Chill by the fire

Today is Heritage Day and a national holiday in South Africa.  It is also Braai Day which is closely linked to most cultures in the country.  I had to work today so made up for it by having a braai on Saturday night.  I am exhausted though and can really do with a bit of just sitting next to a fire at a game lodge with a drink on hand like this guy is doing at Pumba Game Reserve close to Port Elizabeth.

Steve Biko's cell at Walmer police station

Today is the 35th anniversary of the death of Steve Biko, anti-apartheid activist and founder of the Black Consciousness Movement.  I was invited to visit the police cell at the Walmer Police Station where Biko was kept after his arrest in 1977 before he was taken to the Sanlam Building in town where he was tortured.  I hadn't seen the cell before and was glad that the opportunity has come my way as it is one of only a few heritage sites in Port Elizabeth I haven't visited.  The visit was supposed to be followed by a commemorative lecture by Helen Zille, at the time one of the journalists to expose the story and today leader of the official opposition, at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University but it seems that the university buckled under political pressure from student groups and denied Ms Zille permission to do the lecture. 

 

On 18 August 1977, Biko was arrested at a police roadblock under the Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967 and interrogated by officers of the Port Elizabeth security police.  This interrogation took place in the Police Room 619 of what is known as the Sanlam Building in Port Elizabeth.  The interrogation lasted twenty-two hours and included torture and beatings resulting in a coma.  He suffered a major head injury while in police custody, and was chained to a window grille for a day.

On 11 September 1977, police loaded him in the back of a Land Rover, naked and restrained in manacles, and began the 1100 km drive to Pretoria to take him to a prison with hospital facilities. He was nearly dead owing to the previous injuries.  He died shortly after arrival at the Pretoria prison, on 12 September.  The police claimed his death was the result of an extended hunger strike, but an autopsy revealed multiple bruises and abrasions and that he ultimately succumbed to a brain hemorrhage from the massive injuries to the head, which many saw as strong evidence that he had been brutally clubbed by his captors. Then journalist and now political leader, Helen Zille, along with Donald Woods, another journalist, editor and close friend of Biko's, exposed the truth behind Biko's death. - Wikipedia

National Braai Day

As Boing pointed out in her comment on yesterday's Heritage Day post, today is also Braai Day. A braai (or barbeque) is a traditional South African pastime. It is so part of South Africans that some group decided to celebrate Braai Day on Heritage Day as it is a intricate part of our heritage. So to celebrate Braai Day, we braai'd this afternoon. And went all out. Hey, whats the use celebrating something half hearted?

So from left to right: Boerewors (farmer style sausage), Skilpaatjies (or Karoo Oysters, which is minced lamb's liver wrapped in fat), Sirloin steak, Lamb chops, Lamb ribs and pieces of Lamb flank. The Braai broodjie (toasted sandwich made on the coals with tomato, onion, cheese and chutney) followed as soon as the meat came off. I am stuffed with left overs for tomorrow.

Heritage Day

Tomorrow (or today, depending on when you read this), 24 September, is Heritage Day here in South Africa. Heritage Day is a Public Holiday on which South Africans across the spectrum are encouraged to celebrate their cultural heritage and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people. Here in Port Elizabeth there will be several Heritage Day celebrations with onr of the main ones being a "Save our City" campaign driven by the Nelson Mandela Bay Tourist Guides Association. Activities will start at the Donkin Reserve after which a guides walk will be done past some of the heritage sites in the area.

The Donkin Reserve with the Lighthouse (1861) and Pyramid (1820) is very much part of Port Elizabeth's heritage in that the pyramid is a monument in memory of Lady Elizabeth Donkin after which the city was named.

So whatever you do tomorrow, don't forget to celebrate your heritage.

days gone by

This colourful bit of playground equipment in St George's Park is designed to commemorate the "Voortrekkers" or pioneers who opened up the interior of South Africa in the early years. It all looks entertaining and romantic from this perspective, but imagine what it must have been like for a whole family to live in this cramped space, being jolted along for months on end, heading into unknown territory, with danger on all sides. They were exceptional people.

Constitution Hill

Looking up Constitution Hill, in Port Elizabeth Central. The steeple sticking up in the background is from the Hill Presbytarian Church, which we have featured before.

Gracious old home

This gracious old home, on the corner of Newington and Dickens Streets, is now used by financial brokers. The house and all the architectural detail is beautifully maintained and it remains one of the iconic land marks of Richmond Hill.

Pineview

One of the iconic buildings in Port Elizabeth Central is Pineview, which is situated between Donkin Street and Ivy Terrace. When you contrast this building and Cora Terrace with the earlier post on the Victoria Hotel, you can see what a difference having a heart and a passion for our City and our heritage can achieve.

Monthly Theme: Paths and Passages Cora Terrace

The daily photo theme for this month is "paths and passages" and we have decided to feature Cora Terrace, which is one of the gems of Port Elizabeth Central. It is seen here in the early hours of the morning with its beautifully maintained Victorian homes.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

A sad old building

We don't always show the nicer side of Port Elizabeth and sometimes let the social conscience kick in.

A sad relic from the past is the Victoria Hotel, an art decor style building that has been allowed to decay to such an extent that it has become an uninhabitable shell. Like most of the buildings in Victoria Street its doors have been bricked up to keep out the vagrants and squatters.

Let's hope that its owner starts doing something about the urban decay he has contributed to.

Leather Lane

Looking down Leather Lane from Municipality Road, towards the Russell Road Cemetary and the Dutch Reformed Church, in Campbell Street. The grave of James Langley Dalton, who was awarded Victoria Cross, after the battle of Rorkes Drift, can be seen at this cemetary. I will feature his grave in the new year.

St Phillips Guest House

The St Phillips Guest House is one of the more upmarket guest houses in Richmond Hill. It was built in 1912, as the rectory for the St Phillips Church. It is situated in St Phillips Street, alongside the historic St Phillips Church.

Old Port Elizabeth #4

Row of cottages in Ivy Street, along the Donkin Heritage Trail in Central on a clear ans sunny day.

Old Port Elizabeth #3

This well maintained settler cottage was built circa 1863 in Ivy Street, Central. It along with many other cottages of the time, can be seen on the Donkin Heritage Trail.

Old Port Elizabeth #2

Picturesque old cottage in Military Road, in one of the older parts of Central.

Old Port Elizabeth #1

Looking down on some of the older buildings in Govan Mbeki Avenue (formerly Main Street), built in the days when this section was still known as Queen Street. These buildings stood on the beachfront in the old days and everything behind them is reclaimed land.

Green Piece!

Yay Yippee Yay!! It is appropriate to feature a photo from Central today, because last night saw the inaugural meeting of the Central Sector Crime Forum. It was well organised and a strong and committed committee was chosen, with the aim of eradicating crime and grime in the area. The Chairperson is Ken Denton, who owns the majority of the buildings in the area. We are really optimistic about this initiative, and wish them all the best in their endeavours to reclaim our historic gem of a suburb.

We have featured Havelock Square in Central before. It is one of the picturesque and vital little green areas in the heart of the city. This is a view of some of the lovely old villas that surround the square.

World War II Bunker

One of the many bunkers built along the South African coast World during War II. This one was photographed at Schoenmakerskop. Others can be seen at Bluewater Bay and Cape Recife.

Bygones.....

One of the old landmark historic shops in Central, this has housed an antique and old bookshop as long as we can remember. The simple unpretentious architecture is typical of many of the colonial buildings that went up in the 1800s in PE.

PE Tramways Building

Another shameful example of urban decay in Port Elizabeth. The old PE Tramways building was once a hive of activity, first as a tram and bus depot and then as an ice rink. It was then used for other businesses and now stands unused and derelict.
It was announced with great fanfare that this historic landmark, was to be developed into an entertainment area, with the river in the foreground being turned into a small lake. Work was due to start in April this year, but the development seems to have ground to an agonising halt.
Let's hope that this development happens sooner, rather than later.