South Africa's Past, it's Culture and Today's Reality

 

Nelson Mandela and Robbens Island

For those of us of a certain age, the story of Nelson Mandela is one that we are aware of.  You may remember the political and racial struggles of this country during the second half of the last century.  We remember that Mandela spent 27 years in prison as a political prisoner before emerging in 1994 to become South Africa's first black president.

We spent half a day touring Robbens Island where he spent 18 of the 27 years.  The island which once was a leper colony before it was a prison is now a Unesco World Heritage site with tours from the mainland on the weekends.  Our tour was conducted by a former prisoner of the government who spent 5 years on the island.

Mandela's Cell

He spent 18 years of his life in this 10 foot by 8 foot cell.

African Dinner

Would you believe me if I told you we spent an evening getting our faces painted, dancing with African warriors and eating ostrich?  Welcome to our night at Gold Restaurant in Cape Town.

Sonja's Surprise!

During the apartheid era Whites segregated non-whites into townships.  These townships still exist today even though apartheid was abolished in 1994 when Nelson Mandela was elected president.  As you drive to the outskirts of Cape Town you can see them 

I had not told Sonja that I had arranged for us to attend church on Sunday in Langa Township including a walking tour through the township and even some of the residents invited us into their homes.

As you look at these pictures, please remember that although the images of poverty are stark, everyone we met greeted us with open arms and were very happy people.  Everyone smiled, everyone said hello and all were thankful for our visit.  As one young lady told me...  "tell the world."

Walking Tour Through Langa Township

Our guide was a resident of Langa Township.  He had lived there his entire life.  He knew everyone and as we walked he greeted them.  The biggest surprise for us was how autonomous the township was.  They had set up businesses and were self sustaining.  

This will be a lot of pictures, but as she said, "tell the world."

They call these "smiley's.  They are sheep's heads that as they cook the skin pulls back into a smile.

Nelson Mandela lived in this building.

This is a BBQ business.  Here BBQ is called Brai.

The campaign to get vaccinated was very prominent.

In one of the houses, the lady had a business of making and selling beer.  She was gracious enough to let us come in where our guide told us the history and, of course, Sonja had a taste.

Sonja's Taste

As we left Langa Township, you couldn't help feeling uncomfortable for the living conditions of these people but also amazed and encouraged by their joy at life and their outlook of a better world.