Today we toured the Townships. Most of these are just East of Table Mountain. The townships were created as a place for the non-whites to live during the Apartheid. Most families still live there today.
I have never seen so much poverty and as bad as the conditions are....the spirit of these people is just incredible. They still have such a sense of hope. Everyone that I met was so warm and genuinely welcoming. We spent the most time in Langa today. Langa was the first township and the smallest (and the most over crowded) that we toured. Most folks live in hostels, 10, 12....any number of people, living in one room, with a shared common area. When I say common area, I don't mean, a living room, furniture, etc. It's a dingy tile floor and two picnic tables. There are mats, so that at bed time, some people sleep on the tables. The floors are dirty, the kitchen...not even really a kitchen. The bedrooms, where so many people sleep are made as cozy as possible, and honestly the one I visited was very cozy. There was three beds, in the room, a few people to each bed, they have clothes lines across the room, to hang their clothes. The locals in this particular hostel welcomed us to come see their rooms. They were so nice. They were showing us their things and seemed sincerely glad to meet us.
If the people don't live in hostels, they live in shacks. We are told that the government has started tearing these places down and are replacing them with apartment like buildings so these people can live in better places.
The children are absolutely wonderful. When the van door opened and I started to climb out, when we got to Langa, I didn't even have both feet out the door and the sweetest little boy grabbed my hand and walked with me across the street. None of the smaller children speak English, but words aren't really necessary. I stooped down and smiled and rubbed my hand on his little cheek and his little face just lit up. Other kids were jumping up and down...they all wanted to touch us. They just wanted a little affection and attention. We went to a preschool/daycare today and the sweetest little girl grabbed my hand and started kissing it. None of the children at the daycare spoke English either, but they see enough English speaking foreigners that as soon as you take your camera out...they are all fighting to get in front and with big big smiles, they are shouting, "CHEESE!" They absolutely, positively melted my heart.
We saw the Trojan Horse Memorial. http://www.athlone.co.za/heritage/history/0604200601_history.php
We also saw the Gugulethu Seven Memorial
Today was a good day......emotional, but good. I certainly have a better understanding of Cape Town and it's wonderful people. It was shocking and sobering....but something that I am grateful to have experienced.
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