DAY 5: WEDNESDAY, 5 APRIL 2017 – CHENE NTOMBIKAYISE NZUZA: Cape Town

This day was awesome!

BO-KAAP

We started the day at Bo-Kaap, a colourful Cape Malay section in the heart of Cape Town.  Our tour guide informed us that the houses are brightly painted in different colours as a means of identification in the days gone by.

DISTRICT SIX MUSUEM

The visit to the museum was one of the highlights for me as it is such a beautiful museum.  They managed to recreate the spirit of the Six and I really appreciate the guided tour we had, getting information from a person who has experienced the forced removals personally.  At first, I could not understand how he could forgive the previous government, but after listening to him (and later to the tour guide on Robben Island) I understood that in forgiveness lies the healing of the wounds of Apartheid.  In a sense, the excursions of the day, related to our topic of migration.

ROBBEN ISLAND

I have never been to Robben Island and I am grateful that I could experience this excursion.  My first time on a boat and I managed to stay steady, unlike some of my friends and teachers!

The tour around the island and the tour inside the jail – in deed very moving.  The guide’s narration of the years he spent on the island, added an authentic touch to the day, seeing the island through his eyes.

We had a feedback session after supper that evening and it was interesting to make meaning of what we have just witnessed. The theme of forgiveness specifically came out strongly as some South African learners could not understand how any person can forgive such evil deeds.  Our teachers allowed us to speak openly and for me it was such a special evening.  Nobody felt scared to open up and there was no judgement form learners and teachers.  I want to say thank you again to Mrs Markram for arranging this day.  I am especially grateful that I could experience this day also through the eyes of my new friends as they would ask me questions, things I would never have thought about and forced me to think about it for the first time.