| Cape Town is effectively a tale of two cities – | | | | People of the ‘Sun’ |
| the cosmopolitan city centre with its cluster of luxury | | | | The inhabitants of this area, literally ‘Sun” in |
| villas that dot the Atlantic Seaboard and embrace the | | | | English, were vastly instrumental in the struggle |
| mountain, and the informal settlements that stretch | | | | against the apartheid regime and the area and its |
| as far as the eye can see. | | | | inhabitants are dedicated to ending the scourge that |
| Visitors to the Cape are initially struck by the vast | | | | decimated the lives of millions. |
| areas of ‘shack land’ that spread along both | | | | A visit to any township will undoubtedly be one of |
| sides of the highways that lead into the city but few | | | | the highlights of a South African holiday and the lively |
| venture into these bustling, vibrant settlements - and | | | | community lifestyle embraces the concept of |
| are much the poorer for it. | | | | ‘Ubuntu’, or ‘togetherness’, where |
| Forcibly removed | | | | everyone effectively shares whatever they have |
| During colonial rule and at the height of the apartheid | | | | with the community. |
| regime, black people were forcibly removed from | | | | Creative cuisine |
| areas close to the city centre in an effort to | | | | Sheep’s heads and pig’s trotters are the |
| ‘sanitise’ the region. The existing regime | | | | favoured cuisine of the township dwellers and |
| further elected not to build any permanent structures | | | | chicken’s feet are ‘hot to trot’ fast |
| or homes for the people in an effort to discourage | | | | food for the masses. The streets are full of sounds |
| further ‘interlopers’ from moving to the city. | | | | of joy – children kicking soccer balls or dancing |
| But it is these same areas that offer a true glimpse | | | | and singing traditional melodies or simply chattering |
| of life for the overwhelming majority in Cape Town | | | | happily with one another. |
| and every traveller is encouraged to pay a fleeting | | | | Shebeens and Spaza shops abound, selling locally |
| visit to these diverse, colourful neighbourhoods of the | | | | produced sorghum beer, milk stout and other ales at |
| Mother City. | | | | half the price, as well as all the other necessities of |
| Langa is the oldest of these settlements and the | | | | life. Bead work and finely crafted basketry is available |
| incongruity of the situation is even more marked as it | | | | and so too is colourfully dyed fabric - perfect for an |
| is relatively close to the CBD and the adjoining | | | | entire range of haute couture with a difference! |
| waterfront where luxurious marina apartments offer | | | | Although there has been an increase in the number |
| accommodation to the more fortunate. | | | | of ‘black diamonds’, or the black middle |
| Established in 1901 when the city was still reeling from | | | | class, able to afford houses in the more affluent |
| the devastation of the Bubonic Plague, local black | | | | suburbs, many of them have opted to stay in these |
| inhabitants of a farm were considered a health risk | | | | vibrant communities where the township culture |
| and moved away from the more affluent | | | | prevails. |
| communities to Langa. | | | | |