LANGA THE SUN
A visual tour through the oldest township of Cape Town.
South African "townships" are best known for their vibrant atmosphere! Immersing yourself in the township life is the best way to get a taste of African hospitality in its truest form! While the bigger cities in South Africa become more and more westernized, the townships have remained unchanged for decades.
This township, named Langa (Xhosa name meaning "sun"), is located on the eastern end of Table Mountain / Cape Town - and is one of the smallest and oldest townships of Cape Town.
While unemployment in these communities remains a massive problem, the resilient locals somehow find ways to survive through working together and looking out for one another. You will find and experience the township spirit of "Ubuntu" (a local expression that refers to behaving well towards others or acting in ways that benefit the community).
Local and foreign visitors are always welcomed with open arms and unforgettable smiles!
But should we be inspecting other people’s poverty? Are we helping this township or making their situation worse?
YES, we are helping! If you come to Cape Town as a tourist and just sip cocktails at Camps Bay Beach, eat in the restaurants of the V&A harbor and taste wine in the vineyards of Constantia, then you have barely seen Cape Town at all. Many of the workers who live in the townships around, have built this amazing city over years. They live in areas where you may have never venture and in conditions you have never seen before. So yes, a township visit will always open your eyes, we guess.
It shows how the vast majority of its citizens actually live; It taught us to think more deeply how politics can affect people’s lives; And hopefully helps to build a better trust between the black and white communities of this city.
We are more than happy to be "Ambassadors" of Langa and share this story with our western world! Carolyn & Pete
Photographer: Carolin Unrath
AND PETER SCHERB
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shot on Leica M240.
