Duo creates beauty out of nothing in the south

The once  open land in Soweto where people would dump their rubbish has been turned into a space where upcoming youth can  display their art and creativity. 

The gravel open field – fenced with wires, reeds and old tyres in the midst of shacks – might not look like much to the young people of Freedom Park but it is where they are able to get creative and show off their artworks. 

In the centre of the field is a “stage” in the shape of the African map, built with rocks and plants.

“This is our centre-stage. We designed it this way to symbolise an invitation to different energies. People from different cultures are welcome to perform here,” said Thato Moloi, one of the founders. 

Moloi, 26, and Linda Nhlapo, 33,  established The Creative Arts Space, a non-government organisation (NGO), in November after witnessing neighbours turning their surroundings into a rubbish dump. At the time both were unemployed.

They accommodate children and youth from ages five to 19 and link them up with people who can teach them various skills related to music, poetry and other arts. People can learn to play indigenous games as well as musical instruments like piano. Others are taught sewing during the week. 

“We do not have any equipment. If there is an artist we know who has a piano or trumpet we invite them to come with their equipment to teach the children. If there is a singer we know, we invite them to come teach the kids,” said Nhlapo.

Moloi is a fashion designer while Nhlapo is a self-taught carpenter and bricklayer. Moloi, who has been living in Freedom Park for 22 years, said he was tired of seeing piles of rubbish next to his home.

He lives on the property of his grandmother’s four-room house in a back-room shack in the yard. Their home is adjacent the art space.

“Every time I would leave my home, I would see the dump and become disgusted. The smell was horrible and I would see kids playing with dirty nappies, jumping in pools of discarded bathing water, urine and faeces. I decided to do something. I wanted a comfort zone and I took a decision to change it,” said Moloi.

The idea to clean the dump site came in 2017.

“It took me four years to come up with a cleaning strategy. I approached Linda and we started cleaning in September [last year],’’ said Moloi.

Nhlapo, who has been living in the area for 26 years, said they used spades and rakes to clean the dump.

“We had to borrow tools from people to clean this place. Sometimes we used our own hands to remove the dirt and wear masks to cover our noses from the bad smell. We did not use any money to clean this place. We created something out of nothing,” said Nhlapo.

He said they had to go to other dump sites and river banks to collect material for building a clean space.

“We collected pieces of fence and reeds. We got tyres from people in our community. Everything we used to build this creative art space is from recycled material,” he said.

Nhlapo said their platform is having a positive effect in children’s lives.

“I feel great about our work. The children we teach here see us as their parents. Some of them even show us their report cards from school. There is progress. There is still a lot more we are capable of doing,” said Nhlapo.

Moloi is happy to be instilling artistic skills in children.

“Not many kids from the township get an opportunity to study music and arts at school. They are only told about maths and science and if they fail in those they feel their life is over. We are helping them learn these skills at a young age. I believe I have found a new home here,” said Moloi. 

Ntokoto Mashaba, 13, said she learned how to act and how to play  guitar at the site. 

“I was invited by Thato last year. I love going there especially for the acting and modelling. Acting gives me confidence. I always feel happy to go there because I learn new things everyday,” said Ntokoto. 

The NGO will be hosting its first musical event, named “Fashion In the Hood Market”, at the open space on October 29 and 30 with local artists performing. Moloi said they also invited people in the area to set up stalls to sell food and clothes.

kokam@sowetan.co.za