By now you should have observed that I have a phobia for pictures, I have a phobia for posting my pictures on the internet but lets see how this goes
On Saturday 14th April, Hye Lynn (CPS staff from Arlington) and I stormed Soweto to visit some tourist centers. Not a very fantastic city but a significant place that reflects the history of SA. We visited the Regina mundi church where blacks took over as they fled the police during the apartheid, thereafter we visited the Hector Pieterson Museum. Hector was the first child (aged 14) who died in the struggle against Afrikaan - the language of the apartheid government. We also visited Mandela’s house at ‘8115 Vilakazi street, Orlando West, Soweto’. A stone throw from there is the house of Bishop Desmond Tutu both of which were Nobel prize winners living on same street. Before we left the area, we took time to eat from a buffet at Sakhumzi restaurant, thereafter, we visited the Mzanza community and finally the apartheid museum again in Joburg but this time with just Hye Lynn exploring. By the end of the day, I felt I had known the history of SA to a large extent.
A view of Joburg as we found our way to Soweto
Artcarft on the streets of Soweto
The words of Prime Minister HF Verwoerd, architect of Apartheid (1963) "When I have control over native education, I will reform it so that natives will be taught from childhood that equality with Europeans is not for them" - Extracted from the Hector Pieterson Museum
Absurd right??? What a statement, I was enraged when I read it. Of course he ended up without control
On Sunday, I finally attended the Anglican church at Waterkloof heights. Nice!
Last week – Monday to Friday (16th to 20th)
After our rigorous work of developing an FGD guide, Kathryn’s strict corrections/inputs and editing the interview tool that we were to administer to the target populations during our visit to the North star road wellness centers at Beitbridge (Zimbabwe), it was unfortunate that we were informed by the consulate that my Visa which I applied for at the Zimbabwe embassy in Nigeria was still not ready after three weeks of application. Reliable sources informed us that it would be futile driving for more than 6 hours from Pretoria to Beitbridge because I would be denied entry since am a Nigerian citizen (here it comes again – that tough screening always given to Nigerians, talk about the few bad eggs spoiling the bigger good. Nigerians are good people, resourceful and always ready to be creative, why would Zimbabwe of all countries give such a hard time, as much as I admire Zim citizens like Naume, Jabulani and Sheila, I don’t see myself permanently staying in SA talk more of Zim for a ------ dollars) – home and family is more precious to me. Well, well, amidst my efforts in visiting their consulate in Pretoria and series of calls, it yielded nothing and that was the end. I felt disappointed because it blew my chances of visiting the field. But something came up later in the week that compensated for the chance – Visiting the Methodist Church (refugee center) at Joburg.
But before I talk about that, I had the chance to make a presentation titled “A brief of key strategies employed by the CUBS-Nigeria project” on Wednesday. It was pleasing to see a huge turn up from the BLC staff including the COP himself – Don Harbick. It was a participatory process as we shared ideas on Gender mainstreaming, the Enhanced Gender Framework (EGF), Income Generating Activities (IGA) and Peer Education as strategies that could complement ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful and Condom Use) in HIV prevention. A copy of the EGF document can be searched out from http://www.msh.org/.
That same Wednesday evening Zuzelle and I visited the Methodist church not only to attend their evening service which lasts from 7 to 8pm but also to see for ourselves and have a one-on-one interview with some of the residents.
It took us awhile to locate the dark hidden gigantic church located at the far end of Prichard street, behind small street in Johannesburg. The sight that greeted us was pathetic. With mixed feelings of compassion and pity we went through dozens of residents as they littered inside the building, selling, eating and lying on the floor. We navigated our way to the service as they commenced with singing, prayers and the bible reading “Come unto me all ye who are weak and heavy laden, and I will give you rest … and the story of Peter and the blind man” Carefree without a worry, the members relieved their burdens by singing with emotions, children jumping around oblivious of the throes of life and adulthood, the mentally and physically misfit were not left out as they joined in the holy anointing and communion. One would almost feel comfortable in this place that had no stringent religious rules on dressing, conduct, how to look holy or flipping through many religious books instead they were free and from their heart sang to the Lord in the languages they understood.
By the end of the service, Zuzelle and I met with a couple of them as they relayed the unhealthy situation of their lives at the church. Without any legal documentation to reside or work in SA, most of these migrant populations from Zimbabwe, Cape town and other locations were to face a hard life to fend for themselves in Joburg, unable to find work and left with no requisite skills to engage in any tangible income generating activity, many have lost hope of ever finding a comfortable life and have stayed at the church now for many years. Sexual activities seem to be rife here as many came single and alone but after years at the center have given birth to several children (one would wonder who their fathers were).
Tina (not real name) was a qualified nurse who was divorced and had to leave her home in Zimbabwe as she came into SA. She found solace at the church but still slept on the floor even after a year of being at the center. With dysfunctional toilets, they had to endure the bad water streaming from the broken pipes down to their sleeping areas amidst urine stench. They paid R5 per week for Harpic disinfectants yet the toilets are still a sorry sight. She is unable to even get an opportunity to work at the sick bay or even to teach at the school. She seriously advocates for external support to re-build their toilets.
Alfred (not real name) is physically challenged and only needs only R250 to start a car wash business so he can engage other physically challenged persons like himself as well as support staff since most of them are unable to reach the top of cars as they wash.
Benedict (not real name) is in her mid 50s alone in the wide world, without husband or children she tried going back to her home land but had to return to the center when it was hard for her to get any kind of work back home. Presently she gathers empty plastics for recycling.
The stories seemed to be endless as we found our way out of the building, difficult to find a way for our legs as everywhere was filled with people sleeping on the staircases from top to bottom. We finally set out for Pretoria around 9pm as we resolved to follow up with the Bishop who was out of the country at the moment.
For more information do visit this link on what life for migrants can be at the Methodist Church http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/4299
Thursday was a unique day, never knew the BLC staff planned a send forth for me. With cake cutting and a gift I began to miss this family I have known for a month now. Wow!!
Do you know that on Friday, Roselyn was supposed to be off and working from home but she came all the way to the office to give me a nice gift…. Can you beat that!!! Thanks a lot
Still have more pictures to add to this blog. will do so soonest
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