The Price of Gold

I was moved by The Price of Gold exhibition at the Slave Lodge, which has now been extended to March 31.  Photographer, Thom Pierce, traveled through the rural areas within the Eastern Cape and Orange Free State provinces to capture the stories of career mine workers who have been abandoned by their employers with minimal compensation since developing mining related illnesses such at silicosis.  Pierce captured the stories of 56 mine workers, all of which will be used in a class action lawsuit against 32 mining companies.

Visitors wear a miners hard hat and view the photographs with a torch

As you walk through the Slave Lodge you will come across this exhibition, showcased in a dark room, whereby visitors help themselves to a miners hard hat fitted with a torch and move through the collection of photographs with their stories written below.

The Price of Gold exhibition will continue until March 31 and is well worth the effort to visit this collection of stories.

The Slave Lodge, corner of Adderley and Wale streets, is open Monday -Saturday 10am-5pm, entrance is R30pp.  Tel 021 467 7229