In the early 1980's the Apartheid government decided to move all 'legal' black people from existing townships to a new township. The government classified people as legal if they had had already lived in the area for ten years. The new township was called Khayelitsha which means 'New home'. At the same time the government planned to move all illegal people to Transkei, a homeland created in the eastern part of the country. People living in existing townships near Cape Town resisted this move. One community leader said that they would had to kill them first then move their bodies to Khayelitsha because that was the only way they will move there. Fighting broke out in townships between the government and people who lived there. This fighting caused people to move to Khayelitsha, saying they are forced to move to Khayelitsha because of the violence and moving to Khayelitsha was not their intention It was exactly what the government wanted them to do.
In 1990 the population of Khayelitsha was estimated at 450,000 and unemployed at 80 per cent. Roughly 14 per cent lived in small core houses, 54 per cent in serviced shacks, and 32 per cent in unserviced ones. Hardly anyone had electricity and most inhabitats had to fetch water from taps. Social control was largely maintained by unofficial, unpopularly elected councils. Today Khayelitsha is home to over a million people.
Khayelitsha is unfortunately South Africa’s fastest growing township, but also one of Cape Town’s leading tourist destinations. The impression from the outside is pretty grim – many shacks line the outskirts and give no indication of the vibrant culture within. The government has implemented many housing projects to replace shacks with permanent houses.
It is recommended to take a guided tour as many guides have built up relationships with the township residents and often are residents themselves, able to take you to the most interesting places. While the townships in Johannesburg and Durban are famous for their historical sites, Cape Town township tours focus on the community projects, training centres, craft centres, shebeens and taverns in Khayelitsha and the surrounding townships, including Langa, South Africa’s oldest township.
It is incredible to experience the entrepreneurial energy and community spirit amongst township dwellers. It is similarly heart-warming to visit crèches and informal businesses and to see people working together as a community. Everyone greets you with a smile, happy that their way of life is of interest. You are even invited to spend the night in a township B&B. These have been quite popular with foreign tourists! Khayelitsha is a township in: Western Cape.
See Go2Africa.com
