Cape Town’s District Six Walking Tours

POSTED ON JULY 8, 2017

Walking tours are a fun and great way to learn about the history of South Africa and the Apartheid System. Cape Town has a few walking tours that are free of charge and are available without reservation. These tours have knowledgeable guides who will inspire you to continue learning.

 

We decided to take a walking tour of District Six, one of the neighborhoods annexed from the blacks by the whites, to learn more about the city. Our guide was a previous inhabitant of the district and had experienced first hand the forced removal of his family and being reallocated to the dangerous Cape Flats, a barren land reserved for black families removed from the inner cities.

 

Our group consisted of about 15 people who were visiting from all over the world. Our guide allowed us to introduce ourselves before embarking on this insightful tour.

He explained to us how the unfairness that existed during Apartheid is still present today. After the African National Congress took power, government funds were allocated to pay restitution to families who were forcibly removed from their homes by the previous government. Families affected could choose a lump sum of cash to start a life elsewhere, or a home in the area where they had been removed from. Various homes were built, which we saw during our tour, but our guide explained that only a few of those homes had gone to the intended families. Many were occupied by people willing to pay a premium to be close to the city, including foreigners, while people affected by the forced removals died waiting for their free home in their old neighborhood.

 

The guide seemed disappointed in his city; he continuously referred to Cape Town as “The City That Works For Some,” his spin on the city’s slogan of “The City That Works For You.”

During our tour, we stopped several times to admire the street art. Our guide explained the meaning behind the paintings, which made the experience even more emotional.

The tour lasted about an hour and a half. We more than satisfied with our great tour guide and the personal insights he shared with our group. We couldn’t help our tears from falling as we learned about the depressing stories of many families still affected by Apartheid. We recommend everyone to check out this walking tour!  Be sure to tip at the end of your tour!