Township living makes sense

“ACADEMIC’S dream a mansion among the matchboxes” (July 13) refers.

For three years, I lived in a threebedroom house in the suburbs. I felt, at the time, the suburbs were the next step for me. When it came to making our dream house a reality, my husband and I explored many options. We soon realised that a dream house in the suburbs came with a huge price tag. We decided to buy land in the township where we grew up and build our dream home there. We were able to build a seven-bedroom house there for a fraction of the price and living there is far more economical than living in the suburbs would be.

For the past five years, there’s been a huge influx of black people leaving affluent suburbs such as Westville, Ballito and Umhlanga and building big houses in the townships.

This is not a case of flaunting one’s wealth. For many, building in the townships is a smart financial decision.

Some of my neighbours have oceanview properties that they got cheap because they’re in the townships.

It’s a good thing that there is a return of people to the townships — people who are there to build and not destroy. The township is also a place where dreams are shaped and can be realised.

People can be successful and they don’t have to run to the suburbs.

By living in the township, we are able to send our children to a private school. We wouldn’t be able to do that if were living in the suburbs.

If we want to slaughter a goat or a cow, we don’t have to first get written permission from anyone or face fines. In the township, we are able to live and live well.