Life through Veli Nhlapo's lens

Veli Nhlapo picked up his first camera at the age of 16 and he knew there and then photography was his destiny.

The legendary Sowetan lensman who is affectionately known to colleagues as Bra Veli has seen it all. From the biggest stories our country has faced like the fall of apartheid regime, the civil violence in the 90s to the 2010 Fifa World Cup, Nhlapo was there with a click of his camera.

Perhaps his ability to take intriguing pictures for over 40 years lies in his reserved nature where he quietly observes the subjects around him. 

"I started by taking pictures of people in Soweto for R5 per snap; you know those photographers right? Ja, that was me," he says.

He was lucky enough to catch the attention of local Soweto lensman Isaac Ndlovu who allowed him to use his camera until he could buy his first proper camera.

Nhlapo saved up the R5 coins until he was able to buy his first camera a Koyna which cost him R250.

His favourite early memories include taking pictures at Eyethu Cinema in Mofolo, which was frequented by  local Soweto stars for nights out.

"There would be shows and discos where I would take pictures of artists. This gave me exposure," he says.

Born in 1961 in Dube, Soweto, to a domestic worker mother, it was only natural that Nhlapo would end up working for South Africa's most famous liberation struggle newspaper, Sowetan.

"In the 1980s I worked for Sowetan, City Press and Pace magazine as a freelancer, mostly publishing stand alone pictures. I would take a picture and get it printed then I would take it to different media houses," he says.

Nhlapo has fond memories of working for Sowetan under pictures editor Robert Magwaza.

"One of the amazing things about Sowetan is how we would have traditional ceremonies to strengthen bonds and lift the morale among colleagues. We would sacrifie a cow for such an event and brew umqombothi, traditional beer.

"Aggrey Klaaste (editor at the time) would lead such ceremonies; working conditions of the time (under apartheid) were difficult and the paper felt it important to appease our forebears for protection and courage."

Nhlapo was eventually hired on a permanent basis in 1995 and said one of his most proudest achievements was working on a story about Nelson Mandela.

"He was already the president and the reporter I was working with asked Mandela for a photograph. I was too respectful to ask to take a photo with him but to my surprise Mandela asked to take a picture with me," he chuckles.

The photograph is proudly hanging in Nhlapo's home to this day.

Despite the apartheid regime being a thing of the past later in the 90s, the period was marked by political violence, which needed to be covered despite its horrors.

"I still have vivid memories of someone who was murdered at Mzimhlope Hostel.  I went there to try to take pictures which will depict the tension in the hostel. It was tough; I risked my life trying to get the picture. It was very dangerous," he recounts.

Nhlapho recalls the day he was questioned by irate residents of the hostel who wanted to know what he was doing there.

"I had to think on my feet and I told them that I was asked to come by Humphrey Ndlovu."

Ndlovu was one of the most respected leaders of the Inkatha Freedom Party and luckily Nhlapo was believed.

Sorrow-filled memories include the Ellis Park stampede where 43 people died in 2001. It was minutes to kickoff of a big between Soweto football giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

Nhlapo's continuous winning streak of big awards, particularly in sports photography, are not surprising.

His passion for sports inspired him to fly to Zimbabwe in 1992 just to watch Bafana Bafana play against Zimbabwe.

"I paid for my trip on a chartered flight and when I got to Zimbabwe, they asked me for my visa and I didn't have it. They wanted $10 which I did not have.

"Luckily, Coloured Passmore, the owner of [now defunct] Blackpool FC, was there and I told him I needed $10 and he paid for me."

He got a ride with the rest of the group in the bus that took them to their hotel even though he did not have a room booked. He went partying until 2am in the morning at a club just to have some place to be.

"When the disco closed at 2am I went back to the hotel and stayed in the reception, but at 4am the cleaning lady arrived, so I had to go sit outside until we could go to the game."

Among his many sports awards, his most favourite is Photographer of the Year award at the 2015 South African Sports Awards.

"I think part of the reason why I have won so many awards is because I did not only chase the big games. I also loved going to amateur football games. Those games in the amateurs give a different perspective for photography."

His favourite person to photograph over the years is the classic beauty and singer Abigail Kubheka, 

"That woman has an amazing dress sense. She dresses very well and she knows how to pose for pictures."

The father of four daughters and three sons says of late domestic violence, whose stories Sowetan covers regularly, is a new menace for him. 

"When covering such stories, of women being brutally killed by people they used to love, you can't help but feel overly emotional," Nhlapo says.

The Covid-19 pandemic has put a pause to his favourite kind of photography such as capturing the joy and sorrow at football matches as well as of the beautiful women at festivals and shows.

"Now when I go out for a story I have to say a prayer before I leave my house so that I can come back safely."

With his signature cap worn youthfully backwards and a cheerful 'heita daar' Nhlapo says he will continue to take photographs into his golden years.