Gypsy.Adventures

Out in Cape Town!

One night in Cape Town, after Khayelitsha, we went out in an area/street that is basically all different kinds of bars/clubs. super eclectic, really cool, and a fun way to get to know the city as a group.  actually, i probably had some of the best conversations with real south africans that night.  it’s easy to get good, real conversations going when you start with “i’m here for a class about your politics and society” during an election season in a place where EVERYONE has an opinion… without going into a ton of detail, i’ll get some phtos up here :) great memories.

South Africa is on the brain…

I’m re-starting the blog!! This is from my journal I took for the course.  Thursday, 5/9/11 we were still in lovely Cape Town :) 
Accompanying photos coming soon! Maybe because it’s winter but i really miss South Africa… 

Early this morning, we traveled to Community House in a different part of Cape Town to speak to some researchers from ILRIG (International Labor Rights Information Group).  The Community House itself functions as a meeting place for various community groups, unions, research, and other movements.  I was impressed with how many groups the house itself serves.  The man we talked to was intensely articulate and intelligent, and still seemed to be fighting “the struggle,” but in a different way now.

            First, he gave us a short history of ILRIG.  The “international” part of their name came from their relation to other countries during the apartheid era.  Outright talking about labor unions and mobilizing under the regime would have been intolerable and illegal, but ILRIG would put together documents and pamphlets about other countries’ movements, like in Brazil.  As he stated, everyone knew they were talking about a labor movement in South Africa, but used Brazil (where i would LOVE TO GO!).  It also let them learn from the struggles and victories of other countries’ movements so that they could move forward, even under “the system.”

            ILRIG’s function is basically to provide research, materials, and resources to groups who need it.  I thought it was interesting that they also try to connect certain groups who are working for the same aims and empower them in that way.  They also provide information about Africa’s history of development strategies, cultural and artistic expressions (e.g. movie festival), and posters or other educational materials.

        The idea of “labor” he talked about went along with this idea; it is an over-arching idea for all types of different interests and aims.  For example, labor and trade unions are some groups that ILRIG helps, but so is the shack-dweller’s movement, though he said they tend to stay more to themselves.  Another group that meets in the building is working toward the legalization of sex work.  This really struck me.  When he explained, though, it made sense.  As we’ve been learning, women are marginalized and usually very poor, so by working in the sex trade as a last resort to make money for their family they are victimized, and doubly victimized when they are treated as criminals. By tackling the legal aspect first, they can then tackle the reasons why women are forced into the sex trade in the first place.

   I wanted to ask about the education system as well.  Teachers are in fact unionized like other workers, in two main teachers’ unions.  A big problem he talked about, though, was the legacy of apartheid in the education system.  While language and curriculum issues under the apartheid regime have been tackled (e.g. English and another language for instruction, and changing racial and historical curricula), equitable access is a huge problem.  Private institutions that were common under apartheid in white, wealthy areas still exist today and are primarily attended by white students, though a small minority of blacks has begun to attend.  The quality of those institutions is of the highest caliber, of course.  So-called “model-C” schools under apartheid still exist, too.  They are publicly funded but parents may supplement government funds with personal money, as well, to provide more programs and better education. More blacks, but mainly those that can pay are attending these.  There are stark contrasts in the levels of education and the cultures of payment. (I’m definitely going to use this as a starting point on my research paper…)

    Overall I was very impressed by ILRIG and struck by the idea that there is still a struggle going on, just in a different way.  Now they are fighting to empower the liberated.  I also thought his points about COSATU were intriguing.  Though they may not formally break the tripartite alliance, there may be fissures that come from the bottom to break it up.  We discussed this later in class, and I think it may be a good thing, since it seems like COSATU’s aims and constituency isn’t being heard as much as they should or could be.

  The neighborhood was in itself a new experience.  It seemed like it was probably a working class area, which is not a new concept post-apartheid, but racially different (a colored/Indian area, for example, not part of the either the rural or white, rich urban or black township structure).  We were told that the area has a lot of immigrants from other African countries, such as a large Congolese population.  In some areas, it seemed like it was developing and had pretty decent houses.  In others, it seemed like there was evidence of urban decay and not quite as nice areas.  Overall, it seemed like a “medium” between what we have been seeing around our hotel area (Seapoint, Hoek’s Bay, Camp’s Bay, etc.) and the townships like Khayelitsha.  We had been looking for a “middle ground,” and this seemed like the closest we’ve seen.  It was actually a pretty area with more diversity and color than we’ve been seeing over in our area.  Even the Community House bus was very colorful and playing loud music!

  With a free afternoon, we spent time outside on the pool deck, getting some sun and reading. The pool itself was FREEZING, but nights in Cape Town are always cold, and the strong winds probably don’t allow it to warm up much either.  The sun was so nice, though, and the view was incomparable.  With the Atlantic Ocean to the front and the insane mountains to our back, I couldn’t be happier!  Packing will be a challenge, though—how do I have so much stuff??  The time is going SO fast!

Look for pictures soon! Cape Town, of course, being the most picturesque city ever, you won’t be disappointed :)