First debate in Soweto

09:00
I’m sitting next to Enoch, my taxi driver during this stay in Johannesburg. We’re driving to Soweto, a mostly black urban area in the southwest of Johannesburg, for our first debate in South Africa. My impression of Johannesburg is that it is not really one city, but more a cluster of townships and suburbs. In my first blog I told you there is a downtown. From a distance this downtown looks like a lively city, but once you’re really driving inside, you notice a dead city full of poverty. During the past, this place belonged to the upper class, but now abandoned buildings and crime have become a feature of this part of Johannesburg. You also see poverty on the highways of Johannesburg. Hundreds of people are standing in the middle of these roads begging for money. I see people without legs leaning on wooden crutch, children (without asking) washing cars. There is also a beggar acting blind, I can see clearly that sometimes his eyes are focus on specific cars and windows. Because of the competition between these beggars, some are trying new ways to get some the money.
09:40
We’re driving through Soweto. The reality is different than what I expected from this part of Johannesburg. Instead of slums along dusty roads, like I saw in Brazil and Kenya, I see a suburb (not a middle class suburb off course) with little houses along tarred roads and playgrounds. Don’t get me wrong; I do not say it is wealthier than I expected, but it all looks so structured and organised. Enoch says that these houses once, during the 30's, belonged to white families...
13:00
The debate between ten kids, living in townships around Johannesburg, just finished. They talked openly about their personal life and I really grateful for that. I think it’s not easy being so vulnerable in front of a camera. We talked about several subjects; how it is for them to grow up as the fist generation without Apartheid. Is there a generation clash between them and their parents? How are the relationships between black and white people nowadays? They talked about their dreams, opportunities and fears…you will understand that the last two hours talking to them I will never forget! I’m looking forward to edit this debate, then to put it on Couscousglobal / Youtube and show these unique kids to the world. Tomorrow I will have again a debate here in Soweto, but then I will talk about something else: sex and relationships.