Welcome to South Africa

It dawned on me that it was probably time to tell you a bit more about South Africa, our current country of residence. I try to research every country we visit to learn more about it and its people. Located at the very southern tip of the African continent, South Africa's land area is equal to just under twice the size of Texas and the current population is estimated at about 53 million people.

South Africa is probably one of the most culturally diverse countries we've ever visited. There are 11 official national languages! Luckily, English is one of them. Most signs are in at least three languages: English, Afrikaans and isiZulu. Walking along the streets, we hear voices speaking so many unrecognizable languages, including a noticeable click inherent in so many of the native languages here.

Bartolomu Dias first rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1488 establishing the first ocean route from Europe to India. In 1652, the Dutch founded the city of Cape Town, a re-provisioning station and stopover point on the “Spice Route” to the Far East. The Brits seized Cape Town in 1802  and the Dutch settlers, known as Boers and subsequently Afrikaners, moved north. After years of dissension and wars, the Afrikaners and Brits ruled jointly for a time. It was in 1948, that “apartheid” was legalized and not until 1994, that it was abolished and Nelson Mandela was voted into power. One of my favorite historic novels is James Michener's The Covenant which deals with the founding and settling of South Africa. Nelson Mandela's book Long Walk to Freedom is a life lesson in strife, patience and humanity.

South Africa is rich in minerals, unique flora and fauna and can boast many superlatives and firsts. Here are a few …

• South Africa has the longest wine route in the world. (I'll drink to that!)
• The deepest mine in the world is a gold mine in South Africa. In 1977 the Western Deep Levels Mine reached a depth of 11,749 feet. Most mines descend to about 3,300 feet.
• The Tugela Falls is the second highest waterfall in the world, where the water tumbles down 2,789 feet. First place goes to the Angel Falls in Venezuela at 3,212 feet.
• South Africa is the world's largest producer of macadamia nuts.
• South Africa is the world's leader in mining and minerals. It has nearly 90% of the platinum metals on earth, 80% of the manganese, 73% of the chrome, 45% of the vanadium and 41% of the gold.
• Dr. Christiaan Barnard, at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, performed the first human heart transplant in the world in 1967. He was also the first to do a "piggyback" transplant in 1971, and he was the first to do a heart-lung transplant.
• The world's largest diamond was the Cullinan Diamond, found in South Africa in 1905. It weighed 3,106.75 carats uncut. It was cut into the Great Star of Africa, weighing 530.2 carats, the Lesser Star of Africa, which weighs 317.40 carats, and 104 other diamonds of nearly flawless color and clarity. They now form part of the British crown jewels.

• There are about 280,000 windmills on farms across South Africa.
• There are more than 2,000 shipwrecks, dating back at least 500 years, off the South African coast. Some simply vanished without a trace.
• Although Pretoria is considered to be the capital of South Africa, the country actually has three capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial).

There's so much more to learn and discover. Stick around. This is going to be a great adventure.

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Nelson Mandela - A Small Tribute to a Great Man

 

I noticed that all US flags were at half mast the other day (December 7th) and then remembered it was Pearl Harbor Day. On December 8th, they were at half mast again and I wondered why, but I hoped it was in tribute to Nelson Mandela. And it was and I was pleased and proud that the US was honoring a great man with this simple, conjoined effort.

When we visited Cape Town, South Africa a few years ago, we made it a point to take the little ferry boat to Robben Island. There we boarded a bus that took us on a tour of the desolate, barren, dried out place that Nelson Mandela called home for 18 of his 27 years of incarceration. Ex-political prisoners who had been imprisoned at Robben Island served as our hosts and guides.

We saw the limestone quarry where political prisoners labored, piling rocks and moving them from one place to another. No meaningful work allowed … just useless labor.

We saw his cell … tiny, cold, hard, gray concrete overlooking a concrete courtyard. He described it in his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom:

“ It overlooked the courtyard and had a small eye-level window. I could walk the length of my cell in three paces. When I lay down, I could feel the wall with my feet and my head grazed the concrete at the other side. The width was about six feet and the walls were at least two feet thick. Each cell had a white card posted outside of it with our name and our prison service number. Mine read, “N. Mandela 466/64,” which meant I was the 466th prisoner admitted to the island in 1964. I was forty-six years old, a political prisoner with a life sentence, and that small cramped place was to be my home for I knew not how long.”

No contact was allowed with the outside world. No visitors. It was dirty, dank and the prisoners were subjected to indescribable and constant humiliation. How does a man tolerate the intolerable? How does he tolerate it day after day after day and still be able to forgive his persecutors and strive for his ideals of peace and equity in a country that stole 27 years of his life?

There is so little greatness among us. After we mourn his passing, we must strive to honor his legacy.