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Published: October 8th 2016
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"It's a fantastic thing, a very simple idea. Irrespective of your politics, of your culture, of your race, of your whatever, hierdie ding doen ons saam...Here is one thing than can unite us irrespective of all the things that are trying to tear us apart." - Desmond Tutu, patron saint of Braai Day
11 hours of sleep later and we were ready for National Heritage day.
"Heritage Day is a South African public holiday celebrated on 24 September. On this day, South Africans across the spectrum are encouraged to celebrate their culture and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people."
We ventured out for supplies for the Braai later, we bought 18 bottles of different beers and ciders for £10, Alex was in heaven. We were told to go outside afterwards to get our free gift. We saw a huge braai. For those who are not familiar with a braai (pronounced bry), it is Afrikaans for the word 'to grill' or ' to roast' and national Hertiage Day has now been penned "Braai Day".
Anybody who turned up could have a borewors and a free cola. No questions asked, people who had parked up were joining the queue. Alex and I were shocked with the freebies but soaked them up, free lunch! A guy knocked into Alex and apologised, "sorry my brother!" Alex turned around to acknowledge his apology to which the guy added "my white brother!" We laughed and Byron informed us today, we are all brothers and sisters.
Megan knew how keen Alex was to watch a rugby match but it was coming towards the end of the rugby season here so we thought it would
be difficult to do. Megan's sister Richelle stepped in and offered to take us to watch a local tournament at the Newlands stadium. We paid 10 rand a ticket (approximately 50p) and met Richelle's husband Glen in the stadium. The stadium was huge and with only one side open, the crowd were going mental for Hamlets, a local team and the support they had was amazing. We watched the game and it was neck and neck, Hamlets looked as if they were to lose by a few points and then in the last 15 seconds Hamlets got a penalty. The stadium fell silent and the atmosphere was intense, we felt like they were our local team. The kicker came to take the penalty and scored! They won by a point and the stadium went mental, it was almost like when Manchester city won the premier league in 2012. It meant so much to them, everybody was singing, hugging and dancing. The atmosphere afterwards was immense, Alex has found a new rugby buddy in Glen and Richelle and I seemed on a similar level regrading rugby, we had some good chats and went back to Megan and Byron's house for Braai!
We were met by familiar faces from Zwaanswyk Academy, we caught up but one thing everybody wanted to know about was Brexit, how we voted and how this has/would affect our economy. It was nice to talk politics with those who are on the outside looking in, it raised some interesting points but after many beers, ciders and ridiculous sized bottles of wine later the points became blurry and it was time for bed. A successful National Heritage Day!
From Cape Town, with love x
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