Township: suburb tourism

Far from disappearing after the end of apartheid, the township now have more neighborhood than ever, because the "veterans" who had fled war and poverty of the "other" add Africa


Soweto, whose name comes from the combination of the initial syllables of Southern Western Town, is a township located 15 kilometers Johannesburg, financial capital of the Republic of South Africa. There lived, the 1946 a 1962, Nelson Mandela, the first black president of the country after apartheid, system of racial segregation in South Africa black populations in force until 1991, when he clinched.

What exactly is a township? The term has different meanings, dependent country in which they are used. In the case of South Africa, This would be reserved territories "non-white" -an expression by euphemistic "black" - since the early nineteenth century until the end of apartheid. In a generic sense, it would be a "village" or "town", although, usually, the word has become inexorably linked to apartheid. Therefore, South African townships were built, by the grace of "God" white, in urban settlements.

South African townships were built, by the grace of "God" white, in urban settlements.

Recliners in their homes dropped each night -after working from sunrise to sunset for afrikáners- 'non-white' population, She comprising from the brunt black to "colored" more tasteless. Certainly, such term is another euphemism for "mestizo", expression too outrageous for Dutch Puritans who raided the territories of the various original tribes and raped their women. these settlements, for granted, They are far from the white districts.

Someone very short imagination and optimism and much view, or view and quite cynically say they have a certain resemblance to the suburbs worthy of the working class whites. Now, perhaps it would be right if it referred to the British brutally impoverished suburbs of social housing since coming to power Margaret Thatcher. But, for those who have a little better view or get along eyeglasses, it would be simply miserable habitations. Yet, this South African "urban model" could also apply to too many suburbs of the remaining continents. Perhaps the problem is based not have much imagination, though themselves a good eye-, because I walked through a few and do not consider it an incentive to live in them.

This South African "urban model" could also apply to too many suburbs of the remaining continents

It could "inventoried" some drawbacks, as the lack of bathrooms in the barracks, because, More to the point, It is barracks. O tap water. There townships where, each 5 the 6 streets, You can find a kind of vertical coffin containing within it a tap to the inhabitants flocking to source water. The social life of the community is active around these "coffins", if we consider that there is one reason for each 20 the 30 barracks street name and a thread tap flowing water takes half an hour at low filling a pair of hubs. Taking into account, also, flowing day and night, social relations can be maintained throughout the 24 hours lasts a day. I would not surprise me at all that more than one couple has been romantically consolidated thanks to the long waits in front of the tap.

As for the "housing", to continue the euphemistic language, They have walls of cardboard or zinc, corrugated iron roofs and windows that are protected from the cold night and daytime heat with plastic. Luckily, as the plastic is so tough, They have no need to replace it frequently, thus they do not contribute to the destruction of the planet, even if it is only a translucent plastic. With regard to the streets that run ahead of these "shoeboxes", They stand out for its ups and downs and the absence of sidewalks, cobblestones and sewers.

I would not surprise me that more than one couple has been romantically consolidated thanks to the long waits in front of the tap

As neoliberalism is able to surpass himself continuous -in Castilian we would say 'make your a frock coat "- just to make the most of all, It has mounted tourist routes, at least some of the less dangerous neighborhoods.

Let's go back, again, a Soweto, we can visit accompanied by guide, as the house of Nelson Mandela has become museum. We also visit a few more and even be invited by a family, payment to the organizing agency, to take the traditional dishes of township, which it is usually not usually take the population that resides there, and enjoy some traditional dancing ladies, who wear suits Namibia the nineteenth century luxury of a suspect, equally suspect that dresses the Valencian Fallas living in barracks like those of these South African villas.

We can visit Soweto accompanied by guide, as the house of Nelson Mandela has become museum

When apartheid was abolished, we all thought it would end up disappearing and, in any case, only would some as a reminder of human barbarity. Formidable Error: those settlements where no "non-white" person wanted to live now have it more neighborhood than ever, because the "veterans" who had fled war and poverty of the "other" add Africa.

Many of its original inhabitants left-or skin ripped whites were the colonizers, both in the country of "Rainbow" Mr. Mandela as in neighboring Namibia. Quite a few black and "colored" have managed to occupy some "white neighborhoods", not the most luxurious, course. End, what he said Lampedusa Il Gattopardo in - "it is necessary that everything changes so that nothing changes" - has also been completed in South Africa. Maybe that's why, not long ago when I visited the same township eight years earlier, I saw little change.

Children ran after the ball into the open imitating the elite players

Still, I do not want to be pessimistic. as then, children ran behind footballs into the open and with enviable legs, I guess imitating the elite players who visited them for the World Cup. The same enviable legs of their parents and their grandparents running in front of police dogs Afrikaner government. That police foiled shooting the sporting future of so many black riders. Certainly, football remains the national sport of the 'non-white', namely, the poor. The whites, meanwhile and behind the high walls of their private developments, They continue to enjoy a good game of rugby or cricket in front of a blonde beer, Dutch be possible.

In short and returned for the last time our townships, I anticipate that eventually become "theme parks".

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