Friday, May 10, 2013

JOHANNESBURG TOWNSHIPS


SOWETO

Townships were usually built on the periphery of towns and cities,During the Apartheid Era blacks were evicted from properties that were in areas designated as "white only" and forced to move into segregated townships.

In 1985 the government introduced Black local Authorities and Township councils as an extension of the apartheid administration. Alexandra residents responded by establishing their own alternative to this. This counter-council was called the Alexandra Action Committee. The committee organised Alexandra into yard, block, and street committees to take over the day to day running of Alexandra Township.

Townships

  • Soweto
  • Alexandra
  • Orange Farm
  • Diepkloof
  • Tembisa

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

THE GUMBOOT DANCE


water boots


The gumboot dance is an African dance that is performed by dancers wearing wellington boots. This is called the Gumboots dance, the dance began in the gold mine South Africa.

The mine workers were not free to move around at will and were separated from their families for long periods of time. At best, working in the mines was a long, hard, repetitive toil,\. At worst, the men would be taken chained into the mines and shackled at their work stations in almost total darkness.

The workers were forbidden to speak, and as a result create a means of communication, essentially their own unique form of Morse code

Gumboot dancing has developed into a working class. South African art form with a Universal appeal. The dancers expand upon traditional steps. With the addition of contemporary movement. Music and song. Extremely physical, the dancing serves as a cathartic release, celebrating the body as an instrument, and the richness and complexities of South African culture. 

Friday, May 3, 2013

FACTS ABOUT AGRICULTURE

milk cows

Agriculture plays an important role for South African economy.
Cereals and grains are South African's most important crops, occupying more than 60 percent of hectare under cultivation in the 1990's. Maize, the country's most important crop, is a dietary staple, a source of livestock feed, and an export crop. 

The largest export groups are wine, citrus, maize, grapes, sugar, apples, pears and quinces. Other important export products are undermatured ethyl alcohol, avocados, pineapples  date preserved fruit and nuts, as well as hides and skins.

Primary agriculture contributes about 3% to South African's gross domestic product (GDP) and about 7% to formal employment. 
However, there are strong linkages into the economy, so that the agro-industrial sector comprises about 12% of GDP. 

For the past five years, agricultural exports have contributed on average about 6,5 % of total South African exports increased from 5 % (1988) to 46% (2009) of agricultural