Cape Town, on the surface, is one of the most gorgeous cities I have ever visited. The mountain peaks that encompass the skyscrapers of the city, paired with the crystal blues of the waterfront and sandy beaches, make this city unique. The more time I spend here, the more stories I am fortunate enough to hear from locals, whether from my homestay family, guest lecturers at school or even my local professors. From these lessons, I am starting to see past the glamour of the city and think more critically about some of the more lasting changes that Cape Town and South Africa as a whole have undergone during the last four decades.
Urbanization and land ownership play a large part in the environmental, mental, and social health of South Africans. For example, the Bo Kaap neighborhood where I have been staying has been facing massive waves of gentrification. Gentrification happens when the character of a poor urban area is changed by wealthier people, who move in and aim to improve the neighborhood with new business or housing. The original community's integrity is often lost in the process. Original inhabitants are often displaced, because they cannot afford to stay in the area they’ve called home for most of their lives.
