“Discover the inspiring VUT Walkabout Exhibition 2025, where postgraduate photography students unveiled resilient visions of the Vaal region. Featuring Ruth Motau’s keynote and standout projects like “Waste on Land”, a triumph of passion and perseverance.”
02 December 2025 | Story by: Tayron Mhlongo | Picture by: Keitumetse Mokgope
The atmosphere brimmed with creative energy on 28 November 2025 as the postgraduate photography students from the Faculty of Human Sciences at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) unveiled their much-anticipated Walkabout Exhibition. The showcase illuminated a year of discipline, imagination, and artistic courage from five dedicated students: Ms Mpho Matene, Mr Moeletsi Mabe, Ms Thakane Mofokeng, Ms Kutlwano Ramokopelwa, and Ms Princess Siko.
Despite a year marked by trials, each student pressed through with resolve. Their portfolios stood as quiet declarations of perseverance. Associate Professor in Visual Arts and Design, Professor Anneke de Klerk, affirmed their journey with warmth and candour: “It’s been a tough year, but I’m impressed with the level of commitment you all have shown.” She acknowledged the personal and academic hurdles that shaped their paths, celebrating how they turned challenge into craft, and uncertainty into vision.
The exhibition was further elevated by the presence of Ms Ruth Motau, the pioneering South African social documentary photographer renowned as the first black woman photo editor at leading publications such as the Mail & Guardian, Sowetan, and City Press. Her keynote address was both a blessing and a call to courage. Speaking especially to women and young photographers from township communities who are often doubted for choosing a creative path, she offered a simple yet powerful affirmation: “It can be done.” She urged students to anchor their work in purpose, asking, “What is your intention in photography, and within this project?” Her words lingered in the room long after she spoke to them.
Among the standout works was “Waste on Land,” presented by Mr Moeletsi Mabe, a monochrome meditation on the Vaal region. His imagery revealed the region’s layered truths: the pulse of community joy set against the shadows of environmental neglect and social inequality. Through his lens, the Vaal became both a mirror and a message.
The evening unfolded with pride and tenderness as families, friends, and lecturers gathered around the students, witnessing the culmination of a demanding creative pilgrimage. The diverse portfolios invited visitors into worlds shaped by memory, spirituality, identity, and social commentary. Each story stood complete yet woven into the collective spirit of the exhibition.
Reflecting on the moment, Ms Mpho Matene shared, “This exhibition means so much to me. It felt like a moment where my work, my family’s spiritual journey, and my own growth finally came together in one space. Sharing such personal stories and seeing people connect with them so deeply was emotional and overwhelming in the best way.” She added, “Watching people engage with the images and the film made me feel proud, grounded, and grateful. It was more than presenting work; it felt like honouring my roots, my calling, and the generations before me.”
The 2025 Walkabout Exhibition stood not only as a celebration of photography, but as a testament to courage, intention, and the power of seeing the world through one’s own truth. It marked the beginning of new creative journeys for these gifted students, whose futures now stretch wide with possibility.