This morning dawned cold and cloudy but perhaps that was apt
for a visit to the Apartheid Museum.
As adults it is easy to suggest that a visit to such a place
is a necessary part of a child’s education, but it is only after having spoken to
those involved do you really appreciate how important it is that experiences of
this nature are undertaken and that they should be a part of the total touring experience.
So perhaps it is far more important that followers read an
account written by members of the group; too young to be aware of the incidents
that led to the recent development of this young democratic country.
Today’s visit to the Johannesburg Apartheid Museum was an
educational and poignant view of the recent history of South Africa. It was
shocking to see, the level of segregation that existed in mid 20th
century South Africa. The barbarity of the ruling white minority was made very
clear by written accounts and film footage of their cruel actions and
discriminatory laws, highlighting a shocking part of recent history; that many
our age had failed to realise. As we walked around the Nelson Mandela exhibition,
we could truly grasp how powerful this man was, as both an activist in his
earlier life pushing for the rights of his oppressed people, and as a political
leader trying to unite a split nation. With this in mind, we moved onto the
second section of the museum which graphically displayed the apartheid period, passing from decade to
decade, the exhibits included artefacts
of a troubled nation, photos, videos and eye witness accounts of the horrifying
scenes of the last 50 years.
There were many exhibits which will have a lasting impression on us: A film clip of police brutality during the 80s showing the lack of mercy from the Afrikaans police, the room which not only listed the names of political prisoners murdered in their jail cells but the fact that their passing was symbolised by the hanging of nooses from the ceiling, one for each of them.
Also the blatant racism symbolised by the signs as you enter the museum, demonstrated the segregation of European whites from the native Africans and those of Non- European ethnicity was a very obvious and harsh reminder of the severity of the division.
We thought we would end on this quote from a prisoner that
knew he faced death, it’s harrowing message seemed appropriate to echo the
feelings of the visit
‘My blood will
nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom’
Rory Stoddart and Alex Fesemeyer
There is no doubt that this was a worthwhile educational
visit but at its conclusion it was important to not dwell on some of the
shocking images which had a profound effect on so many, teacher and student
alike so a visit to another mall (graded @ 7.5 out of 10) followed by a Brai,
Karaoke and a wonderful guitar session by Dan Lewis was a great way to end another good
day.
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