Human Rights Day

On March 21st 1960, 69 people where killed by police when participating in a protest against the pass laws. The carnage made world headlines. Four days later the government banned black political organizations, many leaders were arrested or went into exile. During the Apartheid era there were human rights abuses by all sides; Human Rights Day is but one step to ensure that the people of South Africa are aware of their human rights and to ensure that such abuses never again occur.

When Apartheid ended and the African National Congress under Nelson Mandela came into power in South Africa in 1994, the national holidays were changed to days that would be meaningful to all South Africans.

So today, the four of us girls we celebrated Human Rights Day, by wondering the markets. Practicing our bartering skills, in which i think i did quite well, as i confidently told the stall owner i would have the necklace made out of watermelon seeds and nuts shells for 10R. We have been told the trick to bartering is to 1. be confidant, 2. start by halving what they ask for and 3 if all else fails start walking away.

Once we had wondered from the car to the beach, checking out the different stalls along the way. We began to relax on the beach and enjoy our picnic and a mid afternoon swim for myself and Grace. The water was lovely and warm although we thought it rather rocky. Before we realised we could stand up on the rock, if we could stop ourselves from being knocked over by the waves,  only to see that we are the only ones in the sea who are swimming over a  big sunken concert pier. 

Admittedly, it was not until we tuned into the radio on the car drive home, that we knew why we had a bank holiday today. As we followed a detour through more townships/ squatter camps that we normally bypass, my eyes where open once again to living conditions.

We also talked about the events of the past week. With more riots in Grabouw, making headline news over here.  On monday the N2 (the main road into Grabouw) was barricaded off by police, at both the Cape Town and Grabouw end. As protesters marched the streets fighting to be heard, in want of better, non-over crowed class rooms and schools for their children. 

Two weeks ago in the last riots, it was reported that two of the class rooms from the black school where burnt down. When we drove past a few days later we saw the damage that had been done, with burnt out classrooms and smashed windows. Closing the school until the start of next term- a month in total. 

Mondays events resulted in what the papers reported,’ resembled a civil war’ as the black and coloured communities turned on one another, with brutal beatings and rock throwing. Again it was reported that classrooms where burnt and its store rooms trashed, this time at the coloured school.

Here at the Village of Hope, we are on a hill to the side of all the townships, if you walk into the woods on the property, you can see the reason you are here , whet we care her and why 250 other volunteers have come. We have come to help and spread hope.