The Rand had lost more then 20 % of its value compared to the Euro since I arrived, which was very good in case of shopping. So I spent half the day at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront, a shopping mall in the centre of the city.
In the late afternoon I was joined by Liz and Jim, two English travellers who I met on the wine tour the other day, to hike up Lions head. This time I made it up the top and was rewarded with a breath taking few. The only bad thing was a very cold and strong wind which forced us to climb very carefully.
My last day had finally come, and I wanted to end my trip with something special, so I decided to do a Township tour. The first stop was at the so called District 6, once a flourishing multicultural area, where all cultures and religious, black and white, would peacefully live together. But then came “Apartheid”, and all races had to be “divided” and where moved to other areas, like Cape Flats for black and coloured people, 25 kilometres outside of Cape Town. The whole district, expect some churches and mosques was then bulldozed, with new street signs and new buildings, and white people who moved into that area.
But with the end of Apartheid there is a new history written for district 6. The government is allowing and funding former citizens to move back and District 6 is reconstructed, even the old streetnames. We also visited the museum of District 6, which offered lots of pictures and information. The history of District 6 reminded me of the history of the German people called “Sudetendeutsche” who where forced to leave the Czech republic after the second world war.
We then went to the Township, a very impressive place. And surprisingly strong organised. Every “street” has its own council and they decide for example f new people can move in and build a house. Our guide also told us a story about three guys who raped a little girl, the police wouldn’t charge them because of little proof, so the local people brought them down to justice in their own way, by punishing them with whiplashes made with long wooden sticks.
Our first stop was a privately funded school. A local woman had taken education in her own hands and organised teaching for more then 600 kids, because government operated schools where to crowded. She showed us around the classes, it was amazing to see 40 to 80 kids in those little rooms. When ever she entered a classroom all of the kids would jump up and scream “Good morning teacher, how are you teacher?!” which was very funny. At the end of our tour, two classes even sang a few songs for us, including the South African anthem and a song about Nelson Mandela.
We also visited a hostel right in the middle of the township run by another woman and a kitchen to feed the kids who would life on the street, also run by a woman. I think the new South Africa is born in the streets of these townships, and it is built by strong woman.
After we finished the tour, my guide dropped me of at the airport where I said “Good bye” to this wonderful and interesting country.
South Africa, you will see me again!