Capetown

Then off to Capetown my own experiences.
Township tour… Apartheid… District 6… 1959, the eviction of all black (60000) from District 6 away from the harbor. One suitcase to pack and no real notification (kind of reminds me of another relocation).

Some writing from the experience:
“Happy days
District Six
Living was cheap
Life precious
And now in Havover Park
Living is expensive
And life is cheap”

“We all grew up as one family (all races).
Life was beautiful then
The gates of memories never closes”

Apartheid was in full swing. Everyone had a pass card designation black, white or colored. I found it interesting that colored designates half white and half black.

If you were caught not carrying a passcard you would be arrested and, in some cases, never heard of again. Everyone needed to have a pass card and couldn’t go to certain areas at night.

Of course, as the human spirit would have it, there begin uprisings against the pass card and some publically burned their pass cards. In 1960 the situation culminated with the Sharpville Massacre.
The Sharpville Massacre occurred outside a police station in a township (near Johannesburg) as people protested against the passcard. 69 people were killed and many more injured.

This attempted “social engineering” and forced townships continue to plague and remain to haunt Africa of today.
After visiting the District 6 museum, me and my guide went to Langa, one of the largest townships on capetown. There I saw the still standing buildings were they were relocated to. 4 families shared one room along with all their belongings.

They shared all common areas. Can you imagine no electricity, no proper toilet facilities and no running water?

Still today the township residents share toilet facilities and gather their own water.

Some township residents have houses and still choose to live there because of the camaraderie and community feel. Extended families live together or nearby and help each other.

The best thing about townships is the strong community bond that the people share. Money doesn’t always buy happiness and sometimes our best memories are those of when we had little.
Off we went to see the healer… he spoke fast and showed me him the plants herbs of which he uses for medicine.

The juice of this cactus he said is good for depression and tolqofia for arthritis.

The preschool was a joy to see. The kids all so friendly. They recited their songs with glee and they sang so loud and proud. I left some cash in their donation jar as I can tell they are in need of supplies.