Durban,
7th to 9th October 2007
Durban was very sad.
The old Durban Club, symbol of Colonialism, is now owned bt Robert Mugabe
- the itinerant President of Zimbabwe.
On the streets below its colonial elegance white tramps now beg and up and
coming natives race the streets in their fancy cars.
While I enjoyed reading the excellent article in the Sunday Tribune written
by Jani Meyer on my book I looked out at the bay and reflected on just where
the country would go from here.
The beaches of Durban are strictly a no-go zone for what used to
be a white beach. Stall holders replace the old amusement park and many of
the beach side hotels are starting to reflect a "Hillbrow-like" appearance
- run down and no longer serving the purpose they were once built for.
The Suncoast Casino north of Durban stands out as a money-growing-tree for
the casino king Sol Kerzner. I went and watched S Africa beat Fiji in the
world cup rugby union semi-finals - while the Afrikaners st in the bar in
front of the big screen screaming at the "poofta" ref who had allowed Fiji
to draw 20-20 the natives queued at Kerzner's pokie machines (literally).
I have never seen people queue to lose money before so this was a first!
On the road home that evening Kerzner's PR campaign was in full swing with
some radio host proclaiming his greatness for establishing a hospitality
school where natives could gain skills in the tourism trade.
I was pleased to be out of Durban although its ity Hall still as one of the
finest collections of stuffed animals (including the Dodo).
Date |
Summary |
Thumbnail |
| 7th |
Flight to Durban from Johannesburg - great views; meeting a real sporting
star Shaun Diaz; The Sunday Tribune article about my book; the "white" beaches
have gone "black" and the sad fate of the "white" tramps - the new face post-1994
.
Full story at this link |
 |
| 8th |
The excellent natural history museum at the Durban City Council; the
sad fate of the historic Durban Club home of
South Africa's
first token coins
Full story at this link |
 |
| 9th |
The book launch at the Killie Campbell library
Full story at this link |
 |
Return to Scott Balson's 2007 book
tour
