Some journeys are assignments. Others become history.
In 2010, I was handed the opportunity of a lifetime.
Together with photographer Bruno, and in partnership with 947, KFM and Sony Ericsson, I climbed into a van and set off on an unforgettable mission: to document the fan experience of the biggest sporting event Africa had ever hosted.
We called it Van in a Van.
Simple. Two guys. One van. Nine cities.
One country united by football.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup wasn’t simply South Africa hosting a tournament.
It was South Africa introducing itself to the world.
For the first time in history, the FIFA World Cup was played on African soil. Over 3.1 million spectators attended matches, billions watched globally, and everywhere you went there was an energy that words still struggle to describe.
The soundtrack? The deafening roar of the vuvuzela. The colours? Every flag imaginable. The atmosphere?
Pure joy.
Our route took us across South Africa’s major World Cup cities.
From the cosmopolitan streets of Johannesburg to the beaches of Durban. From the creativity of Cape Town to the warmth of Bloemfontein.
- Pretoria.
- Port Elizabeth.
- Polokwane.
- Rustenburg.
- Nelspruit.
Everywhere we went, football became a universal language.
But the greatest stories weren’t inside the stadiums. They were outside.
A grandmother wearing Bafana Bafana colours while dancing with Mexican supporters.
Argentinian fans singing through the night.
Dutch supporters turning entire streets orange.
South Africans opening their homes to strangers who quickly became friends.
Children painting their faces.
Street parties that lasted until sunrise.
Bruno captured these moments through his lens.
I captured them through interviews, conversations and stories.
Together, we documented not just football…but humanity.
This gallery contains 539 photographs from that incredible road trip.
Images of celebration.
Emotion. Friendship. Pride.
And perhaps most importantly, reminders of a moment when South Africa felt united in a way few generations will ever forget.
Years later, the stadiums may be quieter. The flags may be packed away.
But these memories? They still roar louder than any vuvuzela.
Welcome back to Van in a Van.
