Once a refuge for victims of Apartheid’s unjust homeland policies this Free State settlement has now become a cesspit of misery and despair writes Nontsokolo Mhlotshana
When you think about townships in South Africa, you will often imagine vibrant and bustling settlements like Soweto, filled with tourist attractions and thriving businesses. However, in Botshabelo you find nothing but barren land and an overwhelming presence of alcohol, which serves as a temporary escape from the hardships faced by residents.
There are no facilities to empower young people through sport, arts, and other skills development initiatives. It is disheartening to see that the only source of entertainment for the youth in this area is indulging in these harmful substances, drugs, and alcohol.
Botshabelo, formerly a farm known as Onverwacht, has now become one of the largest townships in South Africa. But its origins lie in being a refuge for migrant workers seeking safety from the oppressive regime of Bophuthatswana, led by its strong arm chief Lucas Mangope, supported and aided by his racist Apartheid masters.
Through Bophutatswana, Mangope and his masters sought to transform the region into an exclusive Tswana homeland. This resulted in the marginalisation, colonisation, and even execution of the majority of Basotho people who once lived peacefully in this area.
In 1979 the Apartheid machinery relocated the Basotho people living in areas designated to fall under Bophuthatswana and abandoned them in this place, to deprive them of fertile land.
Residents were left scrambling, desperately searching for any means of survival. Many were forced to travel 45 kilometres to Bloemfontein, leaving their homes behind to seek employment.
The life of a job seeker became a constant struggle, with even the cost of transportation becoming an unaffordable burden. If one was lucky enough to secure a job, it often involved menial tasks such as working as a maid for white families, being a gardener, or engaging in construction work. But for a young man full of hopes and dreams, what kind of future does this offer?
Despite their circumstances, the young people of this township have tried to find ways to occupy themselves. Unfortunately, the majority of their hearts and minds have been cruelly consumed by drug addiction and involvement in gang activities.
I could recount numerous horrifying stories about this place, as the reality faced by its inhabitants is truly terrifying.
Imagine a young boy, full of potential and dreams for a brighter future. His mind is brimming with ideas on how to improve his life. One day, he walks to a supermarket where he encounters a group of boys his age.
Instead of engaging in meaningful conversation, they beg for money from anyone entering the store to feed their drug and cigarette addiction. This young boy, whose ambitions exceed the size of his worn-out shoes, comes from a broken home with an alcoholic mother and an absent father.
The weight on his young shoulders is crushing, as he takes on the role of caregiver and provider for his siblings. In the early hours of the morning, he rushes to the nearest tavern to escort his intoxicated mother home, fearing for her safety.
He has attempted to seek help for his mother, even involving the police at times, but his efforts have proven futile. His worst nightmare is the possibility of discovering his mother’s lifeless body, mutilated and brutally murdered, like the countless stories he has heard.
Unfortunately, this does not seem to faze his mother in the slightest. Consumed by fear and burdened with the responsibility of becoming a man at such a young age, he makes the difficult decision to quit school.
He believes that finding a job will enable him to provide for his family. However, most factories in the area have shut down due to interventions by workers’ unions. Chinese employers refused to pay their South African employees a fair minimum wage, forcing many workers to seek alternative employment.
This resulted in a surplus of skilled individuals who were unable to utilize their talents, leading to widespread job losses.
The government of South Africa and the Mangaung Metro Municipality turned a blind eye to this dire situation, offering no solutions or assistance. Unfortunately, many young individuals in this township are desperate to escape the clutches of poverty, depression, and a poorly functioning government.
If the government of South Africa truly cares about the well-being of our people, they must take action. By investing in the empowerment and infrastructural development of this region, they can provide a brighter future for young girls and all residents alike.
Government funds must be effectively managed to foster the development of our nation. There are countless neglected buildings and vacant factories, while there are also numerous talented young individuals with untapped skills in fields such as design, photography, welding, writing, and many more.
It is disheartening to see these valuable resources being overlooked. Young girls are incredibly vulnerable. It is deeply sad to hear the harrowing stories of their experiences. One young girl shared a horrifying account of her own life, which has haunted me ever since.
She endured the invasion of her home, witnessing the brutal rape and murder of her grandmother, and was left with both physical and emotional scars, including herpes and severe trauma.
Another young girl suffered the unimaginable pain of being gang raped by six boys. These girls found themselves resorting to desperate measures, such as seeking financial support from older men or falling pregnant on purpose simply to survive. Unfortunately, unless their family members are employed at government institutions or work as street vendors, opportunities for advancement are scarce. The majority of businesses are dominated by those who hold a monopoly on wealth. If the government of the Free State continues to neglect the crucial aspects of empowerment and infrastructure development, this region will be left with nothing but dilapidated buildings and a bleak future.
Youth who should be contributing to the economy will instead become a burden and liabilities. Furthermore, it is quite disheartening to witness the continued existence of communities relying on pit toilets, especially considering that we are approaching three decades in a democratic era.
It is difficult to not feel a sense of disappointment towards the current government for allowing such living conditions to persist, which resemble those that persisted under the Apartheid regime, where black communities were subjected to a primitive state and deprived of their lands and agricultural resources.
It is equally concerning that no robust engagement in the reparations or land reallocation measures has been implemented, particularly in terms of providing opportunities for young people in the Free State to engage in farming.
Instead, people are forced to live in cramped stands and shacks, while the majority of agricultural land remains in the hands of white individuals. This place of refuge and its young people who have nowhere else to run, need political will to help turn it into a haven of hope and progress. – news@mukurukuru.co.za
*Nontsokolo Mhlotshana is an artist and social activist working on youth empowerment and development programmes in the Free State
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