Woza Cape Town!!

Woza Cape Town!

     Back in the late 1800's Cape Town was divided into 6 districts.  The sixth and last was allocated to all the poor people, white,  colored and blacks.  In the 1900's, an old church was turned into a school for music and drama.  The district began to thrive and these diverse groups got along.  By the 1960's the government of Cape Town passed a law that said District Six would become a white area.  The people were told they would all be evicted on a certain day.  The bulldozers turned up 4 days early.  The people were all forced out immediately and their houses and belongings destroyed.  Many thousands of them were left homeless with nowhere to go.  This area is still not developed and is a poignant reminder to all who live in Cape Town of the devastation that moment in their history caused.

     When Fred and I attended the theatre in District Six on Monday night, we saw a play that depicted these painful events in their history.  But instead of the night being a downer, we were given a moving and uplifting performance by the young actors and actresses of the theatre group.   Through their songs and dances, we rejoiced in their relaying the story to us.  We all left that night with the belief that Cape Town will rise above this tragedy and once again develop their neighborhoods into something they will all be proud.    Woza means "You can do it!"  Woza, Cape Town!!!