On labour rights abuses. Heh. [I've been hanging around guys too much] Or rather, just one in particular who is the funniest, straight-but-mistaken-for-gay guy I've met here. To give you a mental image, he reminds me a lot of Sandeep. Wayne happens to be a legend in the skateboarding world. Last night we stayed out late walking and talking about graffiti, gangs and his hate for Switzerland. More on all of this later.
I would like to make known again my apologies for the quality of these pieces. I didn't hit desired word count and didn't get everyone I wanted to talk to. Yet I wasn't struck down by the gods of journalism and I continue to produce premium crap today.
Main story: (it's long. just warning you)
Immigrant workers need to be protected
A recent Labour Court judgment ruled that undocumented migrants and refugees had the same labour rights as South African citizens if they were in a working relationship.
While a definitive and positive step in recognising the rights of migrant workers, the ruling only reiterates laws that were already in place to protect workers' rights.
The court's action followed a ruling by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) last month criminalising the conduct of an employer for hiring illegal foreigners, but protecting the employment arrangement itself.
The ruling applies to both written and oral contracts.
"We see this as a social justice mandate," Nerine Kahn, the director of the CCMA, said.
"The ruling will have a great impact in that before it was not quite clear whether illegal workers were covered or not by labour laws.
"Now, with the labour ruling, it is quite clear they are also protected by law for fair labour practices," said Nandu Manumbete, a labour lawyer with the Nkuzi Development Association.
Nkuzi is a non-profit organisation that provides support to marginalised rural communities in their rights and access to land.
Manumbete said the majority of people working illegally and being abused were on farms, but migrants seldom come forward because they were afraid of being arrested and deported.
"It makes it quite difficult to enforce the rights of illegal immigrant workers," he said.
In 2006, Human Rights Watch conducted a study of employment conditions for foreign farmworkers, particularly Zimbabwean and Mozambican migrants.
The study found migrants were especially vulnerable to exploitation, but also pointed out that South Africans were not exempt from abuse. The report did acknowledge significant improvements in legal protections.
For the most part, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the 2002 Immigration Act and the Sectoral Determination 13: Farm Workers Sector, provide an adequate legal framework for protecting farm workers' rights.
The legal framework for farm workers is consistent with international conventions South Africa has ratified. However, the report highlighted areas where much was left to be desired, and called for action from the government and civil society.
The most notable legal gap was in respect to the protection of undocumented workers, and subsequently South Africans, from exploitation.
With deteriorating political and economic conditions driving more refugees to seek a better life within the borders of South Africa, as well as growing feelings of xenophobia, surveillance of labour rights is even more important.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) shares a similar view.
"We think it is important to address the resolution of conflict," Tony Ehrenreich, secretary general of Cosatu in the Western Cape, said.
"In respect to undocumented workers, we believe they are entitled to workers' rights to labour laws. The reason we feel that way is also selfish. We're doubly concerned that migrants do not undermine existing labour standards."
There are 20 affiliated unions within Cosatu. One of the ongoing projects involves working together on a drive to organise migrant workers, Ehrenreich said.
The difficulty lies in the rising number of migrants, he added.
"It's like constantly chasing a moving target. We come, we organise and start discussions with the employees so at least the next time when they go to work for another employer, they know their rights."
The Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU), a farmers' association, said it warned its members about employing undocumented migrants and, if caught doing so, were on their own.
"We cannot do anything other than urge farmers to follow the law. If it hasn't been done, then the farmer has to stand by himself," Henk van de Graaf, assistant general manager of communications for the TAU, said.
Van de Graaf said one of the problems was a lack in local labour.
"Sometimes the problem is that local people go to big cities for work and there are not enough labourers. In those cases, some (farmers) take illegal immigrants and they work very well.
"We understand sometimes the issue is a labour problem and people use immigrants. We tell (the farmers) not to get in trouble and that they must make sure any labourer who comes to them has a proof of identity."
The TAU communicates with and informs its members via an internal news bulletin, but can only do so much when there are 6 000 members of TAU, but there are tens of thousands of farmers, said Van de Graaf.
The Department of Labour has also been working on a mass public information campaign to educate farmworkers and employers about farmworkers' rights and the penalties for committing abuse.
"We've been running television ads and advocacy campaigns," said David Esau, business unit manager for the Western Cape. "The challenge is language."
The Department of Labour does not distinguish between foreign migrants and citizens when it investigates reports of labour abuses.
However, the process of filing a labour complaint still includes asking the complainant to produce an ID or work papers, putting the undocumented worker in a potentially vulnerable situation.
"The Department of Labour has a relationship with the Department of Home Affairs to identify certain groups of people to ensure labour rights and occupational rights," Esau said.
"This is to identify particular employers who employ migrants and intervene to take action against the employer.
"Right now, we're focusing all our energies into getting money back to employees," said Esau.
The department identified the domestic, farming and security sectors as critical sectors based on the number of complaints received, Esau said.
Occupational and construction sectors are a problem as well.
"We have programmes in place to target those sectors and be proactive," he added.
The department is planning to do a study next year based on statistics of the numbers of complaints.
"The study will help us combat having to react through proactive actions," Esau said.
Esau said the response to complaints had been very good in the Western Cape on the basis of response time.
"The problems must be dealt with within 14 days. First, there is direct telephonic contact between the employer, worker and us where we try to mediate. There is an approval period of seven days.
"After that time, if the matter becomes a conflict of interest, a labour inspector is then involved. Then it becomes an issue with documentation to prove allegations.
"If the employer doesn't comply, the matter may then be referred to the labour courts or to CCMA. In the Western Cape, 93% of all complaints get resolved." About 20 cases a month go to court.
Another obstacle the department faces is a lack of resources to effectively monitor labour practices.
Currently, the department does not offer a specific hotline for people to call in about labour abuses. There are 12 labour centres throughout the provinces with approximately 919 labour inspectors.
The job of a labour inspector is to conduct inspections and investigate labour abuses in all sectors of the work force. Corruption is a real problem and, combined with the lack of resources, serves as a major hindrance in effective monitoring, according to the Human Rights Watch study. The department also acknowledged problems.
One way this is dealt with is sending labour inspectors out in teams. Inspectors are also given subsidised cellphones.
"We are currently working to ensure there is a process in place with the National Intelligence Agency in terms of Home Affairs to ensure that (the labour inspectors and their superiors are) financially viable," said Ivan Polson, the head of inspection and enforcement at the department.
"The fact is it's easy to exploit (foreign migrants) and this makes them more vulnerable."
At present, the labour inspection reports are not publicly accessible.
"Being publicly named and shamed could have major and serious impacts and yes it could work," Polson said.
"Employers are touchy about their reputations."
The department tried that tactic last year, but were brought to court after naming a company as committing labour abuses and a report by a labour inspector was found saying it was not doing anything wrong.
"We're doing new research on the name and shame initiative which will be ready by the end of May," Polson said.
The right laws are in place, but often times the follow-through falls short, said Esau.
"It's the responsibility of the worker to alert us to any changes with the contract."
Human Rights Watch suggested that the government should follow the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.
The convention would protect the interests of workers when employed in countries other than their own, and calls for a wide recognition of the fundamental human rights of migrants.
Last month, the South African Human Rights Commission held a round-table discussion with human rights organisations and other NGOs to sign the agreement.
The commission has been working with the Department of Labour to accompany inspectors when they carry out inspections, according to Vincent Moaga, the SAHCR's spokesperson. The problem again is a lack of resources.
The commission is making preparations to release a second report of recommendations to the government that will include foreign immigrants. Moaga did not comment further on the content of the report.
The Department of Home Affairs does not permit undocumented workers to get access to unpaid wages if they are deported.
The department did not respond to calls or e-mails from the Cape Times. The Parliament Portfolio Committee on Labour could not be reached for comment.
The Human Rights Watch report called for pressure to be put on the Executive to enforce legal protections for migrants as well as close supervision of labour inspectors.
caroline.smith@inl.co.za
Human interest part:
Refugee tells of exploitation and 'unbearable working conditions' on farm
GODFREY Muve worked 12-hour days with no break, while earning one-third the wage his boss had originally promised.
He had left Zimbabwe a year ago to find work in South Africa, but after two months of unbearable working conditions, he quit his job as a security guard watching vineyards.
"The job was scary," he said. The shifts were from 6pm to 6am. "Imagine at night people trying to steal and you have to chase them without a gun, without a weapon."
Muve never received the agreed amount of pay during his time there.
"I was supposed to be receiving R2 100 a month, but got paid R700 to R800. There was a group of guys who asked for their pay, but he (the employer) intimidated them with a gun," he said.
The group ran away and didn't receive their wages, he added.
The workers were provided with makeshift housing.
"He said he lowered our wages because we were staying there for free," Muve said.
According to Muve, he and nearly 40 other workers lived in a railways storage unit.
Living conditions were rough; the building had no windows or electricity, so workers used firewood to keep warm, said Muve. Living space was limited, he added.
There were three rooms; one room stored food and the other two kept people. "There were about 19 or 20 people a room and only two mattresses for each room. Most people slept on the floor," Muve said.
Muve said he never saw a labour inspector during his time of employment and their response after he left the job had been frustrating.
"When I got to Cape Town, I went to the Department of Labour to report him, but they told me I would have to report to the unit in Worcester," he said.
"The guys who were intimidated with a gun ran away and reported it to the Department of Labour in Worcester. The boss was phoned from the Department of Labour. Now, a month after, there has been nothing."
Muve worked during December and January until he left for Cape Town to apply for asylum.
After receiving his documents, he called his previous employer to get his job back. His request was promptly rejected. When he asked about wages for February, his boss refused to pay.
Lazarus Muhasi is still working for the employer.
"We're working about 24 to 26 days a month. Sometimes we work the whole week, but we do not get paid overtime," Muhasi said.
Muhasi wants to leave as well. "I'm afraid of what he has done to others," he said.
caroline.smith@inl.co.za
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Xenophobia
Posted below are two of the three pieces I wrote to contribute to a really big package on xenophobia for Tuesday's "News Review" section in the Cape Times. Andrea Hart and I helped reporter Karen Breytenbach on this. Refugees are right up Andrea's alley, so I'm so glad she had a chance to shine so early on into the internship. My third piece was held for next week so I can work it into an in-depth piece on non-citizen labour rights. I'm actually really happy and proud of myself that I came up with the story idea since I'm still feeling a bit like a small fish in a big, unknown sea. Make that 'plankton' in a big sea. I'm such a nerd. Anyway, here they are. ***Note: The stories received little or no editing so please don't judge the bad quality of my writing! I only feel good about a story after it's torn apart by a hardened editor. I guess this is why some newspapers won't accept clips from abroad. I'll just have to watchdog myself from now on.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Hout Bay township time bomb ticking ...
To a naive eye, a cursory glance at the township in Hout Bay, Imizamo Yethu, would appear to reveal a bustling place of chaotic yet somehow cohesive co-existence.
On a Thursday afternoon, children are running and playing as women are keeping a watchful eye, preparing dinner and chatting. The men are playing pool and talking in their own circles. With limited space and both economic and social constraints it seems there would be a strong community-based understanding of a shared situation.
Yet that is not the case. The clusters of people are calculated and defined not by proximity or personality, but by ethnicity. There are schisms in the community between South Africans and refugees. Xenophobia simmers in the back of minds and all it takes sometimes is a bad day to elicit it. In an 18-hectare area designated for about 2 500 people, but with an actual population of about 35 000, it is a time bomb waiting to happen, said councillor Marga Haywood.
"Some of the refugees are right, " said Pinky Dungelo, a South African. "I'm friends with the good ones. But 99% of them are not right. They must go back."
Dungelo, born and raised in Hout Bay, said her major complaints about refugees were that they were sick, dishonest and rude.
"We've got no problems with them; they have problems with us by stealing from us," she said. "They're dangerous. They act like they're looking for jobs, but their details are fake and we don't know their real names."
According to Dungelo, the refugees get women pregnant then disappear. Relationships between locals and foreigners are trouble. "If they have a Xhosa girlfriend and they fight, they beat the girl. They're not hitting her like the way a South African man would. They fight like she's a man."
Fear also exists on issues of safety and health. Dungelo believes refugees spread diseases. "Zimbabweans have worms and you get it from sex with them." Dungelo said she had never seen the worms before or knew of anyone who had, but she heard about it from other people.
Around the corner, no more than a few metres away, sat Hango Jose, a Zimbabwean refugee who has lived in Hout Bay since 2003. Jose came in the hope of finding economic opportunities. At present, he is unemployed. He has experienced xenophobic remarks before, but never any acts of violence.
"Several South Africans told me to go back to Zimbabwe and that I don't belong," Jose said. He doesn't feel the remarks are warranted or that refugees are taking jobs away from South Africans. "Most of the refugees here take the jobs at bars others don't want," he said. "The contractors are employing Zimbabweans. They believe Zims are stronger than South Africans."
caroline.smith@inl.co.za
Sudanese success story in SA
"I came to South Africa because of freedom and democracy."
Eleven years ago, Faiz Salih left his family and life behind in Sudan to try for a better life in South Africa. Now, he is a South African citizen, happily married to a South African and is manager of two stores. He regards his story as one of success. Salih attributes the small and close-knit community structure to his successful incorporation into South Africa.
"If you want to go anywhere in the world, first ask a Sudanese," he said. "The community helped me out when I arrived. Now when new people come, I feel I have to help them. At the moment, we have four guys and (the community is) supporting them and giving them a place to stay. We tell them where to go and what to stay away from. "
Salih does not think Sudanese have experienced xenophobia as much as other refugees. "There are not a lot of Sudanese in South Africa. In Cape Town, there are less than 100. Most are educated and involved in life in South Africa. Some people have told me to go back, but only as a joke."
As for his inter-marriage, Salih faced more antipathy from his side of the family, who are Muslim, than from his South African in-laws.
On the topic of refugees, Salih urged understanding from South Africans. "Africans have helped South Africa before. I remember in school we learnt about Nelson Mandela and there always used to be a donation. I'd go home and ask my father for money. At least when (refugees) come here you must give them chances."
He does not think refugees are taking jobs from South Africans. "We can't get jobs so most create their own. All of the Sudanese shopkeepers I know employ at least one or two South Africans. We help the community. We also help the country."
Salih wants to return to his homeland, despite his comfortable life here. It can be difficult, he admits. "Some people have been here for 15-20 years," he said. "They had no experience (in Sudan) and when they went back they didn't succeed."
caroline.smith@inl.co.za
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Hout Bay township time bomb ticking ...
To a naive eye, a cursory glance at the township in Hout Bay, Imizamo Yethu, would appear to reveal a bustling place of chaotic yet somehow cohesive co-existence.
On a Thursday afternoon, children are running and playing as women are keeping a watchful eye, preparing dinner and chatting. The men are playing pool and talking in their own circles. With limited space and both economic and social constraints it seems there would be a strong community-based understanding of a shared situation.
Yet that is not the case. The clusters of people are calculated and defined not by proximity or personality, but by ethnicity. There are schisms in the community between South Africans and refugees. Xenophobia simmers in the back of minds and all it takes sometimes is a bad day to elicit it. In an 18-hectare area designated for about 2 500 people, but with an actual population of about 35 000, it is a time bomb waiting to happen, said councillor Marga Haywood.
"Some of the refugees are right, " said Pinky Dungelo, a South African. "I'm friends with the good ones. But 99% of them are not right. They must go back."
Dungelo, born and raised in Hout Bay, said her major complaints about refugees were that they were sick, dishonest and rude.
"We've got no problems with them; they have problems with us by stealing from us," she said. "They're dangerous. They act like they're looking for jobs, but their details are fake and we don't know their real names."
According to Dungelo, the refugees get women pregnant then disappear. Relationships between locals and foreigners are trouble. "If they have a Xhosa girlfriend and they fight, they beat the girl. They're not hitting her like the way a South African man would. They fight like she's a man."
Fear also exists on issues of safety and health. Dungelo believes refugees spread diseases. "Zimbabweans have worms and you get it from sex with them." Dungelo said she had never seen the worms before or knew of anyone who had, but she heard about it from other people.
Around the corner, no more than a few metres away, sat Hango Jose, a Zimbabwean refugee who has lived in Hout Bay since 2003. Jose came in the hope of finding economic opportunities. At present, he is unemployed. He has experienced xenophobic remarks before, but never any acts of violence.
"Several South Africans told me to go back to Zimbabwe and that I don't belong," Jose said. He doesn't feel the remarks are warranted or that refugees are taking jobs away from South Africans. "Most of the refugees here take the jobs at bars others don't want," he said. "The contractors are employing Zimbabweans. They believe Zims are stronger than South Africans."
caroline.smith@inl.co.za
Sudanese success story in SA
"I came to South Africa because of freedom and democracy."
Eleven years ago, Faiz Salih left his family and life behind in Sudan to try for a better life in South Africa. Now, he is a South African citizen, happily married to a South African and is manager of two stores. He regards his story as one of success. Salih attributes the small and close-knit community structure to his successful incorporation into South Africa.
"If you want to go anywhere in the world, first ask a Sudanese," he said. "The community helped me out when I arrived. Now when new people come, I feel I have to help them. At the moment, we have four guys and (the community is) supporting them and giving them a place to stay. We tell them where to go and what to stay away from. "
Salih does not think Sudanese have experienced xenophobia as much as other refugees. "There are not a lot of Sudanese in South Africa. In Cape Town, there are less than 100. Most are educated and involved in life in South Africa. Some people have told me to go back, but only as a joke."
As for his inter-marriage, Salih faced more antipathy from his side of the family, who are Muslim, than from his South African in-laws.
On the topic of refugees, Salih urged understanding from South Africans. "Africans have helped South Africa before. I remember in school we learnt about Nelson Mandela and there always used to be a donation. I'd go home and ask my father for money. At least when (refugees) come here you must give them chances."
He does not think refugees are taking jobs from South Africans. "We can't get jobs so most create their own. All of the Sudanese shopkeepers I know employ at least one or two South Africans. We help the community. We also help the country."
Salih wants to return to his homeland, despite his comfortable life here. It can be difficult, he admits. "Some people have been here for 15-20 years," he said. "They had no experience (in Sudan) and when they went back they didn't succeed."
caroline.smith@inl.co.za
Saturday, April 12, 2008
I'm not dead (yet)!
April 12, 2008
Hellooo all! Or should I say 'molo'? I think I shouldn't. And let's not even talk about the 'sound quality of my clicks for Xhosa.
First of all, my thanks to all the wonderful, caring inquiring minds asking how things are going for me this side of the hemisphere. My apologies for dropping of the face of the earth and not responding, leaving some to wonder if I'm alive (sorry Mom, Dad). Hopefully this clears up any worries.
I've been really busy and internet has been spotty. Cape Town is beautiful and fun and since starting my internship at the Cape Times on Monday, I've been able to carve out more of a schedule for myself and, put simply, slow the f*** down. Running around with the group of NU journalism kids was fun, but hectic (BTW 'hectic'is a popular word used here and is often said by itself; think of it as a replacement for 'crazy'). It completely blows my mind that I've only been here for two weeks. I feel like I've been here for an eternity, but not in a bad way.
A brief and selective run-down of my life so far:
I arrived in Joburg, SA March 29. Prof. Doug Foster's partner Chengeyati met us at the airport and whisked us away to our lovely B&B in Melville. He left just enough time to buy cell phones (my number btw is 076 558 0510 and if you're calling from overseas you need 011 27 first) before taking us to dinner where we chilled with the editor of the City Press and NELSON MANDELA'S GRANDSONS!!! That's right. I just name-dropped. I spoke with K, one of the grandsons, for the majority of the dinner about his independent film career and music. Nice guy, nice skinny jeans. After dinner, Chengeyati invited us over to his house for wine. What began as an innocent get-together exploded into a full-fledged party as some of my peers got black-out drunk and two of my peers (both of which are living with me here in Cape Town) made out with people of prominent backgrounds. Andrea, my roommate, hit it off with K and feminist, peace-loving Ashley made out with Charles Taylor's son. You know the one. Former president of Liberia and prominent warlord (the Dad, that is). Oh life's little ironies. The following morning's re-cap of events was quite entertaining to say the least, especially in light of the fact Ashley didn't know exactly just who she had made out with and had skittered away when he had asked if she had "made sex" before.
Sunday we met up with Chengeyati for an informal tour of Soweto, the largest township in SA. We went to a museum and then to a restaurant in the township where the people-watching was just great. The restaurant can be best described as a place where foreigners come to get a 'taste' of a township and successful township residents come to flaunt their wealth. After that was a quick tour of a house Mandela stayed in for a bit after his release from prison (complete with a WWE champion wrestling belt given to him as a gift from some dude). Chengeyati then took us to a shebeen, an informal bar usually run out of homes where alcohol is sold without a license. Shebeen's are typically run by women who are referred to as 'Shebeen Queens,' according to Chengeyati. At the shebeen I broke away from the rest of the group to go and introduce myself to two locals and had a wonderful chat with them. A second visit to Soweto is definitely a must. That evening, I called my friend Teekay to meet for the first time in our life! After two years of e-mails and other correspondence because he helped me in my SA journalism class, it was amazing and slightly surreal to meet him in person! He was as great a guy in person as I had imagined and we talked late into the night. Eventually some other journalism students from the group joined up and we all had a merry time chatting and commenting on alcoholic drink names like sweet pussy and mermaid orgasm. I ended up getting a blue neglige which was quite tasty.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday were full of meetings with important people and organizations and were educational and inspiring I'm sure. Wednesday evening we left for Cape Town where Andrea, Ashley, Blanca and I will remain for the next two and a half months.
Thursday April 3, we hit the ground running and went to meet with a member of the prominent AIDS activist grassroots organization Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). They were in the middle of a protest in front of Parliament, though, so our group was swept up in a sea of singing, dancing activists. It was exhilarating, beautiful and everything in-between.
::PAUSE:: Have to go finish work on a piece on xenophobia for the Cape Times. To be continued...
Hellooo all! Or should I say 'molo'? I think I shouldn't. And let's not even talk about the 'sound quality of my clicks for Xhosa.
First of all, my thanks to all the wonderful, caring inquiring minds asking how things are going for me this side of the hemisphere. My apologies for dropping of the face of the earth and not responding, leaving some to wonder if I'm alive (sorry Mom, Dad). Hopefully this clears up any worries.
I've been really busy and internet has been spotty. Cape Town is beautiful and fun and since starting my internship at the Cape Times on Monday, I've been able to carve out more of a schedule for myself and, put simply, slow the f*** down. Running around with the group of NU journalism kids was fun, but hectic (BTW 'hectic'is a popular word used here and is often said by itself; think of it as a replacement for 'crazy'). It completely blows my mind that I've only been here for two weeks. I feel like I've been here for an eternity, but not in a bad way.
A brief and selective run-down of my life so far:
I arrived in Joburg, SA March 29. Prof. Doug Foster's partner Chengeyati met us at the airport and whisked us away to our lovely B&B in Melville. He left just enough time to buy cell phones (my number btw is 076 558 0510 and if you're calling from overseas you need 011 27 first) before taking us to dinner where we chilled with the editor of the City Press and NELSON MANDELA'S GRANDSONS!!! That's right. I just name-dropped. I spoke with K, one of the grandsons, for the majority of the dinner about his independent film career and music. Nice guy, nice skinny jeans. After dinner, Chengeyati invited us over to his house for wine. What began as an innocent get-together exploded into a full-fledged party as some of my peers got black-out drunk and two of my peers (both of which are living with me here in Cape Town) made out with people of prominent backgrounds. Andrea, my roommate, hit it off with K and feminist, peace-loving Ashley made out with Charles Taylor's son. You know the one. Former president of Liberia and prominent warlord (the Dad, that is). Oh life's little ironies. The following morning's re-cap of events was quite entertaining to say the least, especially in light of the fact Ashley didn't know exactly just who she had made out with and had skittered away when he had asked if she had "made sex" before.
Sunday we met up with Chengeyati for an informal tour of Soweto, the largest township in SA. We went to a museum and then to a restaurant in the township where the people-watching was just great. The restaurant can be best described as a place where foreigners come to get a 'taste' of a township and successful township residents come to flaunt their wealth. After that was a quick tour of a house Mandela stayed in for a bit after his release from prison (complete with a WWE champion wrestling belt given to him as a gift from some dude). Chengeyati then took us to a shebeen, an informal bar usually run out of homes where alcohol is sold without a license. Shebeen's are typically run by women who are referred to as 'Shebeen Queens,' according to Chengeyati. At the shebeen I broke away from the rest of the group to go and introduce myself to two locals and had a wonderful chat with them. A second visit to Soweto is definitely a must. That evening, I called my friend Teekay to meet for the first time in our life! After two years of e-mails and other correspondence because he helped me in my SA journalism class, it was amazing and slightly surreal to meet him in person! He was as great a guy in person as I had imagined and we talked late into the night. Eventually some other journalism students from the group joined up and we all had a merry time chatting and commenting on alcoholic drink names like sweet pussy and mermaid orgasm. I ended up getting a blue neglige which was quite tasty.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday were full of meetings with important people and organizations and were educational and inspiring I'm sure. Wednesday evening we left for Cape Town where Andrea, Ashley, Blanca and I will remain for the next two and a half months.
Thursday April 3, we hit the ground running and went to meet with a member of the prominent AIDS activist grassroots organization Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). They were in the middle of a protest in front of Parliament, though, so our group was swept up in a sea of singing, dancing activists. It was exhilarating, beautiful and everything in-between.
::PAUSE:: Have to go finish work on a piece on xenophobia for the Cape Times. To be continued...
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