History on our doorstep

Sometimes I wonder if as South Africans we really appreciate what we have on our doorstep when it comes to natural beauty and matters of historical importance.

I thought of this as I watched bus after bus of foreign tourists pulling into Vilakazi Street in Soweto this past weekend This is the only street in the world that can boast of having two Nobel Peace Prize winners - former president Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu - having lived there.

While people talked, whispered and gestured in a cacophony of languages, the only visible locals appeared to be restaurant staff and the odd group of children doing impromptu traditional dancing.

It's a bit of a pity because it really is a great place to go for a few hours, and chill out over a drink and a bite to eat and then catch up on a history lesson or two!

If you live to the west of Johannesburg, it literally is on your doorstep.

I was fortunate enough to have the ultra-stylish Volks-wagen Golf Cabriolet (R362820) for this Weekend Drive and, with the option of roof up or down, it was an ideal mode of transport.

The particular test car we had came with - but not everyone agreed with me - lovely contrasting sand coloured leather seats which looked pretty cool set against the black panelling and dashboard.

Getting to Vilakazi Street is fairly straightforward - turn into Commando Road from Main Reef Road and carry on (about five kilometres) till you see the signs

The state of the road is pretty hectic due to construction for the Rea Vaya bus service, but the Golf made things a little easier with its slick 7-speed DSG gearbox as we crawled along.

First stop on a tour of this area has to be Mandela House.

Built in 1945, it was home to Mandela and his first wife Evelyn, and then, following their divorce in 1957, with Winnie.

The house has maintained many aspects it had when first built - three rooms, a concrete floor and corrugated iron roof. As you wander through the house, life at the time comes alive.

Thirty minutes is enough and it's time to move on somewhere else, and where better than the Hector Pieterson Museum a couple of blocks away in Khumalo Street, Orlando West.

Built in memory of the young schoolboy who was tragically shot dead in 1976, the museum is a credit to those who built and maintain it.

For just R25 (adults) you can spend a good couple of hours learning about life under the oppressive regime of the time and the effects the 1976 uprisings had on the future of this country.

As you move from section to section, it can at times be eerily quiet as visitors take in the audio and visual displays so carefully laid out.

The cultural side of this mini-Soweto tour taken care of, it was time for a bite to eat and a restaurant that constantly dishes up a good meal is Nambitha's, back on Vilakazi Street.

It was still pretty early when I hit the spot so there were plenty of empty tables.

If the weather is nice, you can sit outside, or on the balcony, and watch the world go by. But, if it's a bit chilly opt for indoors, where a fireplace will be more than welcome on cold winter days.

The menu is comprehensive and caters for both local and international customers.

Expect to find the likes of toasted sandwiches (R48), hake, calamari and chips (R88) or, for the little ones, a kiddies menu with dishes around R30.

It was a slightly coolish day so we ordered chicken curry (R74) and ladies spare ribs (R96) to chase away the hunger pains.

The curry came with side dishes of creamed spinach, pumpkin and rice while the ribs came with a lovely green salad and fresh chips.

Although the food took a little while to arrive, the wait was well worth it and the meal most enjoyable.

Traditional food is also on the menu, so if a plate of mogodu along with pap, dumplings and vegetables gets your taste buds buzzing, it will set you back a very reasonable R64.