My So Called "Village" Life

Countryside near Phokeng 

I arrived at my post a little over a week ago. I am posted in Phokeng, which is in the Northwest Province of South Africa and approximately 20 minutes from Rustenburg.  Phokeng is the capital of the Royal Bafokeng Nation.

The Royal Bafokeng Nation

I’ll share with you more about The Royal Bafokeng Nation (RBN) as I learn more, but here is quick background on them.  The Bafokeng trace their ancestry to the Bahurutshe and the Bakwena, which settled in this region in the late 1600s.  The Bafokeng are ruled by a kgosi (king).  Today, the RBN is comprised of 29 villages that are governed through a mix of democracy and traditional leadership.  Kgosi overseas several institutions such as The Royal Bafokeng Holdings, the Royal Bafokeng Administration, and the Royal Bafokeng Institution, that oversee everything from education to road construction within the RBN. 

Phokeng Countryside (taken from Bafokeng High)

RBN has a quite unique history.  Feeling that their land was threatened by the Boers or Afrikaans they determined early on that they needed to formally buy their land.  By the late 19^th century the RBN had established themselves as a private, corporate land owner.  Platinum was then discovered on Bafokeng territory in 1924.  In fact, Bafokeng land contains some of the world’s richest deposits of platinum and chrome, as well as rare and valuable types of granite.  To my understanding RBN is the wealthiest tribe in Africa with assets worth billions of dollars.  I also just learned the RBN is the sister city to Prince Georges County, MD (the “area” where I am from) How cool is that!!!!

Phokeng

Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus 

So with that said, Phokeng is a “developed village” (not quite a village, but not yet a township). A lot of the RBN investment has taken place in Phokeng.  Phokeng has a sports palace, with a FIFA certified stadium where some of the World Cup games took place; a sports campus that has a 5 star hotel, a rehab center, a state of the art gym, and a sports academy (to groom future athletes); and a state-of the-art school, Lebone II, that goes from primary to high school.

Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus

Lebone II Outdoor Amphitheater

I am staying at a B&B that is owned by a very nice older couple.  I call them Mey (Mom, respectable way to address an older women) and TaTi (Father/respectable way to address older men).  Mey said I am the daughter she never had!  Their 3 year old grandson stays with them so I play with him and his neighborhood friends sometimes.  Here are a couple of pictures of my new home.

My B&B from a distance 

I stay on the 2nd Floor

View from the 2nd floor terrace 

Another view from the 2nd floor terrace

My bedroom

My bedroom from another view

I use the B&B service kitchen, there are no other guest so I have it to myself

I eat in the kitchen instead of the dinner room

So what am I doing?

My new sporty look

Right now I am spending my time going around and meeting people.  Got to make sure I get alignment, buy in, and support for my marketing plan (I thought corporate America was political), especially since I want to start youth clubs in the schools. The cool thing though is that Royal Bafokeng Sports (RBS) is sponsoring the Special Olympics Africa Unity Cup.  So my work is filtered through them.  So everyone I work with is involved in sports in some capacity whether it’s managing the RBN’s professional soccer team, the Platinum Stars, or coaching handball, rugby, or track and field. The NBA even has a partnership with the RBN so there are 3 American guys here starting a basketball program in the RBN.  Funny thing everyone keeps asking me what sport I do and I am like uuuuhhhhh…I was a Pom in High School and College. I actually may even work a bit with the cheerleading program the NBA is starting.  Sometimes I am like how did I end up here?  And I am still like, am I really a Peace Corps Volunteer, rotfl?

My workout equipment

Other then that I spend my spare time working out (I purchased some workout equipment and work out in the parking lot in front of my place), making jewelry, watching movies, and surfing the net. I have also had the opportunity to attend 2 Platinum Stars games.  I have quickly realized I am not a football/soccer fan, plus I have never enjoyed sitting in VIP areas at games---I like being with the people (I have to try one more game to see what it likes to sit with the vuvuzela folks).  One of my Special Olympics coworkers is from Phokeng and she introduced me to her brother.  He has been really cool as well and has taking me out a couple of times.  Just hoping to continue making friends, but I have felt at home and comfortable here since the day I moved here.  Weird considering I freaked out the first time I saw where I will be living, LOL.

Platinum Stars vs. SuperSport

--Mei