Imizamo Yethu

Overview

Cultural Informal Settlement

The stop at the Imizamo Yetho Township is available on the Blue Mini Peninsula Tour of City Sightseeing. This Cape Town township is situated in the picturesque seaside suburb of Hout Bay and is rich in South African culture.

› Hear how Imizamo Yethu came into existence – and today a Cape Town attraction
› Enjoy the views accompanied by Chapman’s Peak drive’s winding road
› Learn how a place of unhappiness became a township of prosperity

Imizamo Yethu was established in the early 1990’s as an area where mainly black people were allowed by the authorities to build homes known as ‘shacks’ or temporary shelters. Many of the black residents of Hout Bay could not afford, and by law were not allowed to buy property or homes in Hout Bay and had no choice but to look for vacant land on which their temporary homes were built. This was done in many cases without permission and lead to much unhappiness and aggravation with their white fellow residents. In 1989 the local government had to intervene and a piece of property was developed with basic services (roads, water and sewerage) on which black residents were allowed to build their temporary shelters and named it: Imizamo Yethu meaning “our combined effort” in Xhosa.

Imizamo Yetho - Then and Now

› Learn the history of the residents and how they lived not too long ago
› Realise what caused the prosperous change in their living conditions
› See what the help of a community can achieve by working together

The residents of Imizamo Yethu comprise mainly of Xhosa speaking people originating from the Transkei in the Eastern Cape where many of their family members still reside.

Previously though, the living conditions in the shantytown were shocking. A few years ago almost all of the residents lived in small corrugated iron shacks measuring about 9ft x 9ft. Few had running water in their homes and most were forced to share outside sanitation facilities.

It was not until the recent involvement of an Irish businessman, Niall Mellon which resulted in more than three hundred brand new, high quality homes of brick being built with promises of many more.

Cape Town Township Tour

› Take a walking tour with a township local as your guide
› Get a taste of the culture and vibe
› Leave with a sense of ‘ubuntu’ and a smile

Enjoy a walking experience through the vibrant, cosmopolitan and friendly township of Imizamo Yethu conducted by local accredited guides. Imizamo Yethu has a unique vibrancy that is especially noticeable to visitors from outside. A spirit of caring and friendliness (‘ubuntu’ as it is known in Xhosa) is experienced everywhere with children playing peacefully outside their homes and often in the streets. Traders selling their goods, ensure that many essential items can be purchased within a stone’s throw distance from most homes.

Much hard work still lies ahead for the residents of this township, but a process has started which hopefully one day the children of Imizamo Yethu will be able to look back with pride at what was achieved by their parents and community leaders.