In a month I will return to South Africa after more than twelve years. This is not a tourist trip but an update on the land and people I worked with for twenty two years.
I’ll be visiting Caesar Molebatsi who took over Youth Alive in 1977 during the fiery demonstrations in Soweto, and who gave leadership for many years. I hope to meet with many former Youth Alivers– eager to see how the Lord has lead, and blessed. Many are professionals, business people and Christian leaders– opportunities not open to them in 1977. I’ll also be meeting with a group of African Christian women who serve in leadership positions in the countries of southern Africa , i.e. Botwsana, Swaziland, Mozambique, etc.
I know I’ll be saddened by the poverty as people have poured into Johannesburg looking for work, living in slums.. AIDs is rampant, as well as crime .
I’m eager to understand the political situation under an African president. One of the friends I’ll be visiting is on the Johannesburg City Council, and her son works with the ANC (African National Congress) , the party in power, in the capitol Pretoria.
If you are following this blog it’s because you’re interested in my trip, and probably more than that, in what life is like in the new South Africa. Hopefully you’ll have read The Soweto Legacy (see about my books) so that contrast will be clear.