TOWNSHIPS
Townships in Cape Town
Every day the independent radio station Radio Zibonele informs the people deploring and reporting the poor living conditions of Xhosa people in the suburbs of Cape Town. In the meantime another shack is on fire and the fire department is at work again. It happens very often and people are so used to it, that they consider it part of their lives. Shacks, the typical and most popular houses, are made of wood and iron sheets and catch fire easily. You can be in Langa, the most ancient township established in 1927, or in Gugulethu (which in Xhosa language means “Pride”), or in Khayelitsha, the youngest and widest township with almost 1 million people: they appear at first sight the same, but each one has its own peculiarity. Some of the shacks are used as SHEBEENS which are bars or local pubs, born during the Apartheid period as clandestine places to drink alcohol, forbidden to black people by the White Government. Today, they remain the only places of entertainment for men to drink UMGQOMBOTHI, the Xhosa beer prepared with a traditional recipe, at weekends. Life is really hard in the shacks as in all the local houses. In what they call a “Match Box”, (flats of 3mt. x 3mt.), families of 6 or 7 people share the tiny space. The same happens in the Hostels: in the same little room many people are crowded together, they sleep on bunkbeds with only one toilet and poor cooking facilities. Even if the situation is miserable, colours and joy prevail over greyness and desolation. Among the coloured shacks loud music can be heard and the children play in the streets… This is an image and a feeling of hope that should make the local administration, and not only, think about their responsibilities. The problems to solve in South Africa are still very serious. HIV affects 1 in 4 women and almost 20% of the total population. The distribution of antiretirovirals is not sufficient to obstruct HIV prevention. It is necessary to pull down cultural barriers that obstacle the prevention. High unemployment and high criminality are dramatic issues among young people. It comes to mind the slogan written on the railway bridge of Khayelitsha Railway Station which says: ”make things happen”. That’s very true!
Langa, Cape Town black Township.
In the dusty streets of Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town black Township.
A boy on a bicycle in the streets of Khayelitsha, the youngest and biggest tonwship in Cape Town suburbs.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town black Township.
Radio Zibonele studios during the news. Radio Ziboneleis a social radio in Khayelitsha, the youngest and biggest tonwship in Cape Town suburbs.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town black Township.
A man inside his fired shack in Khayelitsha, while the fire department outside is working. Shacks are made of wood, cardboard and iron sheet. they catch fire easily and very often.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town black Township.
Through the shacks in Khayelitsha, while the fire department is working. Shacks are made of wood, cardboard and iron sheet. they catch fire easily and very often.
Langa, Cape Town township, SouthAfrica.
Peolple in the streets of Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town , South Africa.
Inside a fired shack in Khayelitsha, while the fire department outside is working. Shacks are made of wood, cardboard and iron sheet. they catch fire easily and very often.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
View from a balcony of a flat in Langa. Flats are brick buildings built during Apartheid for single black workers coming from Transkei and other regions of South Africa. they had a room 3 meters x 3 meters. Now in these rooms, 3 mt x 3 mt, people live up to 8/9 persons. Langa is the oldest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
Women in a destroyed shack watching fire department at work in Khayelitsha. Khayelitsha is the yougest and the biggest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town black Township.
Through the shacks in Khayelitsha, while the fire department is working. Shacks are made of wood, cardboard and iron sheet. they catch fire easily and very often.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
Inside a house in the township of Langa. This house is demaged by fire, but people are still living in.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
A boy in the dusty streets of Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
Through the shacks in Khayelitsha. Forniture saved from fire, in the dusty streets of the township. Shacks are made of wood, cardboard and iron sheet. they catch fire easily and very often.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
Next to the railway, a man with his wife picking rag and recyclable materials to earn some money.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
After a fire, a man is building again his own shack. Shacks are made of wood, cardboard and iron sheet. they catch fire easily and very often.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
Children in the dusty streets in Khayelitsha, the youngest and the biggest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
In the streets of Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
People in the streets of Khayelitsha, the youngest and biggest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
Men playing draughts in the streets of Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
Children and other people inside a house in the township of Langa. This house is demaged by fire and without a solid roof, but people are still living in.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
A woman with her baby on her back in a towel, in the african tipical way.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
Children inside a shack in Khayelitsha.
Crossroads, Cape Town, South Africa.
A boy inside a room of his shack. through the broken mirror is visible the boy next to the image of Christ.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
A woman a her children in their room of a flat in Langa, township of Cape Town.
In this room she lives with her housband, 4 sons and her parents. Flats are brick buildings built during Apartheid for single black workers coming from Transkei and other regions of South Africa. they had a room 3 meters x 3 meters. Now in these rooms, 3 mt x 3 mt, people live up to 8/9 persons.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town South Africa.
A woman inside a shack.
Langa, Cape Town, SouthAfrica.
A woman in his room of a flat in Langa, township of Cape Town. In this room she lives with her family of 7 persons. Flats are brick buildings built during Apartheid for single black workers coming from Transkei and other regions of South Africa. they had a room 3 meters x 3 meters. Now in these rooms, 3 mt x 3 mt, people live up to 8/9 persons.
Langa, Cape Town, SouthAfrica.
Inside a lady's hairdresser in Langa.
Crossroads, Cape Town black Township.
A woman inside her shack.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
A man in his little shack in Khayelitsha.
Langa, Cape Town black Township.
A barber shop in Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
The streets of Langa through a window of a flat. Flats are brick buildings built during Apartheid for single black workers coming from Transkei and other regions of South Africa. they had a room 3 meters x 3 meters. Now in these rooms, 3 mt x 3 mt, people live up to 8/9 persons.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
Children playing in the stairs of a flat in Langa. Flats are brick buildings built during Apartheid for single black workers coming from Transkei and other regions of South Africa. they had a room 3 meters x 3 meters. Now in these rooms, 3 mt x 3 mt, people live up to 8/9 persons.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
Children playing outside a flat in Langa. Flats are brick buildings built during Apartheid for single black workers coming from Transkei and other regions of South Africa. they had a room 3 meters x 3 meters. Now in these rooms, 3 mt x 3 mt, people live up to 8/9 persons.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
A man outside his room 3 mt x 3 mt, in a flat in Langa. Flats are brick buildings built during Apartheid for single black workers coming from Transkei and other regions of South Africa. they had a room 3 meters x 3 meters. Now in these rooms, 3 mt x 3 mt, people live up to 8/9 persons.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
A man in his flat in Langa. Flats are brick buildings built during Apartheid for single black workers coming from Transkei and other regions of South Africa. they had a room 3 meters x 3 meters. Now in these rooms, 3 mt x 3 mt, people live up to 8/9 persons.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
A man in the bathroom of his flat in Langa. Flats are brick buildings built during Apartheid for single black workers coming from Transkei and other regions of South Africa. they had a room 3 meters x 3 meters. Now in these rooms, 3 mt x 3 mt, people live up to 8/9 persons.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
A child in the bathroom of his flat in Langa. Flats are brick buildings built during Apartheid for single black workers coming from Transkei and other regions of South Africa. they had a room 3 meters x 3 meters. Now in these rooms, 3 mt x 3 mt, people live up to 8/9 persons.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
Children and their mother in a shebeen in Khayelitsha. The Shebeen is the typical south african pub in the townships.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
A man and his child in his flat in Langa. Flats are brick buildings built during Apartheid for single black workers coming from Transkei and other regions of South Africa. they had a room 3 meters x 3 meters. Now in these rooms, 3 mt x 3 mt, people live up to 8/9 persons.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
A mother with her child on her back in a shebeen. The Shebeen is the typical south african pub in the townships.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
A mother with her child on her back in a shebeen in Langa. The Shebeen is the typical south african pub in the townships.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
A man, his wife and his baby outside their shack in Khayelitsha, the biggest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Langa, Cape Town South Africa.
A man and his children outside their shack in the dusty streets of Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Gugulethu, Cape Town, South Africa.
A child and his dog sitting on the dusty road in Gugulethu, in Xhosa language means "Pride", township in the Cape Town suburbia. His father inside the shack is watching tv. He's uneployed.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
A child outside her shack in Khayelitsha, the biggest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
A boy near a market in the streets of Khayelitsha, the biggest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
Men in a Shebeen, tipical south african pub, playing pool, listening music, smoking and drinking beer. In the shebeen xhosa people share beer and the story of their lives. This is the south african sense of brotherhood, called Ubuntu.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
Men in a Shebeen, tipical south african pub, smoking and drinking beer. In the shebeen xhosa people share beer and the story of their lives. This is the south african sense of brotherhood, called Ubuntu.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
Men in a Shebeen, tipical south african pub, playing pool, listening music, smoking and drinking beer. In the shebeen xhosa people share beer and the story of their lives. This is the south african sense of brotherhood, called Ubuntu.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
Street boys in the dusty roads of Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
A man going out a shop in Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Langa, Cape Town, South Africa.
The dusty roads of Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa.
Khayelitsha shacks view. Khayelitsha is the youngest and the biggest township in Cape Town suburbs.
Langa, Cape Town black Township.
The dark corridor of a flat in Langa. Flats are brick buildings built during Apartheid for single black workers coming from Transkei and other regions of South Africa. they had a room 3 meters x 3 meters. Now in these rooms, 3 mt x 3 mt, people live up to 8/9 persons.