Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
lacks the constant fear of crime and, consequently for Neil, a less anxious relationship
with the black Other.
Jozi
For other participants, however, Johannesburg represents the “real South Africa,” of-
fering new and exciting opportunities for social relationships and the performance of
everyday lives. Although these too are seen as “privileges,” these advantages are not so
muchunderstoodinmaterialtermsasinculturalones. Jozi isthenamegivenbysometo
representJohannesburgasacityofhope,andsomeBritishprefertopositionthemselves
by this metaphor. To illustrate, Lauren and Matt are a young couple in their thirties who
have lived in the city for six years, having come from Britain so that Matt could take up
a position as a Christian minister. In fact, Matt had been offered two positions—one in
Cape Town and one in Johannesburg. Lauren explained how they made their choice:
They'reverydifferent,yes.So,atonelevel,everythinginmewantedtogoto
Cape Town, because it's like, “I don't really want to emigrate, I don't really
want to go to South Africa (laughter).”
Lauren:
P:
Oh, you had mixed feelings?
Yeah, I had very mixed feelings because I'm quite English really (laughter).
CapeTownjustfeelslike,“Icoulddothat.”ButatthesametimeIalsofeltit
was almost too English. If you're actually going to make a difference, really
engage in South Africa, Jo'burg is—it feels much more—so I guess there
wasthattensionof—CapeTown'snicer,butJo'burgfeelsmore,thisiswhere
South Africa is really changing. And in the same way in terms of the demo-
graphics of the college where my husband teaches, it's 75% black and 25%
white. Whereas the college in Cape Town would be much more the other
wayround.So,that ability tobetransformed can happen much quicker upin
Jo'burg whereas I think Cape Town is much more pedestrian in its change.
L:
For Lauren and Matt, Johannesburg's attraction was its racial dynamic, and the ways
in which they felt they would be able to engage with this. They live close to a religious
college, where Matt trains black ministers as well as preaching in the church. The col-
lege is based in the south west of the city which, as Lauren explains is: “a nice area but
it's not normal suburbs.” By this she means several things. First, in terms of the repres-
entations of space, it is a racially mixed community, unusual in Johannesburg:
Down the road is Sophiatown which was the classic place in the '50s where all
theblackpeoplewerethrownoutofthetownship.Sophia-townisdefinitelymul-
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