Trevor and Gail's SA house
Trevor - A prisoner in his own home. Note the strength of these steel doors
Boerewors and chops for dinner. It was pleasant sitting around while this cooked just having a chat and getting the views from Trevor on SA.
Dr T Smith Master Chef31/01/2009 3:37 AM
My body clock is still adjusting to the time lag. I guess the sleep on the plane may have not helped.
Joburg airport did not have the feel of busyness that Sydney does. No documentation required to be filled out at all. So cleared immigration and customs in ten minutes. However on reflection the arrivals hall was much bigger than Sydney and upstairs where the shops were was very spacious. There were many people but not Sydney Airports crush feeling.
Got a Sim Card for the phone and one for the laptop modem I was loaned last weeks (thanks Jennifer). Lulu at the Vodafone shop was very helful. Picked up by Peter from Kensington Cottages and driven to my lodgings for the next two nights. Phoned Scott on the way to make connections with his dad Trevor who had to leave unexpectedly last weekend to see his mother.
Security is the predominant impression as we turned off the highway through the suburbs. Peter explained people sign up to have security guards employed 24/7 to patrol a stretch. High fences topped with electric wires and signs on many fences warning of familiar companies (Chubb and ADT) providing armed responses. Security guards with small guard houses in suburban streets staffed with men with guns. Signs warning “Criminals Keep Out.”
The apartment is spacious and adequate. Peter made a thermos of brewed coffee and offered to drive me for dinner to nearby restaurants. Phoned Ans about Saturday’s arrangments for SOWETO. Phoned Phumzele Ndlovu who was more excited about me being here than I was. First night at Bergville will be with Carol Irish and Phum will have breakfast with me Monday.
Trevor rang and I went to his house for a BBQ. Scott picked me up. The irony of this meeting was Trevor suggesting less than a month ago that he should be coming to SA with me. Anyway big hugs and handshakes (my daughters have nicknamed Trevor Bernie Mac from the TV series). Met Trevor’s daughter Simone and her boyfriend Justin. As we walked through the house saw family photos of years ago. Lesley Anne and Philipa were easily identifiable from their individual photos. A 25 year old photo of Trevor and Gail at his graduation reveals how little Gail has changed.
Trevor had the BBQ going (charcoal) and was preparing the Boerewors (spiced Afrikaan sausage) and chops. The kids all left and we spent some hours eating and drinking as Trevor reflected on life in modern day SA. His house is like so many – a prison in which people lock themselves away from the society which threatens them. An electric gate opens to let one into the house. The front door is steel fabricated grilles leading to an entry room. Every window is barred with the same sort of grills to keep intruders out. An electric fence, internal steel security doors and the sleeping zone fenced off by security doors at night when people are sleeping so if someone does get into the “living” areas they have to break into the sleeping zone. Of course the boom gate to get into the estate, attended by 24 hour security is the first line of prevention and the dogs the last line before actual entry to the house completes the rather sad picture. Despite all this the house was broken into in broad daylight less than a month ago. So of course Trevor worries about his two kids here. This is how most people living in any sort of reasonable housing in Joburg must live. So while freedom came with the end of apartheid, Trevor and many like him have traded political freedoms for a sort of security and economic apartheid.
My body clock is still adjusting to the time lag. I guess the sleep on the plane may have not helped.
Joburg airport did not have the feel of busyness that Sydney does. No documentation required to be filled out at all. So cleared immigration and customs in ten minutes. However on reflection the arrivals hall was much bigger than Sydney and upstairs where the shops were was very spacious. There were many people but not Sydney Airports crush feeling.
Got a Sim Card for the phone and one for the laptop modem I was loaned last weeks (thanks Jennifer). Lulu at the Vodafone shop was very helful. Picked up by Peter from Kensington Cottages and driven to my lodgings for the next two nights. Phoned Scott on the way to make connections with his dad Trevor who had to leave unexpectedly last weekend to see his mother.
Security is the predominant impression as we turned off the highway through the suburbs. Peter explained people sign up to have security guards employed 24/7 to patrol a stretch. High fences topped with electric wires and signs on many fences warning of familiar companies (Chubb and ADT) providing armed responses. Security guards with small guard houses in suburban streets staffed with men with guns. Signs warning “Criminals Keep Out.”
The apartment is spacious and adequate. Peter made a thermos of brewed coffee and offered to drive me for dinner to nearby restaurants. Phoned Ans about Saturday’s arrangments for SOWETO. Phoned Phumzele Ndlovu who was more excited about me being here than I was. First night at Bergville will be with Carol Irish and Phum will have breakfast with me Monday.
Trevor rang and I went to his house for a BBQ. Scott picked me up. The irony of this meeting was Trevor suggesting less than a month ago that he should be coming to SA with me. Anyway big hugs and handshakes (my daughters have nicknamed Trevor Bernie Mac from the TV series). Met Trevor’s daughter Simone and her boyfriend Justin. As we walked through the house saw family photos of years ago. Lesley Anne and Philipa were easily identifiable from their individual photos. A 25 year old photo of Trevor and Gail at his graduation reveals how little Gail has changed.
Trevor had the BBQ going (charcoal) and was preparing the Boerewors (spiced Afrikaan sausage) and chops. The kids all left and we spent some hours eating and drinking as Trevor reflected on life in modern day SA. His house is like so many – a prison in which people lock themselves away from the society which threatens them. An electric gate opens to let one into the house. The front door is steel fabricated grilles leading to an entry room. Every window is barred with the same sort of grills to keep intruders out. An electric fence, internal steel security doors and the sleeping zone fenced off by security doors at night when people are sleeping so if someone does get into the “living” areas they have to break into the sleeping zone. Of course the boom gate to get into the estate, attended by 24 hour security is the first line of prevention and the dogs the last line before actual entry to the house completes the rather sad picture. Despite all this the house was broken into in broad daylight less than a month ago. So of course Trevor worries about his two kids here. This is how most people living in any sort of reasonable housing in Joburg must live. So while freedom came with the end of apartheid, Trevor and many like him have traded political freedoms for a sort of security and economic apartheid.
Trevor and I
Trevor and Gail? No scott and Simone are dead ringers for their parents
Simone, me, Trevor and Scott in ObservatoryTrevor drove me back to Kensington. He sought directions from police on patrol who guided us to the road we needed to go to. Very impressive. While the streets were beautiful to drive along so late at night the constant concern about the dangers was reflected in virtually no activity and few cars on the roads. To bed around midnight.
As if to remind me about your trip, Latvian TV is translating a docu film about South Africa tonight. It is focused on football (soccer) mainly, but I am watching it with the thought: "Eddie is over there!"
ReplyDeleteFrom what you have written so far looks like you have a good start there. Wish you all the best!
Nora