48 Hours in the Townships—Khayelitsha

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A February 2006 trip to Cape Town by MiriamMannak

Quote: Khayelitsha is, with 1.5 million inhabitants, the largest township in South Africa after Soweto. In the 1980s, all "legal" black people from existing townships were moved to a new township: Khayelitsha, which means "New Home."

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48 Hours in the Townships—Khayelitsha

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Overview

Quote:

About 40km from Cape Town lies the township of Khayelitsha, which means "New Home." It is located after Soweto, in the Gauteng province, near Johannesburg, the second biggest township in South Africa. About 1.5 million people live here, of whom many in shacks and similar inadequate housing. Despite the poor living conditions and the high levels of poverty and crime, Khayelitsha is a very interesting place to visit. Amongst the highlights: * Lookout Hill. You will have a fabulous view of Khayelitsha and the Cape Flats (the geographical area where many of Cape Town’s townships were build), with Table Mountain in the distance. * Philani Center. One of the most succes...Read More

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Kopanong B&B

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Hotel | "Kopanong"

Quote:

Of the two nights I spent in the townships of Cape Town, I spent the last one in Kopanong B&B in Khayelitsha. Here, a woman by the name of Thope Lekau is in charge, one of the strongest and most beautiful people I have met so far. Lekay, a registered tour guide, started her B&B years ago. "It made me sad to see that most township tour operators drove visitors through the townmships without giving them a chance to interact with us, and to really see what township life is all about,” she said while sharing a 0.75 liter bottle of Castke Beer. “Khayelitsha is not a zoo! I stepped up to tour operators and told them they could stop at my house for a drink or for lunch. Later, I decided to turn m...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 24, 2006

Kopanong B&B
Khayelitsha Township
Cape Town, South Africa
+27 (21) 361-2084

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Vicky's B&B

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Hotel | "Vicky's B&B"

Quote:

When you drop the topic township bed-and-breakfast in Cape Town, most people immediately refer to Vicky's B&B. This was the first township stay in Khayelitsha. Here, in the heart of the township’s shack land, you spend the night in a shack made out of tree trunks, corrugated steel plates, wood, and plastic. I desperately wanted to meet Vicky, because in my opinion it takes a lot of guts to start a bed-and-breakfast in an area that isn't exactly touristy. I hoped for great stories and brilliant chats with a wonderful and incredibly nice and warm lady—she has been described as such by most who have written about Vicky. It was one big disappointment. In contrary to Mam...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on March 7, 2006

Vicky's B&B
Site C, Khayelitsha Township
Cape Town, South Africa
+27 (21) 387-7104

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Golden's Flowers

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Attraction | "From trash to Art: Golden's Flowers"

Quote:

During my 48-hour township tour through Langa, Gugulethu, and Khayelitsha I have met many great, inspiring, and strong people. Golden is one of them, a man who decided to take his future in is his own hands, by making beautiful flowers out of cans. His heartwarming story, is one of inner strength and determination, one that isn’t easily forgotten. I met Golden in his small, brightly coloured workshop in the heart of the Khayelitsha Township, while he was making a daisy out of a Coca Cola can. I saw flowers everywhere I looked: daisies, roses, massive sunflowers, and more. All for sale, from R15 (about €2.50/$3.00) for a small daisy to R40 (about €5.50, $7.00) for a 30cm hand painted sunflo...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 21, 2006

Golden's Flowers
Khayelitsha Township
Cape Town, South Africa

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Philani Nutrition and Development Project

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Story/Tip

Quote:

During the second day of my 48 hours in the townships I visited the Philani Nutrition and Development Project in the township of Khayelitsha, a great community project that truly makes a difference in the lives of many people living in the township. Philani Center, involved in malnutrition, child health care, empowerment and employment, and AIDS prevention, was established in 1979 in the informal settlement or squatter settlement of Cross Roads. Back than, Cross Roads was a small settlement, but over the years it has glued itself to Khayelitsha. Here, the living circumstances are heart breaking: Poverty is sky high, most people live in shacks, and everyone depends upon communal taps. Sanitary ...Read More