Blessing in South Africa
6th Day in South Africa
Wow! That’s the only word that can describe our first day in Johannesburg. A city of beauty and history all packed in to one. None of us expected what we were about to see. Some were shocked, astounded, and many left speechless. Today we learned about a violent but yet important past of South Africa and we also so the beauty that it has to offer.
We get on the bus and set off on our first day around Johannesburg. Our first stop will be Nelson Mandela Square located in the heart of Johannesburg. As we get off the bus, we are greeted by a gigantic statue of Nelson Mandela. As always it’s a perfect opportunity to take a picture. Players go first and take a nice group picture and then the staff got together. Everyone took 30 minutes to visit a mall nearby, pick up a few gifts, and off we were to our next destination.
Soweto’s is an important city in South Africa. Stricken with poverty, this city ignited a movement for freedom compared to those of American civil rights. Revolting against an oppressive Apartheid government, students across Soweto organized a peaceful rally that turned into a watershed event in South African history. Over 700 students killed by the police and many more injured left a black mark on South Africa and put them under the microscope with the international community. Outcry from around the world pressured South Africa to change their ways and accept people of all cultures and races. Traveling through the city you can see that Soweto still has a long way to go, but the movement has started.
Before we enter the city of Soweto we take a drive by a house of a man that symbolized the freedom movement of South Africa. Nelson Mandela is not only a hero to South Africans but he is a hero to many people around the world. His inspirational imprisonment and eventual release symbolized South Africans non-violent transition from oppressive regime to a government of acceptance. It comes as no shock that in South Africa, Nelson Mandela is known as Madiba (Father of the Nation).
Founded in 1904 and settled in 1932 Soweto today is home to 173-acre hospital and home to 3.5 million people. Everyone is shocked by the images of poverty and desperation. To say that some people don’t have a lot would be an understatement. We are looking at houses, which have no running water or bathroom. People are out on the street trying to make a living through trading whatever goods they can get their hands on. Soweto is also home to Winnie Mandela and Archbishop Tutu who live in the part of Soweto that are known as “Beverly Hills.” However a lot of the people in Soweto are not as fortunate to have their neighborhood named after such a posh town.
After lunch, we set out to see a few museums. The rain starts pouring and our tour guide informs us that if you come to Soweto and it rains, it means you are blessed. It hasn’t rained in Saweto for over six months. Our tour takes us to Hector Pieterson museum. Hector Pieterson was the first victim of the non-violent protest that galvanized the freedom movement. Hector was a 13 year old boy, and images of his friends carrying his lifeless body is burned into South African history forever. The museum is home to other disturbing images that have captured our eyes. A lot of the images we saw were those of children protesting and in the end it was those children that gave the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom. Out next stop was the former home of Nelson Mandela. We saw many artifacts belonging to Mandela. Some of those included a boxing championship belt give to him by Sugar Ray Leonard. Other impressive artifacts were all the honorary degrees that he received from prestigious universities across America.
Our tour had finally come to an end. We left Soweto in a state of shock but learned a lot from this city. The will for freedom can never be denied. Children of Soweto sacrificed a lot for the freedom that some of them never lived to see. A lot of us were touched by the stories we heard in the museum and by the images we witnessed today.
“After we left the museum we went to another museum but this one took my attention completely. This was the Nelson Mandela Museum which is located inside the former house of Nelson Mandela. All of his belongings and achievements untouched among other things decorate the house. I could not resist the temptation of putting Mandela’s championship boxing belt around my waist. It was great to see and actually touch things that belong to such and admired person. I believe we are getting too much on this trip. I feel very appreciative and honored. To be part of this great experience, it will leave a deep mark on my life.”
Jonathan Guenzatti – Queensborough
“Finally, we visited Nelson Mandela’s house. I learned that he was from royal family and it reminded me of how diverse people in Soweto are in forms of social class. In fact, visiting Soweto and looking and the poverty part, especially was shocking to me, and it made me really fell that I was in Africa for the first time since this trip has begun.”
Hirofumi Takeuchi – John Jay