Jabulani Project

Interestingly tragedy can often create a surprising empathetic reaction. When Sylvia, one of the Umthombo workers, heard about Ntuthuko she immediately offered to help. A white female Australian counselling a male Zulu was certainly a first. Tekweni is a maelstrom of cross cultural comings and goings, discussions and debates, exchanges and friendships. It is fascinating to be here for an extended period, when so many are in transit.

Went to the cinema with Lucky who had only ever been to the cinema once before… in Edinburgh. The film was “31 Million Reasons”, filmed in Chatsworth, Durban, and based on a real botched crime. Not brilliantly filmed but fascinating. It was set in the Indian area. The audience was predominantly Indian so there was much laughter. I didn't get too many of the idiomatic references.

I have now taken two groups from the Hostel into the township. Everyone wants to go but they are too scared: up pops Babomkhulu Township tours. They were so successful. We visited the schools, a crèche, someone’s house, a shebeen and did a bit of walking in the shacktown behind Zwelibanzi. All were amazed by the friendliness of the locals. Their former perceptions of these as seething hotbeds of crime were altered. They also all contributed to Dloko, sponsoring 10 students.

Then the F.P’s arrived. We were all so excited. I was there to meet them with my khumbi, driven by Lucky (not Lucky Peko) and Siyande. Dance music blasting, we rolled into Tekweni.

On the 26th I gave my first lecture in Mangosuthu University. Four hundred grade 12 students from six township schools were assembled in one lecture theatre. It is a good example of what we are trying to achieve through EICL in terms of University/ schools partnership. The lecture went well. Two and a half hours of Feurstein, De Bono, Gardner et al with practical tools and strategies provided. I was exhausted, but felt happy to have done it.