Two townships (Langa and Khayelitsha) of Capetown, South Africa

- Introduction: District Six Museum.
Up until the 1970s, District Six was home to almost a tenth of the city of Cape Town's population. In 1965, the apartheid government, as it had done in Sophiatown in 1957, declared District Six "white". More than 60,000 people were forcibly uprooted and relocated onto the barren plains of the Cape Flats. In the process, over a century of history, of community life, of solidarity amongst the poor and of achievement against great odds, was imperiled. The District Six Museum Foundation was established in 1989 and launched as a museum in 1994 to keep alive the memories of District Six and displaced people everywhere.

- Langa.
Langa is a suburb found in Cape Town, South Africa. It was established in 1923. Similar to Khayelitsha, Langa is one of the many areas in South Africa that were designated for Black Africans before the apartheid era. It is the oldest of such suburbs in Cape Town and was the location of much resistance to apartheid. Although Langa literally means 'sun' in isiXhosa, the name of the township is derived from the name of Langalibalele - a chief and renowned rainmaker who in 1873 was imprisoned on Robben Island for rebelling against the Natal government. Various prominent people fought for his release and he was subsequently confined to a farm called "Uitvlugt", which is on the site of present day Pinelands. Langa, which adjoins Pinelands commemorates this folk hero as it was developed in 1898 on the land know as "Langalibalele's Location". Hence Langa is often called "Kwa-Langa" meaning 'place of Langa'.

- Khayelitsha.
Khayelitsha (pronounced /ˌkaɪ.əliːtʃə/) is a partially informal township in South Africa, on the outskirts of Cape Town in the Cape Flats. The name is Xhosa for New Home. It has become the fastest growing township in South Africa. The discrimination and black population control by the apartheid regime did not prevent blacks from settling in the outskirts of Cape Town. After the scrapping of pass laws in 1987 many blacks, mainly Xhosas, moved into areas around Cape Town in search of work. By this time many blacks were already illegally settled in townships like Nyanga and Crossroads. As the black population grew, the apartheid regime sought to solve the "problem" by establishing new black neighbourhoods. Khayelitsha was established in 1985 and large numbers of people were forcefully relocated there, mostly peacefully, but occasionally accompanied with violence. Since the ANC came to power in the country in 1994, the ruling party claims that living conditions in the township have improved markedly. There have been many developments such as new brick housing being built, new schools being built, and the creation of a central business district in the Township. However many residents strongly dispute the claim that the quality of life has improved. They claim that crime rates remain very high and that only a small portion of residents see improvements as a result of infrastructure and welfare interventions.

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Travel & Events

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• Townships
• Langa
• Kayelitsha
• District_Six_Museum
• Cape_Town
• South_Africa

[rea1001]

I miss South Africa so much...Miss the Zulu People and their smiles. The Afrikaners and their Humor. The Indians and their attitudes. I miss the colors, the Joy and laughter, and the strong People of the rainbow Nation. I lived there for three years, and it was to short. I miss my Wife the most. I wish I had never left.