Children's photos from Johannesburg townships

Ghetto love At first glance, this a photo of a township full of trash and rubble. A second look reveals two buddies walking along arm in arm – as one student put it, 'brother love no matter what'. Photograph: Joao Nzina Photograph: Joao Nzina/guardian.co.uk Sky's the limit Joao is one of the tallest members of Umuzi Photo Club – which allowed him to take this aerial view of one of the shortest football fans in Soweto. Photograph: Joao Nzina Photograph: Joao Nzina/guardian.co.uk Ama chips for lunch A neighbourhood boy carries a sack of potatoes. The young photographer thought he would be having chips for lunch. Photograph: Siyabonga Sepotpkele Photograph: Siyabonga Sepotpkele/guardian.co.uk 'When it's cold, the shack is also cold' Life in an 'informal settlement' means little shelter and no electricity or running water. One youngster said: 'When it's cold, the shack is also cold. When it's raining, the shack is also raining. When it's hot, the shack is also hot.' Photograph: Captain Moradu Photograph: Captain Moradu/guardian.co.uk I'll do whatever it takes to go back home This is a portrait of a street child who clings to her bible as she tells the young photographer that she would do nearly anything to get back home to her family Photograph: Tshepang Chevron Masemo Photograph: Tshepang Chevron Masemo/guardian.co.uk Fake out After school and on weekends, the streets of Soweto are filled with impromptu football matches Photograph: Thapelo Matsumi Photograph: Thapelo Matsumi/guardian.co.uk Taxi driver's takeaway A man makes his living on the roadside selling meat off-cuts to taxi drivers. This 'fast food' is grilled and served on plates. The going rate is three rand (30p) a hoof Photograph: Tshepang Chevron Masemo Photograph: guardian.co.uk Zulu dance A weekend dance practice draws a crowd. The photographer herself is a member of a Zulu dance troupe Photograph: Mandisa Shongwe Photograph: Mandisa Shongwe/guardian.co.uk Community portrait Three gentlemen share a jug of sorghum beer at a shebeen in Soweto. Photograph: Mandisa Shongwe Photograph: Mandisa Shongwe/guardian.co.uk Sowetan landscape A football match on the playing fields of Soweto. In the foreground, the pile of litter points to the lack of services in the township. But in the background, a new bus shows there have been much needed improvements to the transport system. Photograph: Captain Moradu Photograph: Captain Moradu/guardian.co.uk Kwena, my cousin Many of the photographers are producing portraits of family members. Kwena has just finished having a wash at this outside sink. Photograph: Captain Moradu Photograph: Captain Moradu/guardian.co.uk Home security system For residents of the Johannesburg suburbs, security means alarms, high walls and electric fences. In the townships, where crime is even more rife, the job must be left to a padlock and chain. Photograph: Mathlodi Monnakgotla Photograph: Mathlodi Monnakgotla/guardian.co.uk Keep your eye on the ball The young photographers are hopeful about the benefits the World Cup may bring, but they are also sceptical. 'This is Fifa's World Cup, not Africa's,' they say. Not one student at the Umuzi Photo Club has a ticket for any of the matches. A signed and numbered print of this image will be auctioned at the London exhibition. Photograph: Captain Moradu Photograph: Captain Moradu/guardian.co.uk