SOUTH AFRICA – I have been through Johannesburg many times on forced overnights and connections to other places that have held more interest for the general tourist, never stopping for longer than a night. On this trip I was fortunate enough visit the historical sites of Johannesburg and learn firsthand about South Africa’s history.

Liliesleaf Farm

By far, my favorite is Liliesleaf Farm. It was once the headquarters of the Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the ANC and the Congress Alliance. What was once a residence has now been converted into a museum where you can experience the accounts of the struggle and events leading to democracy in South Africa. You learn about the white family that covered for the revolutionaries that met there to plot the end of apartheid. I believe that what took place at Lilliesleaf is even more significant to South African history than Robben Island. You will gain a stronger appreciation for the country you visit if you can gain knowledge of its past.

Liliesleaf Farm - Aerial view of house at Rivonia

Nelson Mandela  posed as a caretaker of this farm in order to give the  façade of “normalcy” to the neighbors.  The museum explains the events that led up to the raid and the arrest of the movement’s leaders. The “snitch” turned out to be a  boy who went home to tell his parents that he saw something he had never  seen before — black and white men hugging each other. That alerted the authorities that there was something going on there and led to the raid.

Liliesleaf Farm - Vehicle

I really got a kick out of a vehicle they keep on at the museum. They would use overland safari/camping vehicles to smuggle weapons intoSouth Africa. The weapons were concealed under the bench seats where the tourist sat. The tourists on these vehicles never had a clue. I enjoyed watching the video of the tourist interview years later when they were told what they were sitting on as the traveled through Botswana. The look of surprise on their faces is priceless.

Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum

Hector Pieterson

Soweto a regular tourist attraction and a well-known important site for visitors to Johannesburg. On my visit to Johannesburg, I experienced a special treat. Along with the usual sites of Soweto, we visited the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum. Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum is located not far from the spot where he was killed during the protest by school children when Afrikaans was imposed as the official language of instruction to the township schools. There were 20 children killed during the protest when the police opened fire, but Hector was captured in a photograph being carried away to the hospital by an older student with his sister Antoinette running by his side. I had the fortune of hearing the account of the unfortunate events of that day by Hector’s sister Antoinette.  It was very special to be able to meet her in person.

Antoinette Pieterson & Anais Chavez