Khayelitsha

Province

Khayelitsha is the third largest township in South Africa. It is located on the outskirts of Cape Town in the Cape Flats. Khayelitsha is the Xhosa word for new home.

2011 391 749 people living in Khayelitsha, of which about 90 percent of blacks and 10 percent Coloureds. Within the townships almost exclusively Xhosa is spoken. It consists mainly of huts made ​​of tin, wood and cardboard.

Khayelitsha was established after 1950, the Group Areas Act was adopted. He forbade blacks to live in South African cities. After the end of apartheid in 1994 hundreds of thousands of blacks came from rural areas into the city to find work.

In the 2000s, the government tried through various campaigns to improve the living conditions. This seeks to provide all residents free water and electricity; further there is an intense Housing programs. For the newly built stone houses there are long waiting lists.

Khayelitsha is the opera film U -Carmen by British director Mark Dornford -May as the backdrop for an African version of the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. Is spoken and sung in isiXhosa. The film won the top award at the Berlinale 2005.