Photo essay: The untold story of Johannesburg's spatial inequality

Revealing a different side of Johannesburg's townships, capturing the often-overlooked lives, spaces, and stories that shape the city beyond its famous landmarks.

On the southern edges of Johannesburg lies Orange Farm, home to 76,000 residents, the majority of whom are Black South Africans — this is a community that reflects the realities of 30 years of democracy in South African townships.

A sprouted squatter camp in a township of Orange Farm - Local businesses here tend to crumble because of the lack of monetary circulation in the township. Photo: Salim Nkosi.

A mother and her young daughter walking to their container home in extension three of Orange Farm - Some of these people have not had electricity, proper sanitation, and running water ever since they moved here. Photo: Salim Nkosi

Improper housing infrastructure - Backrooms have overpopulated Orange Farm and to the residents, they serve as means of monthly income. Photo: Salim Nkosi.

An example of a transportation business - Like in the villages, most neighborhoods in Orange Farm still use horse carts as means of transportation, this is also rooted from the cultural presents of the Sotho people. Photo: Salim Nkosi.

One of households which draws electricity directly from the power grid - Shacks built next to railways have connected to the powerlines illegally, with electrical cables cut loosely, this signals danger to the young children. Photo: Salim Nkosi.

A sprouted shack without basic services such as water and electricity - These type of informal housing are circulated throughout the townships sub-locations. Photo: Salim Nkosi.

An example of Orange Farm's income generating street - Local residents tend to leave their homes and open stalls next to the busiest roads of the townships to target people commuting daily. Photo: Salim Nkosi.

Pap and cow head fast-food business in extension three - Due to the unavailability of working and job opportunities, some people have been highly relying on their own businesses for quite sometime. Photo: Salim Nkosi.

A form of street vending vegetable stall in extension three - These kind of stalls provide basic like cooking supplies to the local residents since shopping centers are located too far from their neighborhoods. Photo: Salim Nkosi.

Conditions of the RDP houses in the township - Since construction in the 1990s, RDP houses are now breaking down, this is also due to lack of resources and the cheap material used during construction at that time. Photo: Salim Nkosi.

A Christian church which is continuously in operation every Sunday. Photo: Salim Nkosi.

Livestock grazed directly from neighborhood trees. Photo: Salim Nkosi.

Livestock feeding amongst many of present dumping sites. Photo: Salim Nkosi.

Young boys playing on top of high stones - The lack of infrastructure deprives the youth of access to parks and other recreational facilities, which ultimately leads to unpleasant dangerous situations. Photo: Salim Nkosi.

A homeless Orange Far resident picking up recyclable material to make ends meet - This is very common since there are countless illegal dumping sites in the township. Photo Salim Nkosi.