I  used to live at Eastern Cape in Dutywa town,Chizela location.  Dutywa is a flat place. It’s surrounded by tall beautiful trees and the Mbashe river.  The river is the biggest river in my home town.It is a small town but its full of  heroes and talented people. I am talking about heroes like Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. This town is well known for its tradition and history because it is where our former presidents come from.

Cape Town is now my home town; it is the place where the beauty was created.I started living here when I was 7 years old and now am 19 years and I still live here. Every where you go you see beautiful trees with evergreen plants/leaves.Mountains are my town’s main attraction to the people of  this world.

My home town has treated me very well from the 1st time  I ended up here(both community and family).Living here was like a dream come true because it is a healthy environment where many people would love to live in.Many challenges have come my way such as friends I met,they were seemed to be good but all they were was  back stabbers.

Gangsterism is another problem because I use public transport so I always meet the gangsters.I really do not feel safe and that is one thing I hate about my place.One day I met them, and they wanted me to join the gang by force.Being in a gang here is a do or die thing, but I know how to say no.People are killed for their money and these gangsters are kidnapping children for cash. Some people here take us for granted and think they can take your life but if you know how to say ”NO”then nothing will stand on your way…love your home town and respect it as you do to yourself then you will  get its respect.

written by: Anela Phakade