MAKHELWANE (MY NEIGHBOUR)

A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION

FRIDAY 16 AUGUST 18:30

@ EC LANGUAGE SCHOOL

CAPE TOWN

75 CHURCH STREET 

(Opp. Christiaan Barnard Hospital) - (Park your car @ Heritage square)

300613, Portraits of my neighbors

The Reading Hut got broken into a couple of times now.  The weekend before last, someone got in and stole the pvc pipe that I'd just bought for the long drop.  They got in by wiggling the window from the outside in such a way that the lever came loose on the inside and they could open the window.  When I saw what happened I secured the window just a little by hammering in some bent nails so the lever won't lift so easily.  

This just gave me more problems because the next time they came, they simply broke the glass and got the window open again.  And stole my little bookshelf that I brought all the way from Cape Town.  They also took the only chair in the place and the special alphabet carpet that was the only warm spot on the floor for the kids.

Anyway, I'm sure it must be someone that stays not too far away, for them to come back almost every day to steal something else.  So I decided to take a little walk around in the village to let everyone know what happened and let them keep their eyes open for any of the stolen items.  So far no-one has seen a thing but who knows.  

Either way it was a nice walk and good to see all my neighbors again.  I've also decided to call my next exhibition 'Makhelwane' (My neighbour). 

16 June, Youth Day in the Transkei

Tomorrow we celebrate what we now call ‘Youth Day’.  Here in Coffee Bay, rural Transkei, previous apartheid homeland you can sense a little something in the air.  It is long weekend, some tourists have arrived at the backpackers and we also expect the 'shebeens' to be pumping tomorrow and won't be surprised to hear of some stabbings or other violent acts happening amidst the drunkenness.  

But how many of us actually remember what Youth Day is about.  37 years ago, during the apartheid regime, Afrikaans (together with English) was introduced as the languages in which children be instructed in all black schools in South Africa.  In fact, they were forced to use these languages.  Indigenous languages would only be used for religion, music and physical culture.

This meant that black children would rather have to focus on the understanding of the language than learn much about the subject taught in it.  English as international language was of course preferred over apartheid associated Afrikaans, but because the government was Afrikaans dominated it wanted to reverse the decline of Afrikaans among black South Africans by enforcing the 1974 decree that recognized only Afrikaans and English as official languages.

This sparked much rebellion that eventually grew to the mass rally of June 16, 1976, when between 10 000 – 20 000 students walked in protest to Orlando stadium.  The protest, which was intended to be peaceful, turned violent after students took another route when their intended route was barricaded off by the police.  The first shot was fired by a policeman, who said that some of the children were throwing stones.  This started panic and the police let their dogs loose on the children who retaliated by throwing stones at the dogs.  Then the police started shooting directly at the children.  23 People, including 2 whites died on that day.

Following this event, The ANC was established as leading party in the liberation struggle and the Soweto uprising was a turning point to white rule in South Africa that eventually led to the release of Mandela and the end of apartheid.

I think it is important for us to remember our history and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again.  I also ask myself what can be done by us and our government to help the people, that were previously oppressed by our forefathers, because I find it ironic that now, 37 years later, they are still being taught in English (no longer Afrikaans) and mostly the rural people don’t understand English, so after all these years their education has not improved much.  

150513, New Montessori School Coffee Bay

Last week I had the privilege to help out for two days at the new Montessori School (Ikhaya Labantwana) in Coffee Bay, while some of the other teachers were receiving their training. Previously the Montessori school was much smaller but the new school which opened its doors just a few weeks ago, already has about 30 kids attending. 

I had loads of fun and was happy to spend time with my little friends, some of whom I've already known for a while from around Coffee Bay and the Reading Hut.  Personally I think this school is one of the best things that exist around here.  These kids are learning so much and already have such a high step up in an otherwise very sad educational system.  There are four year olds here who can already put letters together to form words whilst I daily spend time with 9 year olds from the regular public schools around, who still don't know the complete alphabet!  

I really believe that to make a change in the education of a nation (that has lagged behind for too long because of apartheid, poverty etc.) the best place to start is with the little ones and laying for them a solid foundation.  This is what's being done here.

Well done to the magnificently passionate Dawn Brochenin and all her hard work together with those who helped her make this school a possibility!  May the futures of these little ones be blessed.

250413, Mama Gloria 's hut

Mama Gloria and her grandchildren in front of the fallen hut

Well, I certainly didn't come off the worst in the flood.  There were many people whose houses collapsed and my good friend, Mama Gloria was one of them.  I didn't know until this morning when I saw two of her friends and asked them where she was.  Her hut collapsed Sunday afternoon during the heavy rain fall and she had to go and dig out and rescue what clothes and other belongings she could find.  Thankfully she was not inside at the time and there is another hut next door where she can stay.

She seemed in good spirits today when I visited but complained of body and head aches.  She probably has the flu and must be exhausted. I really hope she can get herself some rest...

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us."  Romans 8:18

Tea with mama Gloria

The kids in and out

Another neighbor coming to call

110911, Sunday

 Some girls on their way to church

 At a local church...

A crazy horse chasing sheep... funny little thing I saw today...

090611, Tuesday

My boys didn't pitch up for their class this afternoon, I suspect the ocean might have tempted them away... So I took advantage of the moment, and got one of the ladies to take me into one of the villages in search for a mama who knows how to sow and make skirts.  My idea is that she makes one for me and if it comes out nice, I can perhaps order more from her and we can sell them to the tourists.  Anyway, we never found the mama, but left the material and an example skirt for her to find.  I was happy to bump into some beautiful people from the village though, and of course became a bit happy snappy...