Bittersweet Feelings in South Africa’s Mamelodi Township.
On a lazy Sunday afternoon, the whiff of gently spiced curries floats through the streets of Mamelodi Township. Men from the township chat jovially under a wooden shelter, drinking beer, taking turns to stir the large metal pots on the open fire. Cow heads, they tell me as I look curiously, reminded of open-air communal cooking in India, though you seldom find men cooking here.
From a narrow street ahead, reggae music pours out, calling me towards it, towards women chilling in the outdoors over beer and gossip, dancing, playing pool! This is no party, just their only day off work. And so what if most of them are domestic workers with meagre wages, they sure know how to have a good time.
I awkwardly smile at first, wondering if I am intruding. But the awkwardness melts away quickly in their jokes, and turns to hugs when they hear I’m from India. Take a picture of us, they urge me, so you can show your people how we live here; I oblige, for we can sure learn a thing or two from them. What I can’t learn though, are the dance moves they teach me; we laugh as I fumble around with my two left feet, until they give up and offer me beer instead.
Also read: How we *Almost* Got Stranded on the South Africa Lesotho Border
Townships in South Africa are settlements where non-white people were forcibly made to settle during the Apartheid era. While they come with some pretty scary labels, many of them became hubs of music, art and standup poetry.
Unassuming and predominantly black Mamelodi, for instance, was once the Jazz capital of the country. It’s little houses creating heart-stopping music. The music still lives on today in the form of reggae and hip hop. Those who can’t afford a music system at home, figure out a workaround by using the one in their car or turning up the neighbor’s volume
Also Read: Why You Need to Visit South Africa
The aromas of food tempt me and my new friend MaPhuti, to stop at the local resto-cum-pub, for a delicious meal of seasonal curries and rice, washed down with a South African Cider.
MaPhuti takes me back in time to her childhood spent in a township near Johannesburg. Her poignant tales are bittersweet, of the apartheid struggle, and the camaraderie within the community that kept them going during those dark days.
There was a time when black, colored and Indian-origin people could only live, study and work in designated areas. But now that the country is open and there are more opportunities, young people like her are moving to the cities and choosing their own path in life.
She moved to Johannesburg to become a CA, but recently quit her job to start a travel company that showcases a different and more real side to South Africa.
Also Read: 50 Epic yet Offbeat Things to do in Cape Town
She drives me to a secret spot up the hill, from where the lights of Mamelodi township shimmer under the setting sun and music echoes through the valley as though holding it together.
Silently, we introspect about the past, my thoughts drifting to my ancestors in India, who were taken far away from their homes to work on the sugarcane fields in South Africa. Realizing just how lucky both MaPhuti and I are, to belong to a generation that has the freedom to travel, work and live life on our own terms.
Perhaps an Indian origin cabbie in Durban put it best:
“Our ancestors used to clean the grass and cut the cane.
We smoke the grass and drink the cane.”
Also read: South Africa Visa for Indians: Practical Tips
Note: I travelled to Tshwane, South Africa on invitation from the South African Tourism Board and the City of Tshwane, as part of the #MeetSouthAfrica campaign.
Visiting Mamelodi Township
Mamelodi is located near the city of Pretoria, an hour’s drive from Johannesburg. It’s best to visit a township in South Africa accompanied by a local, atleast your first time.
Please don’t opt for a township tour that takes you through one like a safari, not giving you the chance to meet and get to know people. If you’d like to visit casually like I did, or stay a few days and experience life in a township, contact MaPhuti of Ubuhle Be Narha.
Recommended reading:
Uncornered Market: Masiphumelele Township By Bicycle: Getting Up Close
Wandering iPhone: Finding Ubuntu in Cape Town, South Africa
Welcome to my blog, The Shooting Star. I’ve been called a storyteller, writer, photographer, digital nomad, “sustainability influencer,” social entrepreneur, solo traveller, vegan, sustainable tourism consultant and environmentalist. But in my heart, I’m just a girl who believes that travel – if done right – has the power to change us and the world we live in.
Beautiful, leaving me curious to know more.
Glad it ignited your curiosity, Meera. I hope to go back and spend more time in a township. Hope you get a chance to too!
They seem like such warm, beautiful people who really love to live life. More strength to them. 🙂
I agree, it sure felt that way. It was one of those evenings when I promised myself, again, that I’ll be back to explore this beautiful country in more depth 🙂
Now, I sit back relaxed on my vintage easy chair, sipping my hot steaming ginger tea.It seems as though you have been taking me through your journey,whispering into my ears, the beauty of these places.My thoughts immersed in your beautiful iteration.Thank you for sharing such wonderful experiences.Keep posting more such adventurous and beautiful stories.
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful comment. When I’m writing my posts, I always wonder where and how people will read them. Thank you Vidya for coming with me virtually on my adventures, it’s what keeps me going!
No one has described a beautiful side of south Africa so positively like you did.
keep sharing your experiences.
Read the posts I suggested at the end of the post and you’ll find atleast 2 more people who have 😉 More coming soon!
Always pleasure to read your stories. This one is no exception. By the way, liked the meal. That looked pretty similar – rice and some delectable subzis.
Thanks Satya! That was a yummy meal. I know it looks / sounds similar, but the spices and flavors are so different, you just have to try for yourself.
Beautiful read 😉
Thanks Roberto!
This looks so much fun and they seem such warm people like seriously.
I think so, Manjulika! I hate it when places are given broad “unsafe” labels; so far in my experience, if we carry the right attitude as travellers, it is possible to find a warm welcome anywhere.
I agree, a lot depends on our attitude as travelers. There is a human connect which is above all boundaries and maps.
Great narrative Shivya, loved how you managed to do all the awesome work without shedding sweat. Keep coming with fresh content. Your ardent follower. Thank you.
Your blogs are amazing reads. I enjoyed reading each one of them; they are very much informative as well. Also, I would like to invite you to read mine on http://blog.antilogvacations.com/. It would be a pleasure to know your opinion on the same. Thanks!
Beautifully described the story of Mamelodi
This is beautiful Shivya. I now know you experienced the ‘secret’ of South Africa, as I hoped you would, though I had no doubt you’d find it.
You have your own special way of discovering the soul of a country as you travel, Shivya. 🙂 Thank you for this vivid peek into Mamelodi township – I can almost hear the strains of reggae pouring out of their homes and hearts.
love what you do please dont stop
wow !! awesome . wonderful people and yummy food . The world is more interesting that i previously thought lol 😛 . You have inspired me to travel. Thanks!!