Jo'burg picture report: Country club vs Soweto

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The Kids News Network Summit 2010 took place in the middle of Johannesburg, in a little green paradise, called the Oakland Country Club. With our contemporary membership we could actually stay for a very reasonable price -an ideal place for meetings, but cut off from reality.

The last day we visited Soweto, know for being the most populous black urban residential area in the country. For decades the protests against the apartheid regime started here.

An impression of these two worlds now, on the eve of the World Cup.
by Ole Chavannes, 11 mei 2010

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A sport that seems so last century. Always wanted to know everything about how to play croquet? Click here for their site.

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Several gardeners are constantly cleaning up the endless amount of leaves from the fields.

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On our way to Soweto we pass the business district of town, with soccer billboards of 10 or more floors.

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Soweto used to be one of the poorest areas; most of it seems beautifully renovated.

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Everywhere soccer balls pop up - the upcoming World Cup is the event of he decade here.

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Mandela's image in the Regina Mundi (Queen of Soweto). This church played a pivotal role in the township's history of resistance against apartheid. Hundreds of tourists come here every day to learn about this historic building...

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..or just to check their email.

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Monument in front of the Hector Pieterson Museum. He became the iconic image of the 1976 Soweto uprising >wikinfo

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Mapvuto, editor in chief of the Zambian Z Kids News plays soccer with children; plain fun.

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You are invited to watch daily reports by kids news journalists during the World Cup at youtube.com/worldkidsnews.

Many people ask me if South Africa is 'really that unsafe'. That is such a pity. We've experienced polite and friendly people in general and did not feel unsafe once. Thanks Johannesburg for being such a good host for the KNN Summit 2010 and enjoy those soccer fans...

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