Sunday, 15 July 2012

Sunday Day 6



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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