nelson mandela memorial service (as viewed from cape town)

You've probably heard about this memorial service on the local news. It was certainly the talk of the town here in Cape Town yesterday. Nelson Mandela's official memorial service was held in Johannesburg, at a soccer stadium near the township of Soweto (where Nelson Mandela lived in the 1950s with his wife Winnie).

Jim and other teachers streamed audio from the event while at school; I was in Cape Town, and stopped at the Grand Parade outside City Hall to watch a few of the speeches on the big screens set up for crowds there. The day was not declared a national holiday, which may have had an impact on crowds - they seemed to be smaller than expected in Cape Town.

I was interested to hear who was popular with the crowds, both in the stadium and on the street in Cape Town. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon received cheers as he began his speech from the Cape Town crowd, who were much more respectful than the audience at the stadium (who continued to sing songs during almost all the speeches). Former President Bill Clinton also received applause. Images of Zimbabwe's long-time president Robert Mugabe on the big screen were also big hit (Mugabe is controversial for his human rights abuses, nearly 30-year grip on power, devestating impact on Zimbabwe's economy, and policies of "indigenisation" - a law passed in 2008 that gives black Zimbabweans the right to take over and control many foreign owned companies in Zimbabwe). Former President George W. Bush (who Mandela had criticized over the invasion of Iraq) got a few boos, as did current South African President Jacob Zuma (Zuma's were much more intense, and likely stem from the ongoing and recent accusations of corruption as well as general dissatisfaction with poverty, unemployment and crime in SA, especially in black communities).

But the biggest applause by far went to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Every time they were captured on camera, the crowd erupted at the stadium, and I heard loud applause in the Grand Parade in Cape Town. I was back in the car by the time Obama spoke, but it was clear that his speech was well-received (to say the least) - it got a standing ovation.  I was awed by his speech (as were the radio commentators I listened to), and appreciated that he used the moment to call listeners to action and not just reflection. Here's a link to the audio and the prepared text, in case you missed it.

Rest in peace, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. 

bees shut down the middle school

 Better HD videos will be loaded later--internet here is a little slower than the states.

Bees Swarm Middle School Courtyard

Moving bees into the box

Queen Bee Walks into box

mandela movie and new political organization

After watching "Mandela:  Long Walk to Freedom" last night Jennifer and I were blown away by how accurate and vivid the imagery of South Africa and the race relations was portrayed.  The violence and struggle for political freedom has changed forms, but the sociopolitical landscape remains largely unchanged since Mandela was elected.  The pervasive attitude towards race has changed much, but there are still many ignorant people of all races.  In addition, economic conditions for white, black, and people of color have not changed much.  The poorest settlements are nearly 100% black and most do not have any running water.  Currently, there are large protests taking place to improve sanitation in the settlements.  In Khayelitsha there are currently ten households sharing a single porto-potty.  It is incredibly sad to drive by these settlements on our way to and from great adventures in South Africa.

One important realization that Jennifer and I have come to is that the settlements are a constructed reality--that they do not have to exist.  They were created in a system that was designed to make living situations so horrible that black Africans would move into the interior of South Africa.  Of course the interior of South Africa is not arable and there are no chances for employment--besides the mines of course, which have a continual supply of very cheap labor.  So, after twenty years of political freedom there has been little progress in addressing rampant poverty in the settlements. 

An interesting movement to watch is the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) who are currently vying for a majority vote in the Cape Flats.  The EFF stands in support of gaining more land for settlement and improving sanitary conditions within the settlements.  The EFF is running as opposition to the African National Congress (ANC), which was Nelson Mandela's party.  Corruption within the ANC and opposition to leftist proposals, the ANC is leans way left and can identify as communist, by the Democratic Alliance (DA) have thwarted much of the progress.  In other words, change is possible, but the political gridlock and corruption prevent progress from occurring.  For this reason I think the introduction of a third party and truly the second black party in South Africa will prove very interesting to watch.  The DA is the white party within South Africa and leans right. 

Here is the website for the EFF:  http://www.economicfreedomfighters.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7SKQZYdZ1c

Despite Malema's beret we hope he continues nonviolent protests, such as the Poo Protests, in which human faeces is dumped in front of government buildings, on major highways, and at the international airport, in an effort to draw attention to the horrid sanitary conditions within the settlements.

Hopefully positive change will continue--economic repression is still rife within South Africa--yet I believe these protests would never have been allowed to happen twenty years ago.  Democracy isn't always pretty, but it does mean progress towards a mutual understanding.

This is my first socially focused blog post, but I think it comes at an apt time as we reflect on the socioeconomic landscape that was changed so much for the good by Mandela.