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.
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 inhabitants had to fetch water from taps. Social control was largely maintained by unofficial, unpopular elected councils. Today Khayelitsha is home to millions of people and still HIV epidemic, crime and unemployment is the most critical issue.
Well written son, at times we really need to be reminded of the burden we carry. So that we may become instruments in ensuring that we heal the wounds Black poeple have.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the burden now again? what is your argument here?you are telling the history of khayelitsha son but not getting into the gist of your blog.Grammawise you need to proof read your posts luvuyo,because your blog can simply not make sense because your gramma is bad. I love the content of your blog by the way.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the burden of being black? You lost me Luvuyo. Punctuation, grammar and spelling errors can all be rectified son, please! The structure of your blog does not give me the idea that "this is an into, this is the body and this is the conclusion." you are introducing new facts in your conclusion.
ReplyDeleteI find you blogs really interesting and can be argued very well and better.
Work on the things that we have told you son. It will help you.