Soweto Travel Guide

A new made friends took us around in their cars all over Soweto

I dont know the names of most of them

Some have licencing issues so you can buy at a bottle shop and take in

We ended up in The Rock, one of the most famous bars, especially on a sunday, its in rockville suburb
it was packed
a beer was 18 rand but everyone again was just so so friendly and we were the only whites in there

Thanks to Tebogo our friend!

a great experience!

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World renowned and yet not known by so many South Africans. Ignorant on their part? I would venture to say 'yes'.

Many fear it and millions live in it.

The bad history and riotist past has been sensationalised and the good people and community and ongoing development is underplayed.

A place filled with culture, history, intrigue, sorrow, blood and tears, love and care.

A fundamental part of the heritage of South Africa!

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Shebeens of Soweto, before 1995. 1976
are as notable as those of Sophiatown,
evem Kliptown had a few

but the modern ones are good as ones
linguistic skills

what is a shebeen of the past
a home converted or the patio covered
with tough talking Mama
serving castle beer, klipdrift brandy or gordons gin
of course there is lion
and oce Kronenbrau until yhry proved to be too hot
a seller for SAB, who then bought out Louis Luyt's company
'fishing' tales galore

not only hooch flowed,
but 78rpms. then 33 1/3 then casttes and finally cd.s
were the source of music, jazz. soul. blues and now Kwaito

from these hallowed social points,
the many artist too emerged
whilst many were influenced in early days of Polly St sudio
under Cecil skotness
>>
that will be the linocuts
and pencil drawings
in the art
i personally felt the real African feelings from deep down
did not show up in the paintings

being awau from the places whre it and is still happening
i can now only use my recollections
and what i saw and experienced with
my limited use of words

having spent Youth day, 30 years after
to remember Hector Pieterson and other demonstrating Soweto studentas
in the comfort of an African-Asian's apartment block functions room
with other S Africna diaspora members
of all hues of the rainbow
nostalgia reigns

and duty calls me as an early elderly to get the oral historis donto the 010101
ww for all and posterity to see
shall i succeed for my and other posterities' sake

Unique Suggestions: get into a real non toursitc shebeen and eatery
travel with a local resident, not a registred travel / tourst guide
enjoy the mabience,
at local rand prices
not $s or Euros

be brave and adventurous

Luggage and bags: forget the Louis Vuttons, be a pleb

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: dress down, be smart and not look like overwealthy,
but still look elegant
it's treading the fine line

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Condowms if you want the explore carnally and sexually
UV cream, wet wipes,
liquid refreshments. natural or laced with 14% or 40 proof

Photo Equipment: digital cameraS, batteries, memory cards

Miscellaneous: Tsotsitaal - Tsotsis or gangsters spoke tsotsitaal which was a mixture of Afrikaans and English, but also borrowed heavily from American slang. It eventually became the language of African working class culture and was spoken b most urban workers.

Gangsterism

Gang ~ rash

Outfjit ~ Van watter outfijt is djy? (Which gang do you belong to?)

Gangster ~outie


Motsie ~ Ai, he's a kak motsie (Ag, he's a *** gangster)

Police and the law

Police ~ gatas / jaapies / sament-baadjies / ginger-cakes
Prison ~ mang
Hy's in di mang in (he's been arrested)
vier Hy's in die vier in (He's in Johannesburg Fort Prison No. 4 awaiting trial)

Shebeens

Drink ~ koek
Brandy ~ mahok Ek koek net mahok (I only drink brandy)
Beers ~ bee-ahs
Whisky ~ wieskie

Drinkers
koekers Hy's 'n kak koeker (He's a heavy drinker)

Ordering drinks
`normal ~ Tchee my bietjie koek daa! (Give me a drink!)

a gangster with a lot of money
~Ek se, Sis Fats, fill the table and count the empties; dan sal ons betaal!