Originally Posted by
BLUEAWAY
South Africa is a magnificent country and Cape Town a great city. Have holidayed there many times. Was there last year and will be back later this year.
But it is different and changing. When we first started going there NM was President. The face of Tourism and more was still very much white in colour. Over the years that has changed as has so many things. With over 25 million unemployed and not receiving any benefits its very hard to argue that there should not be more opportunities for all.
The incredibly huge townships are being transformed from townships mainly of corrugated sheets and open sewers to concrete buildings with hot running water and toilets. It will take decades to complete the transformation and not all will be a success.
The scenery is stunning, the good roads tend to be very good, the others are what they are, driving on the left makes it easy and whilst it is right to be cautious it has always felt generally safe.
I am in London tomorrow and expect to see more begging that I would in Cape Town.
The people who do have menial jobs will often travel say 10 miles to get to work and that used to mostly mean walking, Now there are free buses in the urban areas to enable people to get to work. Beyond those areas it is not uncommon to travel for very many miles from 'civilisation' and encounter people walking towards somewhere.
The ruling ANC party do not at a regional level rule the prosperous Western Cape and they would like to. Last year, as an act of growing strength, there was strike by the workers, the first ever in the very popular Herm**** which had a major impact on tourism and reminded the business owners not to be complacent.
The Waterfront, The City Centre, The Muslim area, Signal Hill, Camps Bay, Table Mountain, Constantia, Franschhoek and other parts of the wine region, Herm****, the Newlands Rugby/Cricket ground, Green Point Stadium, tour of CT harbour and all the other obvious tourist points are well worth visiting.
Two tips. Do Table Mountain as quickly as you can because it isn't always open.
If driving keep a copy of the Big Issue on the dashboard to avoid being pestered at traffic lights. If you want to cover of all the bases also white lilies, a coke can, sunglasses and bangles!!