Prospective Students
This page provides information to prospective students about negotiating the immediate environment of the Market Photo Workshop.
Information about the area
Market Photo Workshop is located in Newtown, Johannesburg. The Newtown precinct is situated in Johannesburg’s inner city and hosts a number of cultural facilities such as Museum Africa, Market Theatre, Workers Museum, Moving into Dance, the Dance Factory, the Bus Factory and the Bag Factory. The area is provided with public safety officers and cleaners to ensure a safe and clean environment.
The Nelson Mandela Bridge links Newtown to Braamfontein and is within walking distance from the Photo Workshop. Braamfontein hosts Wits University, Constitution Hill, the Civic Centre, Kalashnikovv Gallery and Wits Art Gallery, as well as numerous entertainment venues that mainly cater for the local student population. Also within walking distance to the east of Market Photo Workshop, is the Oriental Plaza in Fordsburg.
Transport
Bus
Rea Vaya is a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that offers fast, safe and affordable public transport across Johannesburg.
For routes, timetables and ticket information see www.reavaya.org.za. For general Rea Vaya queries, phone the Johannesburg Call Centre on 0860 562 874. Frequency of buses varies depending on route and peak times, and can range from five minutes to 30 minutes.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Bus Service, or Metrobus, is an alternative bus service that also covers numerous routes across Johannesburg.
For routes visit Gandhi Square, Main Street, Jhb CBD, or call 011 403 4300. It is cheaper to use prepaid tags rather than pay cash for tickets. The different coloured Metrobus tags are similar to prepaid phone cards and can be bought at Computicket outlets.
Pros: Buses are safe, efficient, reliable and accessible to all. Rea Vaya buses use dedicated bus lanes and are hence speedier than other bus services.
Cons: Buses are not available 24 hours a day, frequency varies (Metro buses are less frequent than Rea Vaya buses), Rea Vaya routes are not as extensive as other bus routes.
Minibus taxi
The minibus taxi is the main form of transport for the majority of Johannesburg commuters. Taxis can be caught at taxi ranks or along taxi routes. It is advisable to use ranks unless you travel locally (around a township) as taxis to specific destinations fill up at the rank. Note that specific ranks service commuters travelling to particular destinations. For a list of taxi ranks in the Johannesburg CBD, and general tips on catching taxis see https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/tourism-south-africa/joburg-by-taxi
Pros: Minibus taxis are frequent, travel at almost all hours of the day, are more affordable than buses and cover routes not covered by other modes of transport.
Cons: Taxi drivers are reported to deliver poor commuter service, are frequently guilty of reckless driving, and recorded to commute passengers in unroadworthy vehicles.
Train
The Metrorail Johannesburg is a commuter rail system that connects across central Johannesburg and connects it to Soweto, Pretoria and other major satellite towns.
For timetables see: www.metrorail.co.za/Timetables.html
For routes see www.metrorail.co.za/Routes2.html
Pros: The cheapest form of public transport.
Cons: Overcrowding during peak hour, time-consuming, theft of cables and sleepers can cause delays.
Accommodation
A broad range of accommodation is available in Johannesburg, with the following options being among residences within walking distance of the Market Photo Workshop:
Prospective students should note that the Photo Workshop cannot provide assistance to applicants in search of a place to stay, and can in no way be held accountable for the actions of organisations listed above.
Bookings for places in student residences typically open well ahead of the academic year. Persons hoping to study at the Photo Workshop are advised to contact these residences 3 months prior. Learners who prefer the option of communes or rooms in private residences may consult online classifieds such as Junk Mail (www.junkmail.co.za) and Gumtree South Africa (www.gumtree.co.za), or listings posted by local newspapers (The Star, Sowetan). Again, the Photo Workshop takes no responsibility for information from these sources.
Living costs
As living costs vary greatly from student to student, it is difficult to advise prospective learners on how best to budget for their time at the Photo Workshop.
A survey of students in a year-long course at the school indicated the following as maximum amounts
spent on living costs:
Accommodation: R4 000 – R6 000
Utilities: R1 000
Groceries: R1 000 – R1 500
Mobile phone: R750
Transport: Own vehicle R1500 – 2000
Gautrain max R2600 for a 35 day pass from Hatfield to Johannesburg.
Please refer to Gautrain website for further info.
Safety
Be safety-conscious at all times of the day in isolated and crowded environments, and especially around ATMs, taxi ranks, and identified high-crime areas.
Carefully plan your movements, especially at night, when safety risks are at their highest.
Safety sessions are held to instruct students in the use of equipment in areas that may present hazards.