The Purposed Trek

So after being here for 6 months, I get pretty excited when I can provide someone with directions or say a street name correctly. I know it might sound corny, but if you could read some of this street signs you would be excited too. To name a few:

• Hendrik Potgieter (still can't pronounce it)
• Hendrik Verwoerd (Hendrick Ververd)
• Hans Strijdom (Hans Stride-om)
• Wit Koppen (Vit Copen)
• Jan Smuts (Yon Smuts)
• Christian De Wit (Christian De Vit)
• Ysterhout (You-stir-hoot)
• Knoppiesdoring

So after learning how to practically spit when trying to speak Afrikaans, you might be able to pronounce the street names. But not so fast - the government plays tricks on you because many of the street names are named after government leaders. So when that leader leaves, so does the name of the street.

I finally learned where Hendrik Verwoerd was and how to pronounce it and then over night it is now named Bram Fischer. Hans Strijdom is now Malibongwe (which I like better). So not only do you have to learn a new pronunciation, but your 300+ page mapbook is out of date already and you bought it 6 months ago.

Another fun thing about streets here is that they change names every couple of Kilometers. For example, Christian De Wit, is also known as Northumberland and Wit Koppen depending on where you are turning on it. So you have to think way too much when providing directions. I usually just say it is either this, that or the other and hope they find their way alright.

And a leader responded to someone when they asked why he spent R60 Million renamed every street in his town...something to the effect of "it is about freedom". So I guess in this country you can place a price tag on freedom. They would rather see the name of a black leader on the street corner than making sure their neighbor has food and shelter. Another day in South Africa.

This entry was posted on 17 November 2007 at 11/17/2007. You can skip to the end and leave a response.