Ghanaian Fans Visit Mandela

Some of the fans at the Mandela Family Restaurant

THE ABOUT 1,500 Ghanaian soccer fans, sponsored by government to support the Black Stars at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, are not only watching the tournament but also taking advantage of their stay to visit important and historic places that the tournament hosts, South Africa, can offer.

Driving in a convoy of 12 buses, the enthusiastic-looking Ghanaian fans on Wednesday at 10:00am travelled for about one and half hours from their Pretoria base to Soweto, where most of the atrocities that characterized the infamous apartheid system took place.

The sight-seeing is part of the package for Ghanaian fans and is aimed at exposing them to the culture and traditions of South Africa.

Incidentally, yesterday was 'Youth Day' which was a public holiday in South Africa, so the natives of the country were in a festive mood and this made the soccer fans' adventure more unique.

With the assistance of South African tour guides, the Ghanaians were taken to numerous key places in Soweto, among them the former house of the first black President of South Africa, Mr. Nelson Mandela.

Situated at Orlando, Soweto, the beautiful house which looked furnished and in good state, is no more inhabited by Mr. Mandela or his relatives and it is being used as a tourist centre to raise money to develop the area.

Mr. Mandela resided in the house until he became President in 1994, when he vacated it to take the seat of government in Johannesburg, Tumi Seiphemo, one of the tour guides, told DAILY GUIDE.

The Ghanaian fans, who looked elated, were seen rushing from their buses, perhaps to be the first to get access to the house, which attracts an entry fee of 4 Rand.

Unfortunately, the fee being charged at the gate seemed exorbitant to these Ghanaian fans and this prevented about 90 percent of them from entering the Mandela House.

However, the few Ghanaians who had some Rand paid and went into the house to have a feel of where and how Mr. Mandela lived before becoming president as well as a world icon.

Though most of the Ghanaian fans could not pay to enter the house, it was not all that bad for them as they were seen taking memorable pictures in front of the Mandela House.

Prior to visiting the Mandela House, the fans were taken to other historic sites in Soweto including the Freedom Tower, which is christened 'Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication at Clip Town, Soweto.

Tumi explained to DAILY GUIDE that the late Sisulu was one of the freedom fighters of South Africa and he was a close associate of Mr. Mandela during the independence struggle.

Officially opened to the public in 2006, Tumi said the high tower was built at the exact place where the freedom fighters, who are blacks, usually met in the mid 1950s to strategize on how to attain independence for the country.

The Ghanaian fans were also taken to other places like the largest hospital in Africa, the Chris Hani Paragwanth Hospital.

They also visited places like the Tower Plug which produces electricity to the entire Soweto Township; University of Johannesburg, Soweto campus; Klupsruit, the first town in Soweto; and some deprived areas in Soweto, before returning to their Muzinda Residence base in Pretoria around 4:00pm.

From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr, Soweto