Khayelitsha is one of the largest townships in South Africa with a population of roughly one million residents. Like many of the townships in South Africa it is often viewed as a violent place where people, especially whites, should not go. I lived in this township with a host family for 5 weeks and found it to be quite the opposite. While there is certainly some violence in the township I found it to be no more dangerous than any city in the United States or Europe that I've been to. It is important to be aware of your surroundings, as it is in any city, to make sure you do not get in to any trouble but this should not be taken as a warning, rather just some advice for any traveler. In my 5 weeks there I was not treated with any malcontent from anyone. In fact the people I met on a daily basis were some of the nicest, most interesting people I have ever met. Just riding the Kombi (taxi) you can discover some of the greatest story tellers and their stories. It is for this reason that I would encourage anyone going to Cape Town to visit Khayelitsha. There are tour buses that go through the area but it is much more interesting, enjoyable, and cheaper to take a Kombi from a taxi rank heading to khayelitsha and discover what the community has to offer on your own. I think it is important for foreigners and South Africans alike to discover and experience this part of South Africa and hear the story it has to tell. Many South Africans in Cape town or its immediate suburbs will discourage people from going there even though they themselves have never been to the community to see what it is really like. I hope this does not discourage anyone from going and spending sometime in this unique environment. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khayelitsha