Hope. Faith. Resiliency.

Mural of S. African Leaders of Change

Friday it FINALLY cleared up and we were able to tour the District 6 Museum and we were able to arrange a walking tour of the District too.  Linda Fortune, a former resident of District 6 was our tour guide, and she was phenomenal.  It’s one thing to read about the forced removal of the District 6 families, but it’s another to see what was left behind. 

Old Cobblestone Road

Linda sharing her stories

District 6 is an area of downtown Capetown where Coloureds, Blacks, and some Whites all lived together.  I would say it was probably about 6 city blocks.  In the height of Apartheid Black and Coloured residents were forced to move to the Cape Flats (government districted home-sites for Blacks and Coloureds – a.k.a. the Townships).  The Cape Flats is an area of town that is located closer to the base of Table Mountain, further from the city center, and less attractive views.  What was once a mixed-race community became segregated townships.

House's not torn down off Constitution St.

Ironically, the land acquired for the Whites to enjoy for the pretty views and proximity to the city has lain dormant after the houses were demolished to be replaced by new structures.  Seeing pictures and reading stories in the museum was informative; walking the streets to see grassy fields littered with the remains of bricks and old cobblestone streets was brutal.  District 6 was never really developed once it was commandeered by the white Apartheid rule.  To hear Linda talk about the brokenness from leaving a community to the hope for those that would be returning over the next 5, 10, 15 years was refreshing. 

New Construction

The spirit of the South African Blacks and Coloureds is one that I cannot truly describe.  There is a resiliency here.  A faith in the humanity of people and a hope that one day wrongs will be righted through the spirit of forgiveness.  As an outsider looking in, I think “where do you begin?; how can, or will things move forward?” but from an insider they live in the aftermath and do the best they can to not look back but to carry on making this world a better place for their children and their children’s children. 

Leasa, Montgomery & I

I would say this was another thing top on my list of the things we took the time to do while we were here.  While we were in the City Center we also dropped by Charley’s Bakery – which has become infamous because of our dear friend Oprah.  It seems that it’s one of her favorite things – so why wouldn’t be drop by to feast on quiche and sweets?!  It did not disappoint – we ate brownies chocolate cake, and brought home treats for later. J

Yumminess!