Bit of Apartheid history in South Africa

[elsa hoffmann]

Tt is a glimpse into a tour - i.r.o of some history of South Africa - for those interested in Nelson Mandela and the apartheid topic -  if this is your thing - here are some images from a tour I did yesterday with guests from California. We combined the Robben Island tour and a trip to 2 townships in one day.

Robben Island is a small island just North West of Table Bay harbour (12 km from the main land) This is where political prisoners were kept during the Apartheid period. One travels by Ferry to get there The dude in the image is a former political prisoner - he is now a site guide and lives with his family on the island. An immensely interesting and passionate person. Cant tell you how much I enjoyed listening to him. 

The Townships we visited were Langa and Kayelitsha. Kayelitsha - and you can NOT go there on your own. Driving there is hair raising - even for us locals! It is however awesome to see life in the Townships - kids playing in the street, a huge sense of togetherness and a great community, despite the fact that they are poor, houses often leaking like nothing you have ever seen, and the threat of fires being huge (they use fires for cooking and candles for light, unless they are illegally tapped into an electricity pole.

A delicacy you will always find in the Townships - Smiley's (sheep's heads). A lots of chicken (apparently better than KFC) and cheap sausage - all cooked on open fires on the street. "vendors" operate from right outside their homes (often 3m x 3m in size - and can house 8 - 18 people (believe it or not) Many of the homes are shacks - built from anything they can lay their hands on. Water and toilets are communal for these shacks. Not all homes are shacks - you will find some brick ones too. our visit to see a traditional healer (Sangoma) was interesting to say the least ...

[Jack Dahlgren]

Thanks for sharing these. The man in the fur hat reminded me that it is winter in that part of the world.

[Frank Fremerey]

Now I am hungry for grilled chicken

[bobfriedman]

interesting.

[armando_m]

from this far away as I am apartheid sounds so far away in time, but it really isn't

fascinating images

[Hugh_3170]

Don't for one moment imagine that apartheid was invented in South Africa.  Sadly it was alive and "well" here in Australia for a long time before it reared its ugly head in SA. 

FWIW, South Africa and its peoples seem to have very much come to terms with its apartheid past and is putting it behind them, both of which are very useful steps forward IMHO.  We still have quite a way to go, even though our numbers of affected indigenous peoples were and still are relatively smaller in proportion to our non-indigenous people than is the case for SA.

[elsa hoffmann]

Thanks for sharing these. The man in the fur hat reminded me that it is winter in that part of the world.

He is the medicine man - Sangoma - and he wears that animal hat - and animal skins - everyday - summer and winter

Thank you all for the comments. Although there is apartheid visible in many places - we really have come a very very long way.
And when our rugby / soccer teams play against the world - we stick together like sh•t on a blanket. Then we are ONE

[John Geerts]

Interesting documentary series, Elsa.

Love the first shot with the view on Cape town.

[elsa hoffmann]

Thank you John

[Akira]

Thanks, Elsa, for providing the opportunity for some history lesson.

Ironically cruel things, not only the apartheid, can happen in such a peaceful and beautiful environment...

[Hugh_3170]

So I have noticed........................................ 

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And when our rugby / soccer teams play against the world - we stick together like sh•t on a blanket. Then we are ONE

[elsa hoffmann]

Thank you Akira and Hugh

[golunvolo]

I like the way you mix the images. It gives a bigger panorama showing scenery, harsh conditions, people living, some crude, old and young (love the pink hat)...
   You explain it hard but images have some hope. Fascinating overall.

   Thanks for sharing!

[elsa hoffmann]

Thank you Golunvolo. I love going to the townships.

[Anirban Halder]

Very very interesting series. Thanks for the background - that makes so much difference when you see such pictures. Would love to see more pictures of these towns.