South Africa has among the people of the country many exceptionally talented individuals in the arts and culture fields. For many to earn a living from their talent and ability to work hard, is not easy. Some will die without receiving any form of recognition while alive, others will somehow manage to attract attention and buyers for their work.
George Pemba was born in Port Elizabeth 2 April 1912 and died 12 July 2001. From a very early age art fascinated him. He studied the subject and was able to exhibit his work until his death. The South African Government awarded him posthumously the Order of Ikhamanga (gold) on 19 October 2004 for his “pioneering and exceptional contribution to the development of the art of painting and literature.”
Barney Simon, born 13 April 1932 died 30 June 1995, together with Percy Mtwa, and Mbongeni Ngema wrote the play Woza Albert (Rise Albert) in 1981. It is about inequality, protest, beliefs, legislation during the apartheid era. It took years of work before being performed. The play was well received both here and overseas .
Ken Oosterbroek – 14.2.1863 – 15.4.1994 was a photo journalist and the chief photographer at The STAR newspaper. Tragically, while observing a clash in the Thokoza township on the East Rand, during election time he was shot and killed. Mike Nicol wrote and publishers Kwela Books & Random House published The Invisible Line: The Life and Photographs of Ken Oosterbroek.