Destination Information

South Africa Summer Community Service Program for Teenagers

South Africa

South Africa is a treasure chest of unforgettable scenery, from lofty mountains to sun-baked deserts and dramatic coastlines washed by the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Its game viewing equals the best in Africa.

To the east is the Kruger National Park where the thorny bush harbors the ‘Big Five' animals to see (the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino) as well as many other fascinating animals and birds.

South Africa also has a vivid history. Apartheid was broken down in 1990 by President FW De Klerk, and jailed ANC leader Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years of imprisonment. In the first democratic elections to be held in South Africa, Mandela became president in 1994. The story is told in the excellent museums in Johannesburg, by far the most vibrant of the country's cities with a rich cultural heritage.

Apartheid activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu named the newly integrated South Africa the ‘Rainbow Nation'. It is a fitting name for a country with 11 official languages and people of all colors, races and creeds, living in a vividly colored and sculpted landscape. It is no wonder then that its cities are so cosmopolitan.

History & Government

South Africa as we know it came to be because of its position along the trade route that stretched from India and Asia to Europe. (they call it the Cape of Good hope as they ‘hoped’ it would lead them to better trade with India). It was a stopping point for most ships en route and in 1652 the Dutch East India Company founded a station on what now lies Cape Town. Initially the Dutch controlled the South of Africa but Great Britain seized the Cape in 1795 and stretched its frontiers further east through a series of conflicts with the local population. (which they won more often than not) . It was made a colony in 1806, an independent Union of republics in 1910 and a true republic in 1961. But it was not a true democratic republic until 1994.

After WWII, the white leadership of South Africa instituted a series segregation laws designed to limit the rights of the non-whites. This policy was called Apartheid (which means separate-ness in the Dutch South African dialect called Afrikaans) and was enforced often violently right until 1990. Many famous stories of struggle and rebellion are known including Nelson Mandela’s EPIC struggle of 27 years of incarceration and Stephen Biko’s efforts to educate which led to his death in police custody, aka murder. (you might know Peter Gabriel’s song BIKO).

In 1974 the SA government passed a law stating that all black schools had to teach their students half in Afrikaans and half in English. Most black South Africans spoke their tribal languages like Zulu so this amounted to nothing more than an attempt to ‘convert’ the black population. Many students and student associations decided in 1976 to stage a protest. On June 16th approximately 10,000 students held a peaceful march, waving flags and singing songs. Riot police at one point fired tear gas and one thing led to another and the next thing anyone knew they were fired live ammunition. The government initially estimated the death toll around 23. but later figure put the real number around 500, mostly kids, with estimates ranging from 200 to 700 deaths being said by many news organizations. The only good to come from this is that it effectively marked the beginning of the end for Apartheid.

The whites did not end Apartheid out of their own willingness, though of course there were many who did fight to end it. Rather the sheer amount of political and economic pressure inflicted upon South Africa through sanctions starting the 60’s, picking up after Soweto but culminating in the 80’s forced the government’s hand into de segregation.

In 1990 the white government of FW De Klerk liften the ban on Nelson Mandela’a ANC party (African National Congress) and paved the way to remove segregation. In 1994 they held their first true democratic elections, which were won by Mandela and his ANC. South Africa also took the bold step of acceding to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and destroying its nuclear arsenal - the first and only country ever to do so.

South Africa now lies as one of the most stable and successful democratic countries in Africa. There is still a very large disparity between black and white but the gulf is narrowing and although it is stable they do have a lot of work to do. Crime is still high although it is limited to certain areas like inner Jo-burg and the beaches of Durban at night. In the parks, especially with local population there are very rare issues. They rely very much on tourism and work very hard to protect it. All in all we just need to be careful but the safety aspect is completely manageable.

Our journey will begin in Johannesburg when we arrive from North America and we return to visit Soccer City before heading home from our amazing adventure.