Beloved Places
The country of South Africa is as diverse as the people who live there and speak any of its 11 official languages. Its natural beauty ranges from the sandy shores of Cape Town, shadowed by the majestic Table Mountain, to the calming valleys of wine country. For others, the rolling hills and green grasslands of Zululand are unmatched. Yet, some prefer the pulsating music and bright lights of Johannesburg, with shopping in nearby Soweto.
We asked our 2010 SA World Cup writers to share "my most meaningful place in South Africa" and were amazed at their responses. No two are alike and each could qualify as "a beloved place.”
Use the map below to locate the places our writers reference.
Durban
"The most meaningful place in South Africa for me would have to be Durban. My father and his mother were born in Durban, and my father grew up in nearby Gillits. Sadly, they have both passed away but whenever I am in Durban, I feel more connected to them. I now understand why my father didn’t like the weather in Canada and found North America boring at times. In addition to this family connection, I love Durban’s tropical climate, beautiful beaches and excellent food. The countryside around Durban is stunning and the light hitting the swaying fields of sugar cane on a sunny afternoon is magical."
- Shannon Lawder, C.S. Mott Foundation
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Mahatma Gandhi Legacy Route
“It is the Mahatma Gandhi legacy route. There is a wonderful exhibition on the life of Kasturba (Ba) Gandhi, wife of Mahatma Gandhi, at the Old Courthouse museum. That building housed the court in 1893 from which Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of a few days after his arrival in South Africa. Another place is the Phoenix Settlement about 22 kilometers outside of Durban, where Gandhi’s original homestead stands in the midst of an informal settlement. He always preferred to live among the poorest of the poor and there his home is located and his memory preserved. The inspirational trip is the most fascinating experience anyone can ever have.
South Africa’s prominent heritage routes also take you to the home of the famous John Dube, founder and first president of the ANC (African National Congress). He accompanied the missionary W.C. Wilcox to America. There, he studied at Oberlin College and lectured on the need for industrial education in South Africa. He then collected funds to establish Zulu Industrial School, along the lines of what Booker T. Washington did for the Tuskegee Institute (now University). This is the historic site where Nelson Mandela cast his vote in 1994. Recently, a statue of Mandela and Dube was unveiled at this site. The route takes you to many other places related to American missions."
- Ela Gandhi, Satyagraha – In Pursuit of Truth
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Ginsberg
"Located in the Eastern Cape, Ginsberg Township is the home not only of Steve Biko, but it also has nurtured the talent and abilities of leaders such as Tenjiwe Mtinso, now a South African ambassador; Malusi Mpumlwana, a bishop within the Ethiopian Episcopal Church; Griffiths Mxenge, an assassinated human rights activist; and many others. A small and very humble community, Ginsberg’s history speaks to the greatness that lies within each of us waiting to be developed."
- Y. Obenewa Amponsah, Steve Biko Foundation
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Johannesburg
"It’s downtown Johannesburg, which is a vibrant, rhythmic and sometimes a troubled city center. The inner city of Johannesburg is full of potential for change. It represents the best and worst of us, and often shows its hidden beautiful side when you spend enough time there."
- Anthony Prangley, Gordon Institute for Business Science
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Mpumalanga Province
"I hold a special place in my heart for Mpumalanga Province, which boasts fantastic landscapes and wildlife, as well as some of the friendliest and most generous people I have met in this country."
- Amanda Cooper, Cape Town Holocaust Centre
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St. Lucia
"The Uthungulu Community Foundation operates in part of St. Lucia, an area declared a World Heritage Site. Local residents refer to the area as the Elephant Coast, mainly because of the area’s beauty and richness in wildlife, game reserves, and natural flora and fauna. The area has all types of entertainment facilities and modern hotels."
- Chris Mkhize, Uthungulu Community Foundation
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Diepsloot, Alexandra and Orange Farm
"It is difficult to choose, but Diepsloot, Alexandra and Orange Farm hold a special place in my heart because it is there that miracles – as our patron-in-chief, Nelson Mandela, calls them – occur. A child is fed, a teenager discovers a special talent for art, an unemployed woman becomes part of a learnership that helps her seek employment."
- Amanda Blankfield, MaAfrika Tikkun
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The Mphumalanga Conservation Areas
“The Mphumalanga conservation areas hold special meaning for me. Although these areas are preserved for tourists interests, they are designed by nature. These are potholes, carved by water flowing over rocks. There are the Three Rondavels* – mountains shaped by nature. When you look at them, they make you feel that no human being can design something like that; only God the creator of all things. God’s window is a range of high hills. Mountain-like, they are clothed in high-growth vegetation, which attracts light mist the whole day. Reflections on the deep slope at the foot of the hills and the ever-running stream of water paints a sky blue color that gives the whole scenery a magnificent, glorious effect. There are also the Echo Caves, natural caves that echo every sound; sounds not made by any human but by nature alone. I love all of this raw beauty.”
- Oshadi Mangena, Pitseng Trust
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Eastern Cape
"Despite the challenges facing the Eastern Cape, I think the rural parts of the Eastern Cape, those areas around the Wild Coast, particularly those areas which are still unspoiled, have got to be my favorite. Here you can find the most awesome landscape. It is always lush and green and stretches for miles and miles – as far as the eye can see. The accommodations and food are very affordable – and the people are amazing!"
- Bernie Dolley, Ikhala Trust
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Drakensburg Mountains
"There is a small cave in the Drakensburg Mountains that overlooks Lesotho. I spent last New Year’s Eve there with my family, watching rainbows and storm clouds battling it out along the length of the valley before the full moon rose, casting shadows against the walls of the cave."
- Jenny Hodgson, Global Fund for Community Foundations
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Pumla’s house
"Pumla’s house holds great meaning for me. Pumla is a former WHEAT grantee. Her house is in the Samora Machel township near Cape Town. Although she is not a nurse, she works with HIV/AIDS patients – welcoming them into her home for short stays. Pumla nourishes and cares for her patients. She also helps them get on anti-retroviral drugs. Pumla restores their health and dignity. She has four children and a husband who all share one room in their home to make space for the patients. When I visit Pumla, young women come to her house to listen and to learn more about what the WHEAT Trust does. Some of these young women just might be our future leaders. Pumla’s kitchen is a beehive of activity and her tea is as strong as she is!"
- Sue Howell, WHEAT Trust
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Rustenburg
"Rustenburg, on the toenail of the Pilanesberg National Park, is at the top of my list. This vast circular geological feature is ancient even by geological standards, as it is the crater of a long extinct volcano and the result of eruptions some 1,200 million years ago. It is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its type in the world. The rare rock types and formations make it a unique geological feature. It is also home to the Pilanesberg National Game Reserve, which hosts all of Africa’s Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros). In my opinion, it is one of the best game parks in the country."
- Christine Delport, Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation
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Newton
"CIVICUS’ office is located here in the centre of ‘old’ Johannesburg. Newtown is synonymous with the heritage and culture of South Africa. A venue for brick making, it was known as "the Brickfields". In1904, the area was set alight destroying everything - allegedly to combat the bubonic plague. The area was re-planned in unbecoming haste and renamed Newtown, a commercial area where vast fortunes in milling, sugar and food merchandising would be made."
- Ingrid Srinath, CIVICUS
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Table Mountain
"Table Mountain is for me a sacred and unique mountain at the foot of the continent of Africa. I love when it shines crisply, when it’s wearing its "petticoat" and when it is invisible and shrouded in mystery."
- Father Michael Lapsley SSM, Institute for Healing of Memories
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Eldorado Park
"It is my mother-in-law’s house in Eldorado Park. Eldos is a township adjacent to Soweto and it’s where my mother-in-law lives and where my husband grew up. I spent my first Christmas in South Africa there in 1984. My husband and I lived there in 1992 after we were married. Of course, my two daughters have gone there for many school vacations and we have had many family gatherings there over the years. In fact, we were there just recently for Sunday lunch – chicken curry, rice, pumpkin, macaroni and cheese, roast chicken and roast potatoes. There were about 25 of us so we couldn’t fit in the house. We usually spill out onto the stoep (front steps). A lot of things have changed for me in South Africa, but there’s something about going to visit Grandma Anne’s house that keeps our family grounded. I’ve been dialing the same phone number for more than 25 years!"
- Christa Kuljian, University of Witswatersrand (Wits) Journalism
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Robben Island
"It is standing on Robben Island – looking back across the bay at the beauty of Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town. To me it represents the triumph of hope over adversity and proves what people can overcome if they have the resilience and strength to stick to their principles. The 1994 elections were our nation’s finest hour and I hope that we can recapture some of that sense of hope and togetherness during the World Cup."
- Dylan Edwards, GreaterGood South Africa
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Ndwayana
"This has to be the village of Ndwayana. That’s where my late grandmother was born in the Eastern Cape, between the towns of Peddie and Grahamstown. I love village life, as the tranquility and simplicity of life there helps me to refuel and to temporarily escape the hustle and bustle of city life. This village holds special meaning because my grandmother was the most influential person in my life – a kind and wonderful soul. Thus, place us very dear to my heart. It also represents a place of warmth, family and love."
- Vuyiswa Sidzumo, C.S. Mott Foundation
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Grahamstown
"Grahamstown, “the city of saints,” holds a special place in my heart. Located 130 kilometers (80 miles) from Port Elizabeth, the town has maintained its beauty and quiet environment. It is home to Rhodes University, one of the best universities in South Africa. The weather is such that you can experience all four seasons in one day! Best of all, there is the annual National Arts Festival which brings diverse arts and culture together. If you have not been to this town, that festival alone is reason to make the trip. Also, it’s quite magical to see the small town at night from the view of the 1820 Settlers National Monument."
- Saeanna Chingamuka, Gender Links
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The Seaside
"I am in love with the seaside in my country. I just love the feeling of South Africa's sand under my toes. I also love our urban spaces -- the vibe, the clothing, the food. I especially love the way our youth transform urban spaces with their creativity."
- Sibongile (Bongi) Mkhabela, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund