Day 8 – Draughts in Veeplaas

We spent most of the day hanging out with Lubabalo and his draughts (checkers) friends in Veeplaas Township. The guys play every Sunday in a small cinder block building lit by one window. It’s quite a sight. Lots of smack talk and slapping of checker pieces onto well-worn boards. Not anything like the Checkers play we’re used to seeing. The location itself was a bit hectic as it was next to a neighborhood shebeen (tavern). The scene was busy and Nelson and I were too occupied by explaining to the locals why 2 random Americans and a barbaric South African guy were in their neighborhood  to take any pictures. Sorry ACF  guys, you’ll have to watch the movie.

The rest of today’s blog is dedicated to Keith and Jason. Day after day, they somehow manage to block out the strange situations that we inevitably run into in order to return home with what are really some stunning, relevant and, more importantly, useful images.  Thank you guys.

Keith: Township action hero

He’s single, ladies.

Jason is the manliest dude on the Western Cape. Especially when he is on the Eastern Cape

Cape Town-ers be warned, we are shipping him back to you soon.

Tomorrow is our last day of production in the Port Elizabeth townships. It is sure to be bittersweet.

-Geoff