Soweto
A huge mountain-like dump of toxic soil taken from mines right in Soweto is symbolic for what it was and still is: a synonym for poverty, struggle and racial discrimination, to this very day. Would anybody dream of littering the wealthy northern suburbs of Johannesburg with dangerous substances? The half-hearted attempts to keep the toxic dust from spreading in the neighborhood by planting trees, grass and sprinkling water on it is painfully revealing how little progress has been made so far…
Chico, a former resident of Soweto, took me around in his car for hours, telling me about the history, the people, the living conditions and problems that people still face here. Nevertheless, he also pointed out the signs of progress.
