Revisiting the past
Last year my son asked why it was a public holiday on June 16, so I took the opportunity to go down memory lane and answer all the questions that could arise on how we got here as South Africa. I thought Soweto was a good place to start. Known for its rich history, it’s always vibrant and is an excellent source of information throughout the year for South Africans and foreign visitors. I figured that we’d want to spend a whole day touring as there are so many places to see. I have been to Soweto more than 15 times and every time I go I always learn something new and return home enriched. The vibe was electrifying and we had a hard time leaving each place: Vilakazi Street prides itself on having had two Nobel Peace Prize winners who lived on it; the Hector Pieterson Museum is nothing short of a tear-jerker; we also visited the Isaac Morrison School as well as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu’s houses. There are various restaurants in the area, and we tried out both Sakhumzi and Nambitha – they serve delicious cuisine. Look out for street-art sellers, music, dancers and clothes being sold along the streets. For people hoping to sleep over, there’s Soweto Backpackers – it has a restaurant, and tuk-tuk and bike tours for those who don’t want to explore the area on foot. Soweto is not the place to visit if you’re in a rush, so go when you have the time to spend. – Lerato Monyatsi, Johannesburg