On arriving in South Africa last week, our first visit was to South West Township (SOWETO)---the home of thousands of black South Africans during apartheid, the one-time home of Nelson and Winnie Mandela, the site of the June 1976 anti-apartheid riots that left hundreds of students dead, and today the home of tens of thousands of black South Africans and immigrants from other African countries. It was an enlightening and disturbing tour . . . we visited an "informal settlement" that has existed for years, where thousands live without running water, sewers, or electricity to their homes; we stopped by to talk with Clarisse, pictured here, who raises three children ages 11, 13, and 15 in a one room shack with no modern conveniences. She mostly cooks on a wood fire outdoors. She was proud that the children are attending school, and that they did their homework by a kerosene hurricane lamp on the family's only table. We had some lunch at a local diner, and mostly were stunned that in this settlement alone, over 40,000 people live in these conditions every single day, in the 21st century. This, in the shadow of Johannesburg, a metropolitan area of about 6 million. There are millions in the country who live in similar townships and conditions. It was a stark reminder of the harsh reality of the apartheid system, and a sign that South Africa still has a long way to go to overcome that history, and bring about a decent quality of life for thousands in its midst. As much as we were hit by the reality of township life, we were also struck by the indomitable human spirit that moves Clarisse and her countrymen through each and every day in these circumstances. They had a resilience and positive attitude that was inspirational. Soweto: another facet of this incredible journey all over the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment