1. Life in a Township A collection of pictures from the townships (informal settlements) around Cape Town

2. Township Facts Population of Townships 8-10 million (about twice the population of Minnesota) Total population of South Africa 40 million Largest township is Khayelitsha with an estimated 1,000,000 people. Khayelitshaand Guguletu (population 350,000) are next to one another. Many of these pictures were taken in these two areas.

3. Things to observe People work hard to earn a living Township residents try to make the best out of their circumstances. They work hard to improve their lives. Townships are homemade cities with as many modern conveniences as possible. What they don’t have they create on their own. Most shacks do not have running water or bathroom facilities. Sanitation is a major problem.

4. Township Residents Laugh Smile Tell jokes Play games Cry Yell Show anger Hug Forgive Care Show sympathy Help Dance Live life

5. Water TapUsually 1 for every 10 homes

6. Danceline Members

7. Fast Friends

8. Home from School….notice the uniforms! All schools we saw required uniforms!

9. Shacks Remember, these are people’s homes. They are constructed with whatever they can find.

10. Homes

13. Each house contains an average of 4 people

14. Each Shack needs an identification number

15. Some constructions are on top of one another, making 2 story shacks

16. Color helps identify ownership

18. Notice the power lines. Because many residents cannot afford electricity, they tap into the main power lines illegally. Laws against the practice are not enforced.

20. Waterproofing is a problem. When it rains hard, homes are easily flooded.

21. Some shacks are metal sheds.

22. Others are completely made of wood

25. The government is issuing housing as a reparation for apartheid. Residents are put on a waiting list to get a brick home. The average wait period for a house is five to ten years.

26. These homes are uniform in shape and floorplan. Residents personalize their homes with decor.

27. Townships go for miles with a mix of brick houses, hostels, shacks, and shops.

29. Do you recognize these?

30. Shell Gas Station

31. Look Familiar?

32. Shopping mall. Yes, it looks very much like malls in the U.S.!

33. Medical Help

34. Local Clinic

35. Private Clinic

36. Traditional HealerBecause Western medicine is associated with “white man,” it is distrusted. So many residents turn to traditional healers, or sangomas, who use roots, herbs and other natural substances to help the patient.

37. Schools

38. College campuses are vocational schools. This one is in the middle of the township of Guguletu.

39. School yard

40. Primary School

41. Primary School(Notice the fence!)

43. Creative ways of making a living

44. Entrepreneurial Spirit

45. Vegetable Stand

46. Shoe Repair/Cell Phone Repair

47. Barber

48. Barber – Cell Phones

49. Fruits and Vegetables

50. Wood for Homes

51. Hardware Store

52. Repairing Homes

53. Wall Art

54. Please keep in mind: Most people want out of the townships, but discrimination, lack of education, and lack of employment opportunities prohibit this from happening. People try to make the best of their situation by working hard, getting an education and hoping that employment becomes available to pay a living wage.

55. Community There is a thriving sense of community in the townships. Because privacy is challenged, people know intimately what is happening in their neighbors’ lives. There are friendships and cliques, hard feelings and envy. Even so, one who has very little is often assisted by neighbors who also have very little. Residents share a common sense of struggle.