Welkom in South-Africa, 2004
In early 1990, Van Denderen first visited the gold-mining town of Welkom in South Africa to record life under apartheid.
Although Mandela had already been released from prison on 11th February 1990 this was not apparent in Free State. Tensions could be felt as well as seen.
It was dangerous in the mines : not only did whites kill blacks but blacks were also violent amongst themselves.
The inhabitant of Welkom, a well-organised mediocre town, were not keen to change their routines : go to school, work in the mines, buy a house once they have enough savings and drive around in a Toyota Corolla.
In the township Tabong, that was right next to Welkom, the atmosphere was dismal : unemployment, poverty and, there too, violence.
Van Denderen’s stay in Welkom gave rise to the book of photographs Welkom in Suid Afrika.
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