Day 48 4th June 2024

Absolute heaven to lie in this morning, not sleep in but not getting up either except to make a cup of tea.

Today is our last day as tourists here in Africa.

We have organised a trip to Soweto ( south west town)

with our hostel.

It is here that the ‘blacks’ were first forcibly removed to and the beginning of Apartheid.

Our guide, who also works at the hostel was bought up in Soweto so was a great source of info.

We began the tour in Kliptown which is the poorest of the poor.

Tiny houses made of whatever they can find, but we have seen a lot of these as we have travelled through Africa. They don’t own the land so are forever temporary shelters.

They have communal water points and no sanitation.

Electricity is available as a prepaid system which everyone bypasses.

We also visited a kindergarten and youth centre here and with the help of many volunteers and qualified teachers they are doing great things.

They are also involving the community, not just the kids.

We then visit the Hector Pietersen memorial.

This is a a tragic story of a student uprising on June 16 1976.

Many students died in the ensuing days and many hundreds in subsequent years.

Hector was the youngest student to die at the age of 13.

His sister was also with him, injured as well.

To this day she is at the memorial to meet visitors.

Hectors sister at the memorial and her Hector in the photo

We walked up the olive tree lined road where the protests took place.

The olive trees signifying peace.

At the crossroads of this street is the street that both Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu lived on.

We popped into both.

Had lunch with the guide. Kota again.( Bread,chips and meats)

Back to the hostel for a relax.

Had our last dinner in Africa at a place called Pata Pata. 

A great place serving good South African food.

Toddled home to the hostel which was very lively so we had a quiet drink before retiring.

Tomorrow we fly home.

It has been a tremendous trip but we are tired now and ready for the comfort of home and family.

See you soon.