Hello, I am looking today at the tragic and completely sensless killing of a young female visitor to South Africa in the small hours of Saturday 13th of November. Along with her new husband on their honeymoon, they were stopped in a township at 23.00 on a Fiday night in a transfer vehicle driven by a local gentleman. The hijackers outed the driver and for some time drove around the township at some stage releasing the husaband but holding his wife. The hijackers and Anni DEWANI then headed off. The vehicle & the dead body of Anni was found in another township some hours later. She was shot to death ( forensic reports on possible other attrocities that may have taken place are yet to be completed ). Two young, successful and vibrant folks chose our home to visit for their special occassion, only one will return home.
When I caught this news on Sunday morning I was both saddened and angry. Being a senior member of our tourism industry, all acts of this nature are a poor reflection on our people. Angry to register that in the hands of a local driver in a good quality vehicle they were in a section of a township that none of us who live here and know our roads would visit at this time of night, especially on a Friday when the prevelence of drug/alcohol related incidents could increase. This whole challenge should never have happened !This incident has made worldwide press exacerbated by the social & finacial status of Shrien DEWANI. They simply should never have been in this location. Klaar ( finished ).
One of the negative spin off's of this event are many cancellation of township tours that are being felt across the industry. The very souls within these areas who depend on township tourism revenues, who strive to live Godly, fine and upright lives, who have extended families and HIV/Aids infected family members to look after and the many elderly who make up the extended African family to cater for. These folks who eak out a paultry living on a day to day basis in some cases face a bleak future and a dark Festive Season. All because of two criminals & the poor descision making of a driver. Due to these three, thousands upon thousands of African people will go without.
Now, I need you to understand and appreciate what this means for these good folk as well as the many initiatives they have taken as a community to better themselves. Take a cultural tour company such as Uthando ( means Love, nice eh, our townships have tons & tons of this comodity to go around ) www.uthandosa.org . Owned & personally run by James FERNIE, he supports in a meaningful and pro active manner 29 projects for social upliftment created by the township citizens and supported through Uthando. They have taken a descision to uplift themselves. A vegitable garden, dance school for children, a football team ( bringing the youth into the football areana is very popular in our fight against drugs/alcohol and gansterism )an old age home where when you visit, they sing to you, fuss over the fact that you botthered to call and say " Hi ". They will tell you stories of Africa of yore, their dompass, their Afica, their hope for their grandchildren.
For the folks who live life by the hour, relying on one single income family member who is within our industry as a township guide or driver or story teller, it is even worse. Thes cancellations of tour bookings means no income what so ever. Nix, zero, diddly squat for all in the chain of sharing. The question " After this event, are twonship tours safe ? " is being asked by many vistors to our land. My answer to you is a qualified YES. YES if you are in the hands of qualified guide with experience of township life, how the elements work and has access to credible, relible fully insured and permitted vehicles. YES if the company you are booking through has been conducting multi destination trips to these townships. You should know that these sprawling residential areas cater to over three million folk over an area similar in size to small County in the UK and you have to understand the dynamics of observing township life. NO if you are in the hands of the many companies who have little or no respect for the sustainability of our tourism indusrty and simply are out to make a quick buck and leave you at risk. In essence contact me if you are looking for an authentic, uplifting real insight into the lives, challenges and formidable successes of our people, their Spirit and Ubuntu ( you can find out what this word means.... ).
We are all connected was my title, the police have arrested a credible suspect in this matter through community support. You can run but you cannot hide, these communities are exactly that, folks who are in it for the long haul and are determined to make a better life for themselves and will not tolerate the criminal elements getting in their way.
Ciao
Colin J. FRYER.
Owner of Centre Stage Travel, Cape town, South Africa.
www.centrestagetravel.yolasite.com
Email: info@cstravel.co.za
