The word Mandarin has its origins in Chinese administration as someone who is a “scholarly bureaucrat”, one who serves the public through knowledge. Peter Frankopan explains in “The Silk Roads” there is good reason why the cultures, cities and people who live along the Silk Roads developed and advanced. As they traded and exchanged ideas, they learnt and borrowed from each other, stimulating further advances in philosophy, the sciences, language and religion. Progress was essential, as one of the rulers of the kingdom of Zhao in north-eastern China at one extremity of Asia more than 2,000 years ago knew all too well. “A talent for following the ways of yesterday” … is not sufficient to improve the world of today.”

Zinatul Islam mosque sits in the heart of District 6 (D6). The 100-year old mosque is a magnet for the historic D6 communities, returning residents, new residents and worshippers from the surrounding commercial areas. Recently, a resident lodged a complaint about the call to prayer delivered via the loudspeakers located in the minaret. Accepting the complaint was like accepting the complaints of residents in rural gated estates complaining about flies and manure smells wafting over from the neighbouring farms. Or residents of golf estates complaining about golf balls hitting their greens-facing windows. Or neighbours of Rastafarians complaining of aromatic assaults.

Robben Island has, for centuries, been a prison for those who opposed colonial conquest and its incarnations, settler colonialism and apartheid. Yet, when it was converted to a museum the logo which former prisoners chose was one of freedom and the triumph of the human spirit. In contrast, the Red Location museum in New Brighton Township which was built after freedom was attained is surrounded by a community riddled with unemployment and poverty, to many this is a constant reminder of their oppression.