When looking at these two pictures, it is hard to believe they can coexist in the same area, but in fact they are less than a five minute drive from each other. When people ask me, “what is the biggest difference between Canada/America and Johannesburg?”, these sort of pictures are what come to mind.
The first picture shown is an aerial view of Steyn City, a 900 hectare man made ‘city’ only a 2 minute drive from Witkoppen Health and Welfare Centre. It was built by Douw Steyn, a South African businessman worth somewhere around R8 billion. That building shown is his R150 million house built in the middle of the city which also includes about 33 cars in his garage. The city also includes a shopping mall, a world-class golf course, as well as other commodities only available to those that live within the complex. Just to commence the building of the city, R6 billion was dispensed.
When you drive down the road that Witkoppen is on, you will pass Steyn City, and you will see its 20-30 foot walls surrounding it. The separation it creates is quite clear since you literally cannot see the other side of the wall. If you continue 5 minutes down the same road, you will get to Diepsloot, the 12,000 hectare township shown in the second picture. I must add, this only illustrates a section of Diepsloot, and not all of the residents reside in shacks such as those shown. Nevertheless, many of the patients and staff at Witkoppen reside in Diepsloot, and must pass by Steyn City everyday they make their way to the clinic.
I am not posting this to judge right or wrong, because I am not entitled to that sort of opinion and I do not know enough about the facts to state an opinion. I am simply trying to illustrate some contrast in what is seen here everyday. All I know for a fact is that where I am from, this contrast and disparity cannot be observed.