Sometimes known as Rylands Estate, Rylands is a well-established sub-area in Athlone, a suburb in Cape Town, located in the Cape Flats. Historically a hot bed of Anti-Apartheid protests, memorials include that of two ANC activists, Robert Waterwitch & Colleen Williams, who died in an explosion outside the Athlone court on 23 July 1989.
Although the Cape Flats has generally been depicted as existing on the 'fringe' of the city, the residents of Rylands have transformed their physical surroundings to build a thriving community.
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Ajay Lalu was born into a tight knit community which besides his nuclear family, included aunts, uncles and cousins, all who lived in the same house. His earliest memories include bonding over shared dishes at meal times, fragrant with robust conversation, as well as being acutely aware of the injustices of Apartheid.
But for Ajay, a singular memory rises above the rest. The day he discovered that his film with precious footage of a school trip to the Kruger National Park, had been over-exposed and all images lost.
Yet, the lessons learned from this experience, have gone on to craft the diligent, exacting personality, that has put Ajay at the forefront of A.I. engineering in Africa, helped shape his sharp business mind and honed his first love, photography, to perfection.
In all this, Ajay Lalu enjoys being a Social Entrepreneur. His involvement in The Makwande Trust, Shoot 4 Purpose and the launch of A Mountain Divides, his coffee table book containing lavish colourful images of the Kaapse Kloopse, will drive our conversation today.
So come along for this good news story of lives changing for the better, with Ajay Lalu.
Twendeni, Africa is Ready!
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