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Chances are that when your plane will land in Cape Town, you'll come in low over Khayelitsha.
Just under the wings, as you fasten your seatbelt and look forward to your luxury hotel and safari, over two million souls - 90.5% Black African, 8.5% Coloured and 0.5% White - are struggling to make a living, somehow. In Cape Town as well as in the townships, there is a staggering amount of ideas, talent and energy. It is amazing to see how micro-credit support and a little guidance helps restore confidence and launches sustainable and profitable grassroots ventures. These enable women bread-winners to achieve financial independence and freedom. And that's what ACT is all about. |
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ACT works with and supports women-entrepreneurs in three different townships close to Cape Town.
The largest, Khayelitsha, was one of the apartheid regime's final attempts to enforce apartheid. It is now the second biggest Black township in South Africa after Soweto in Johannesburg with a population of over two million. 70% live in informal shacks. One third needs to walk over 200 meters to access clean water. Unemployment is 60%.
Gugulethu dates back to the 1960s and was established due to the overpopulation of Langa. Then came in many people removed from destroyed District Six. Some areas of this township are considered extremely dangerous.
Langa, a much smaller and older settlement, was established in the 1920s. It is considered one of safest of the Cape Town townships with a population of 70'000 on just 1,5km square, yet has an unemployment rate of 30%.
All this is happening just 20 minutes' drive from the fancy restaurants, the fashion & excitement of the Waterfront in Cape Town.
If we do not all ACT together, besides the silent human tragedies, this is, quite simply, a time bomb that will impact us all.
The largest, Khayelitsha, was one of the apartheid regime's final attempts to enforce apartheid. It is now the second biggest Black township in South Africa after Soweto in Johannesburg with a population of over two million. 70% live in informal shacks. One third needs to walk over 200 meters to access clean water. Unemployment is 60%.
Gugulethu dates back to the 1960s and was established due to the overpopulation of Langa. Then came in many people removed from destroyed District Six. Some areas of this township are considered extremely dangerous.
Langa, a much smaller and older settlement, was established in the 1920s. It is considered one of safest of the Cape Town townships with a population of 70'000 on just 1,5km square, yet has an unemployment rate of 30%.
All this is happening just 20 minutes' drive from the fancy restaurants, the fashion & excitement of the Waterfront in Cape Town.
If we do not all ACT together, besides the silent human tragedies, this is, quite simply, a time bomb that will impact us all.
