Upgrade

today in khayelitsha we witnessed upgrades on three very different scales. The first involved the construction of improved rail infrastructure and a new station near the eKhaya eKazi building site in Makasa. This station is needed because currently most of the residents in this area of khayelitsha, such as the MonkeyBiz women, have to take a taxi or bus to the station before beginning the train ride into the city of cape town for work every day. this makes the commute even longer and more costly. This upgrade to the township, however, also brings along with it the need for shack clearance for a new diversion road. All of the shacks marked with an "x" as seen below are to be demolished.

The second was the home of of a couple that moved from the eastern cape in search for job opportunities. They began in a small shack in Harrare and then once they earned enough money joined a federation in khayelitsha. These federations are groups of over a hundred families that pool the 16000 rand government subsidy for housing and help each other build improved housing at a higher standard than the typical "matchbox" houses. They use whatever money they can earn to add more rooms, brick veneers, and improved interior finishes. After the homes are built the federations also become neighborhood associations in which the residents have a forum to discuss the social issues affecting them. This particular federation for example decided not to allow any shabeens (bar/pool halls) to be built in that neighborhood because of the crime and disturbance associated with these businesses. Though Loyiso pointed out that despite this decision many of the residents just go to another area and use the shabeens there, therefore just pushing the problem and stigma onto other neighborhoods.

And the third was the upgrade of a young boy into becoming a man. We were welcomed into a celebratory ceremony and the home of Loyiso's friends where a boy had just returned from his journey to the bush and was to be reintroduced to society as a man. There was singing, dancing, a slaughtered sheep, traditional xhosa beer, and the best bread any of us had ever tasted. The hosts and guests were incredibly open and welcoming to us and generously shared their home and their culture with us. Along with all of the other women we presented a gift and ashley gave a speech wishing him well in his future and the time he will spend with family.



(check out youtube for the videos)

it was another eye opening day in the level of joy and happiness that seemed to upgrade the entire condition of Khayelitsha in our mindset. As Loyiso tried so earnestly to illustrate to us there is a rich culture and community spirit in khayelitsha that at times perhaps transcends the condition.