Well done, a great perspective on what some call “voyeur” tourism. We have for more than a decade taken people into the local villages of Dixie and Utha (no need to call these townships, they are poor, but they are recognizably villages) and on occasion people have wondered whether they are prying into the private lives of people and whether they should feel guilty for that.

People in villages see it differently, not only is there the material gains (from clothes, school stuff to money … read more at http://www.buffelshoektrust.co.za and http://www.djuma.co.za) , but perhaps even more important in their perspective is the “reaching out”. That is, we have been so separated from each other that there is this real divide of us and them …. This is a largely white perception and what I find touching is how welcoming people are, like they are saying “yes, my abode is humble, but I am so pleased you are interested in my life” it is that interest in other people’s lives that seems to be the crux for many. As simple a gesture as that, goes a long way towards bridging that divide and make tourists realize that the villagers are people, like themselves … odd that since of course we are all people, but it takes that immersion into the village to make that realization real.

The ability to step into another’s shoes, even for a short while, changes people’s lives. Just like stepping into Winnie’s shoes can only leave you with immense respect for her strength; she has made mistakes, but – and this is something many whites do not understand – she is the mother of the nation and is almost universally admired by black people. Vilifying her, as much of the media (white owned in this country) does, misses the point entirely and in some ways is a reflection upon how far apart we still are.

Kind Regards
Jurie Moolman
Djuma Game Reserve