District 6

This morning I was talking to my South African friend Jessica who I also teach with. She was telling me stories about South Africa during the apartheid regime which dominated and used racial segregation from 1948 to 1994. One of the stories was about a district called District 6 in Capetown. In 1965 a vibrant and culturally rich district 6 was taken over by apartheid. The 60,000 residents were moved to bleak plains called Cape Flats- several kilometers away from their old town. Their old homes in District 6 were flattened by bulldozers-mosques and churches were the only things they left standing. District 6 was made into a "Whites only" area. A similar situation happened in Sophiatown, Johannesburg. In 1957 Sophiatown was also pulled down and made into a whites only area- Sophiatown was then renamed "Triomf" which means "Triumph" in Afrikaans.
In 1989 the District Six museum foundation was formed to preserve the memories of district 6 and to make a monument for all the people who were forced to move under the apartheid regime.
At the moment land restitution is underway for those who were forcibly removed. It will definately be a triumphant moment for the residents of district 6 to return to their home district.
If you would like to know more about District six click here: www.districtsix.co.za

 

Maria Henderson of the Cook Islands.

Lily Bergin and Maria Henderson of the Cook Islands planning Tivaevae in Rarotonga.

 

Me, Melissa and Marina.

 

Tramping on the Millford Track, New Zealand

There were 8 in our party....the only new zealanders. the rest of the group of about 40 comprised of europeans, britons, australians, canadians and israelis.