Baphumelele is located in the township of Khayelitsha (meaning “new home”), located 20 kilometres southeast of Cape Town. Initially an informal settlement in the late 1970s, Khayelitsha has grown into a community of over one million residents.
Khayelitsha is one of the most marginalised and poverty-stricken townships in South Africa. Many residents live in self-constructed wooden or corrugated tin shacks, without access to clean water, electricity, or sanitation. Basic education and health care facilities are lacking. The unemployment rate in Khayelitsha officially stands at a staggering 50%; in reality, the figure is unfortunately higher.
