Freedom Day

Last Sunday was Freedom Day here in South Africa. Twenty years ago, the first democratic elections were held and every South African had for the first time a chance to vote. Nelson Mandela was then elected President and the Rainbow Nation was born.  

A lot has happened since and the country moved forward, but listening to local people and following the news, it seems to me that there are still many things to do. Some people have become very wealthy while there is a massive poor population living in shanty villages, many without work. Unemployment rate is 25% I read today. Next week elections will take place but everyone believes ANC (the governing party) will win again. 

Workers on William Nicoll upgrade

The Black Economic Empowerment system gives companies points when they employ a black person. These points are necessary if the company wants to do business with State owned enterprises. So when having to choose between a similarly skilled white, coloured or black person, the latter one will get the job. This has led to white people with low education having difficulties finding work and some are out on the street begging for help. 

Road works seem to take forever. Next to us, William Nicoll, has been a working site for the past years and there is no end in sight. When part of a road looks ready for paving, suddenly it is dug open again. Manual labour is used, which evidently increases working time. Some even say the reason for slow progress is to give people work! We just hope it would be ready soon to avoid the queues during rush hours.

At every traffic light there is a person selling something

Traffic police guiding traffic

Outskirts of Diepsloot shanty town

Driving back from Mozambique

The drive back home to Johannesburg from Mozambique was, as always, interesting. There seems to be a constant flow of people walking from one place to the other, maybe because public transportation is not widely available and cars are expensive.
 

The main roads in South Africa are mostly in good condition so we didn't have to drive zigzag to avoid potholes this time. But we had to be aware of animals all the time; cows, goats and donkeys were hanging out beside the road and decided once in a while to change sides regardless of cars approaching.

We passed local villages and houses quite different from the ones we are used to. Many of them are still without water or electricity. Now that elections are coming up in May, this is one of the complaints to the ruling party.

Mondi Paper's forest plantations.

Easter in Mozambique

We had a wonderful Easter in Mozambique! Driving to Ponta Malongane was a bit long, 10 hours in the car, but even Isabel managed fine. 

After Kosi Bay border it was 4x4 only, there were no real roads, just sand tracks. Luckily we didn't get stuck in the sand, not everyone was as lucky as we though! 

The beach was absolutely stunning, with clear water and great surf. This is where we spent most of our days, jumping in the waves. With almost no other people, just a few kite surfers and occasional swimmers.

And braai in the evening by the pool.