William Matlala began his remarkable journey in photography not as an artist, but as a worker and a shop steward for the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU). Between 1980 and 1986, he started taking pictures for his union, initially focusing on portraiture. As the trade union movement became a formidable force on South Africa's political and economic front, Matlala’s work evolved into powerful documentary photography, capturing the raw energy and activities of the labour struggle.
To hone his skills, Matlala attended several workshops with influential photographic institutions, including Photo Teach, the renowned Market Photo Workshop, and the Afrapix photographers’ collective, which was central to the anti-apartheid "struggle photography" movement. In 1989, his dedication and talent led him to become a full-time photographer for the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). He later worked for the South African Labour Bulletin from 1992 to 1993 before establishing himself as a freelance photographer. His archive remains a vital visual record of the role of organised labour in the fight for democracy in South Africa.
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William Matlala began his remarkable journey in photography not as an artist, but as a worker and a shop steward for the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU). Between 1980 and 1986, he started taking pictures for his union, initially focusing on portraiture. As the trade union movement became a formidable force on South Africa's political and economic front, Matlala’s work evolved into powerful documentary photography, capturing the raw energy and activities of the labour struggle.
To hone his skills, Matlala attended several workshops with influential photographic institutions, including Photo Teach, the renowned Market Photo Workshop, and the Afrapix photographers’ collective, which was central to the anti-apartheid "struggle photography" movement. In 1989, his dedication and talent led him to become a full-time photographer for the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). He later worked for the South African Labour Bulletin from 1992 to 1993 before establishing himself as a freelance photographer. His archive remains a vital visual record of the role of organised labour in the fight for democracy in South Africa.
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