people who live there, is near the upscale community of Sandton. Most peoeple who live in Alex, the blacks, have served, and labored for the whites of Sandton, mostly through the apartheid era.  

The photographs taken here, represent and effort to illustrate how residents of this township, dress themselves, for worship on Sundays.  

  • St. John Apostolic Faith Mission Church.
  • An unidentified worshipper, standing inside St. John Apostolic Faith Mission Church before the 11:30AM service began.
  • Rev. Joseph P. Letsholo, 53, leads the congregation in prayer before he preached the sermon of the 11:30AM service at St. John Apostolic Faith Mission Church.
  • Rev. Joseph P. Letsholo, 53, the pastor and leader of St. John Apostlelic Faith Mission Church. He was photographed before the 11:30AM service started.
  • The cross adorn several areas in the sanctuary of St. John Apostolic Faith Mission Church.
  • Mitta Mabena, 54, poses in her Sunday worship dress at the door of St. John Apostolic Faith Mission Church.
  • Wilson Mabasa, 55, poses for a photographer. He is a member of Apostles Church. He was headed home after Sunday service ended.
  • Boitumelo Pila, 12, in the yard of the church before the 11:30AM service at St. John Apostolic Faith Mission.
  • Savious Moyo, 43, a member of The Nations 12 Apostles Nazareth Zion Church, stopped to pose for a photographer.
  • Sonelai Gakane, Sinazo Makunge, both 18 years old, were dancing in the street just before this photo was taken. They were still enthralled in the fervor of the church service they had attended.
  • Neo Nene Letsholo, 21, the daughter of the pastor of this church, St. John Apostolic Faith Mission, posed for a photographer before her father preached the 11:30AM service.
  • Tumelo Mokhachane, 30, posed in the yard of St. John Apostolic Faith Mission Church, before the 11:30AM service started.
  • Ntsoaki Pila, 37, in the church yard of St. John Apostolic Faith Mission Church. The service hadn't started, and she stopped washing church garments in a shed in the back to pose for this picture.
  • Annah Zisongo, 43, with her child, Snethemba Zisongo, 4 and friend Grace Isikhalanga, 28.
  • Ntsoaki Pila, 37, poses for a photographer in the yard of St. John Apostolic Faith Mission Church.
  • These women are a part of the congregation at St. John Apostolic Faith Mission Church.They are from left to right: Annah Tjale, 49, Elizabeth, Phetsheni, 33, Mitta Mabena, 54, Boitumelo Pila, 12 and her mother Ntsoaki Pila, 27.
  • Rev. Frans Kgolane, 61, who leads a congregation at The Baptist Apostolic Church. He was on his way home after service. The long cross is very common among the men, whether they are the ministers or simply a part of the congregation. The staff conveys that Jesus was a shepherd.
  • Church goers heading home after service. The men often are seen with staffs and banners. The idea of the dress, especially with the men is to depict the worshippers as shepherds, like Jesus Christ.
  • A group of people walking in the streets are most likely headed home, because most churches here had finished their worship services for the day.
  • A group of worshippers head home (most church services are over at this time - it was near dusk and there is a little to no electricity in Alexandra Township) from a service. Their garments indicate the congregation or christian association they are a part of. The man in the middle is holding a very beautifully carved staff. The kind one would see in common biblical illustrations.
  • A woman heads for church mid-morning.
  • A Scene behind a church.
  • Sinazo Makunge, 18, was still enthralled in the sermon and gospel music she had heard today, as she dances in the streets on her way home.
  • A woman carried the ecstasy of a sermon home with her through the streets of Alexandra (as she headed home the photographer tried to get her name and few words from her to no avail, she was in a moment that she would not let go).
  • The woman in white was so carried away in moments of what appeared to be ecstasy, from a sermon she had just heard, danced in the street on her home with her friend Sinazo Makunge, in Alexandra Township (as they headed home the photographer tried to get her name and few words from her to no avail, she was in a moment that she would not let go). Ms. Makunge, was able to engage others: not so with the woman in white.
  • Bishop Wilson Masivo, 75, escorts Melitta Ngwepe, 62, home after service. They are not married.
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