Free Walking tour Part 2.
Another worthwhile walking tour.
Starting in the same place as all the others – Motherland coffee opposite St George’s Cathedral. Green Umbrellas – they are hard to miss.
You go through the history of Apartheid, from its inception, the laws and how they progressed. To District Six, Mandela and its abolition. My guide was Kenneth, he really personalised the tour with stories from friends and family. It made the realities of what happened come to life. It was eye opening.
We started at St Georges Cathedral, moved on to the court house, where you can see the rules for Europeans and non Europeans, the benches of whites and non whites. Ken explained about the pen or pencil test: you were considered white (yes they had to determine your race, wasn’t just skin colour), if when a pen or pencil was put into your hair and you jumped up and down, it didn’t fall out. How humiliating. 7 categories of races were the initial list and then it soon become 11. Can you imagine having to go to a court house to determine your race nowadays? The thing is, it probably still happens in some places…
We walked through Company’s Garden and Cecil Rhodes was explained to us and the garden shed which is now a grand building. Walking through that to the edge of the old District Six. Also saw Parliament and walked back through town to the back corner of the City Hall. Nelson Mandela’s speech was explained as well.
What was an added bonus was that throughout the tour, Ken added in about places to eat and drink which was a bonus. One of these was Truth Coffee in District Six, just up the road from the Museum.
Truth Coffee is a coffee shop with a twist – it is steam punk themed. Everyone is wearing something steam punk-esque. You can get super detailed on your coffee going on the flavours of your coffee in order to choose your beans. How you take your coffee next.
Or you can just do what I did and order from the already created menu. I know boring but I am not massive coffee connoisseur.
District 6 Museum was a no brainer after a cold coffee and a sit down. It is R45 to get in. Be aware they do not take card for under R80. You can do self guided or a guided visit (surcharge for the guided visit). The boards are easy to follow, and there are so many images of the previous tenants and what the streets looked like before and after the demolition. For those that don’t know the story of District Six it is perfect. So many stories and memories shared in an accessible way. There is a small gift shop with books about District Six and the people that lived there.
A very exhausting afternoon – but so worthwhile. Walking tours – still recommended.
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