By Faith Dehghan
South Africa is frequently portrayed as a dangerous country, with numerous travel advisories discouraging visits. While it’s true that you do not experience the same level of safety in South Africa as one does in Canada, that does not mean that the country is not worth exploring. What I discovered during my time there was a country with a rich culture, resilient communities, and unforgettable beauty.
Community: The Heart of My Experience
Community is easily the most valuable thing I gained in South Africa. South Africans are some of the warmest and most welcoming people I have ever met. My incredible coworkers adopted me into their team with open arms, treating me like one of their own. Saying they went “above and beyond” doesn’t even begin to capture their kindness. They truly made my experience extraordinary, and I will always cherish the bonds we formed.
I also found a sense of community in my fellow McGill Law interns, Tuviere and Carina. Sharing this amazing experience with them, both the highs and lows of working in human rights and exploring Southern Africa, made everything more special. My internship would not have been the same without them.
History and Culture
South Africa is a country rich in culture and history. Visiting the Apartheid Museum and the Hector Pieterson Memorial allowed me to learn about apartheid and the courageous resistance movements that rose against it. Unfortunately, my time in South Africa showed me firsthand that equity divides are still as strong as ever. Apartheid may have “ended” but wealth disparity is still a major issue in South Africa, one that unequally affects racialized peoples.
Johannesburg remains divided between wealthy (and often primarily white) neighbourhoods like Houghton and Sandton, where life is lived behind walls and townships like Soweto and Orange Farm, where many people live in illegal settlements made of up of tin homes. This is a reality that persists as there was no proper redistribution of wealth post apartheid.
Natural Beauty and Unforgettable Adventures
South Africa is one of the most stunning countries I have ever visited. I was fortunate enough to travel within South Africa during my internship, and every destination left me in awe. Cape Town was my favourite destination due to its unparalleled natural beauty. Taking the cable car up to the summit of Table Mountain allowed me to see the most incredible view of the city and the ocean. Watching the sunset along the beach in Camps Bay had me stop and appreciate that this was my reality. Boulders Beach, the only place you can find wild penguins on the continent, was another highlight. However, beyond the beauty of Cape Town lies an intrenched divide. Cape Town reflects the country’s deep socio-economic divides, perhaps more visibly than anywhere else in South Africa.
I also traveled to Durban on the opposite coast, escaping Johannesburg’s winter to the “the warmest place to be” (Durban’s slogan). Durban was a vibrant city, full of delicious food, and beautiful beaches. It is also home to the largest population of Indian people outside of India. This legacy exists because many of the settlers that colonized South Africa brought Indian people into the country as their indentured labourers.
Finally, I also had the opportunity to hike to the summit of Tugela Falls in the Drakensberg Mountains. This was an extremely mentally and physically challenging experience, where I faced my fear of heights to embark on what was supposed to be a 6-hour hike. 6 hours turned into 10 after my companions and I got lost due to a lack of clear signage on the hike. Making it to the summit was an amazing feeling but descending as the clock ticked on our remaining hour of daylight was slightly terrifying. We completed our descent in the dark and were able to all make it down safely. I later learned that the lack of signage was intentional, to push hikers to pay for a guide, on top of the $50.00 in fees we had already paid to access the hike. This was an equally scary and amazing experience, one that I had the privilege of experiencing, as the cost of the hike was unaffordable to most locals.
Human Rights in Action
Working for Lawyers for Human Rights was a truly meaningful experience. I was involved in a wide range of legal cases—everything from state accountability to access to water to diplomatic immunity. My supervisor ensured I had access to every opportunity available, which deeply enriched my experience.
One of the highlights of my work was attending a conference on redrafting the Treaty on Crimes Against Humanity, where I participated in consultations with human rights defenders, activists, academics, and government officials on how to redefine the crime of apartheid. I also observed the high-profile Operation Dudula case, an action brought against a vigilante group known for anti-migrant violence.
Beyond the courtroom, I worked alongside community organizers on gender-based violence initiatives and supported community members in Orange Farm’s community legal clinic. These experiences were powerful reminders of how law and advocacy can work hand in hand to serve the people most impacted by injustice.
Final Reflections
My experience in South Africa was unforgettable. It challenged me, inspired me, and changed the way I view the world. I hope that in sharing my reflections, I’ve helped you see a different side of South Africa. It is a country of beauty, resilience, and spirit, and I feel incredibly privileged to have spent my summer there.