More Cape Town Info - schools, shanty towns, and the film industry

Carol and I had an intriguing conversation on the schooling in South Africa.  Much of it operates much like the states.  Students go to school grades 1-12.  However, there are school fees involved.  There are higher fees for better schools and many lower income schools have under qualified teachers and higher truancy and dropout rates.  It seems from talking to her that both Carol and I saw that the system is still designed to keep the rich educated.  This has been evident to her when she proctored the exams that students are required to pass to earn a degree.  She has also seen stories of books found in ditches.  These were books that were meant to go to rural or lower income schools.   Recently students have begun to protest for better education from the government.

We also passed by some shanty towns along our travels around the area.  These are the result of the relocation of black citizens during the time of apartheid.  Now they are also the home to refugees from war torn African countries.  These towns are inhabited by many people who work 10-15 year to get out of them.  After the end of apartheid, it was too expensive for the population to move back, and their property was bulldozed by the government, so there are a few choices for those who were relocated or born into the shanty towns.  Some choose to move into the hostel-like housing that is provided by the government; however, many choose to stay and work to move out so that they can have a private home for their family.  Despite how they may look on the outside, the shanty homes are very clean on the inside and the people who live there have excellent hygiene.   The government cleans the restrooms and some are provided with electricity.  Some electricity is from solar power.  Some electricity is stolen.  There is a communal water tap per about ten people, and there are schools within the area.  It is also a policy (although not 100% true) to have a clinic within a mile of every citizen of South Africa.

Unemployment is officially 46% in South Africa, but that does not include the many who live in shanty towns and make a living with their crafts and cooking.  Some people who are in the low income bracket work for the equivalent of $2,500 a year or less.  Secretaries work for as much as $15,000 a year on the high end.  Many people who live in the shanty towns work in the shipyards.

On a lighter note, we also passed by a film studio.  The film industry is booming in the Cape Town area and is the source of many jobs in the area.  Movies from all over the world are filmed in these studios.