CityViews
May 2012
Photo: Lisa Burnell
YOUR FREE CAPE TOWN CENTRAL CITY PAPER
Cape Town as a
HISTORIC city
CTICC looks to a 2020
future
Coming home
to District Six
>> page 3
CLEAN | SAFE | CAR I NG
>> page 7&10
Translating South Africa’s
history into music >> page 12
2
about
town
CityViews
Yesterday, today, tomorrow: The life of the CBD Welcome to our May edition of City Views, on Cape Town as a historic city. As you go through these pages and then go about the rest of your day, I’d like to encourage you to do three things: Firstly, to be mindful of the past. Secondly, to look to the future. And thirdly, to think about how you can connect the two in the present. In the day-to-day of life in the CBD, it’s important to stand back sometimes and get perspective. As the Central City Improvement District we’ve only been going for just over a decade, and in that time the CBD has changed dramatically.
Being mindful of the past Cape Town has a long and interesting history – not all of it easy or happy – but there’s no denying that what happened then fundamentally informs who we are now.
My work as the COO of the CCID has taught me that there’s so much I still don’t know about the place I live and work today. How much do you know about our hidden history, or the role slavery played in the building of our city, or how so many diverse communities came to live here? Why not explore that history further, engage with it in a way that makes sense to you today, and then think about what role you want it to play in your tomorrow.
Looking to the future There’s little denying that we’ve got to understand where we’ve come from to know where we’re going. At the moment a lot of people are looking at the year 2040, and what Cape Town and the Western Cape can and should be by then, considering both the opportunities and challenges we face. If you haven’t yet
Gratitude Attitude
Published by: The Central City Improvement District (CCID)
heard about Cape Town 2040 (the City of Cape Town’s development strategy) and Future Cape 2040 (the Western Cape’s development strategy), let me encourage you to find out more, contribute wherever you can, and start thinking where you’d like to be – as a person and as a community – in 2040. After all, change starts with you.
Editor: Judith Browne: 021 419 1881 judith@capetownpartnership.co.za
Deputy Editor: Benita Kursan
Contributors: Alan Cameron Katie Mooney Nadine Botha Stephanie Katz
Address: Terraces Building, 10th floor 34 Bree Street,
Connecting in the present We have so many cultural treasures and hidden stories in the Central City – more than we could possibly unpack in one edition of City Views – and yet many of them are little known or seldom visited. I’d love to see our cultural institutions start to share their knowledge, pool their resources, and develop a joint marketing strategy to promote the history and memory of our city. Isn’t it time we had visitors queuing up outside
Website: www.capetowncid.co.za www.capetownpartnership.co.za
Design: Infestation www.infestation.co.za 021 461 8601
our museums and galleries in the same way they do for the Louvre in Paris or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York?
The Central City Improvement District is a private-public partnership formed by the property owners of a defined geographical area to provide top-up services over and above what the City of Cape Town provides. The CCID and its managing agent, the Cape Town Partnership, were formed when the City of Cape Town, the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), the Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other stakeholders came together to address issues of urban degeneration, disinvestment in the Central City and related social problems. The Central City’s rapid regeneration process has been built upon the strength and pillars of successful private-public partnerships at both operational and strategic levels, and a shared vision for a clean, safe and caring Cape Town CBD.
Tasso Evangelinos COO of the CCID
Tribeca comes to Cape Town The Cape Film Commission and espAfrika, who bring you the jazz festival every year, have just signed a contract to bring Tribeca, New York’s famous film festival, to Cape Town in 2013 and keep it here for the next five years – an incredible opportunity for the local film industry. Dates have yet to be announced, but keep an eye on the press – and City Views – for details.
Everyday acts of kindness help transform Cape Town, and City Views would like to recognise those individuals who would otherwise continue doing good, but without thanks.
SAVE THESE NUMBERS ON YOUR PHONE CCID Security Manager: 082 453 2942
Notes from the past, thoughts for the present
capacity building, health and food security and economic empowerment.
The editorial team of City Views recently received a handwritten, hand-delivered note, from Brenda Scarratt, and just in time for the history edition. Brenda opened Second Time Around in 1972, and ran the store for 12 years before moving on to the Church Street Antiques Market, which she’s been running for the past 15 years. What does she have to say about long-time city retailers in the CBD? “We need somebody who’s going to
Get in touch to get involved: Catholic Welfare and Development 37 Somerset Road T: 021 425 2095 www.cwd.org.za
CCID Deputy Security Manager: 082 442 2112 CCID 24-hour number: 082 415 7127 SAPS Control Room: 021 467 8002 Social Department: 082 563 4289
stick with what they’re doing. We need businesses that weather all the changes, and are so good they go on and improve over time. There are a few businesses that have been running a long time, like Sturk’s. It’s great that some things carry on.” Meet Brenda for yourself at the Church Street Antiques Market on the corner of Long and Wale Street, between 09h00 and 16h00, Monday to Saturday.
Telling your story in City Views City Views does not sell advertising or editorial space at this time. We are, however, always on the look out for city ownership stories: tales of people who love the CBD, who choose to live, work, study, invest, and play here. If you would like to be featured, please send your story to judith@capetownpartnership.co.za for consideration. Please note that submission of a story doesn’t guarantee that it will be included.
Distributing City Views
Photos: Courtesy of Catholic Welfare and Development
This month, we’d like to thank Catholic Welfare and Development – one of the oldest NGOs in the city – for their work empowering communities throughout the Western Cape. Their aim is to develop people in a way that helps them rise out of poverty, and their work includes nine community development centres and a wide range of programmes including those that focus on community
CITYVIEWS
NEWSFLASH
CARING CITY
If you’re an eager reader of City Views – and you know others who would enjoy reading it too, consider becoming a distributor. All we need is your contact details, address and how many copies you need each month. Or, if you would just like to track down where you can obtain your FREE copy send an email to Aziza Patandin on aziza@capetownpartnership.co.za.
Catholic Welfare and Development’s JobStart students receive training for the hospitality industry
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Photo: Caroline Jordan
CITY VIEWS ONLINE Read the latest e-dition: www.capetownpartnership.co.za/city-views
May 2012
Brenda Scarratt at Church Street Antiques Market
We love knowing who our readers are and what they think. If you enjoy your copy of City Views, why not mail a picture of you reading it, wherever you love to read it (Your local coffee shop? On a street bench while people-watching?) telling us what you enjoyed most. If we like it, we’ll run it. Get in touch: judith@capetownpartnership.co.za.
May 2012
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MAKING CITY HISTORY Photos: Courtesy of the CTICC
2020 vision
The CTICC looks to the future
Piet Bakker, Mokena Makeka, Anya van der Merwe and Rashid Toefy admire the future views of the CTICC (above left), from the Heerengracht circle (top) and through the facade (above)
The Cape Town International Convention Centre has set its sights on being the best longhaul international convention centre in the world by 2020 – which is why it’s doubling its capacity by 2015. An all-star, all-local design team has been appointed to take it there.
T
he Cape Town International Convention Centre recently announced the winning architectural team set to work on its R700-million expansion project. Piet Bakker of Stauch Vorster Architects, Mokena Makeka of Makeka Design Lab, and Anya van der Merwe will be leading the project that will see the centre doubling in capacity over the next three years. “We are looking forward to the positive impact this project will have on the marketability of the Western Cape and South Africa as a year-round business and leisure destination,” said Rashid Toefy, CEO of the CTICC. Cape Town Partnership MD, Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana, said that the expansion confirmed a sense of confidence and opportunity in the city centre. “Throughout the world, convention centres rarely break even, let alone raise a profit. The CTICC is not only profitable but it runs at full or nearly full capacity. The expansion is happening because there is demand that cannot currently be accommodated.” More events, more jobs
Home to world-famous events like the Design Indaba and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the CTICC has already received 863 bookings between now and 2020, including the 10 000-delegate International Geological Conference scheduled for 2016. The core mandate of the CTICC is to contribute to economic
growth and job creation in the province. Since opening its doors in 2003, the centre has contributed to the creation of more than 60 000 direct and indirect jobs and has played a pivotal role in raising the profile of Cape Town and the Western Cape as a leading, globally competitive meetings destination. The expansion is likely to increase the number of direct and indirect jobs created by the centre from about 7 000 to over 10 000 per annum by 2018.
“Turning the CTICC expansion into a living art gallery and an expression of the Western Cape will help to connect mankind and nature in a poetic way, foster learning and establish a stronger connection with the public.”
A bigger precinct
living artwork that celebrates and raises awareness about humanity and nature for the passive enjoyment of local and global audiences.” Principal architect for the existing CTICC Anya van der Merwe confirmed that the new building will be a seamless extension – not only will it expand on existing exhibition and conference facilities, allowing for massive events, but it will also be able to function as an independent facility, allowing for simultaneous events. Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana also emphasised Anya’s reputation for sustainability-motivated architectural interventions: “It’s clear from the design concepts presented that the expansion is being treated with the utmost sensitivity, both to the natural environment – the CTICC has a fourstar green rating and is aiming for a six-star green rating – and to the spatial and human context of the city.”
Comprising 10 000 square metres of retail space, a hospital, a hotel and an office tower, the CTICC expansion project falls into a broader plan to create a R1.4billion convention precinct. This will entail connecting the CTICC with Artscape by regenerating the Founders’ Garden, and developing a hub for Cape Town’s business, retail, cultural and events activities. Design for diversity
The architectural concept – entitled 6211 – is a design interpretation of the biodiversity of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, famous for being the smallest, yet most diverse of only six kingdoms in the world. “Using the DNA code of the 6210 plant species endemic to the Cape Floristic kingdom, plus one dedicated to humanity,” explains Mokena, “6211 transforms the convention centre into an iconic
Mokena Makeka
Next steps
Quantity surveyors and project managers will be appointed next and then the CTICC hopes to break ground within a year. The CTICC will also start engaging with users, suppliers and the public for their comment. Under construction from 2013 to 2015, the building will be in progress during 2014, the iconic year in which Cape Town will be recognised as World Design Capital. “The expansion will serve as a flagship architectural project in light of Cape Town’s 2014 designation,” acknowledges Bulelwa. “Although work on the extension will not be completed until 2015, the [design] progress made in implementing this bold concept and vision will certainly be showcased in a global spotlight and celebrated worldwide.”
May 2012 sees a series of global and local events coming to Cape Town, including everything from the Millenium Development Goals Summit and Exhibition and 1000 Women United Against Domestic Violence, to Marketing Indaba, Hostex and the Good Food and Wine Show. For more details: CTICC 1 Lower Long Street T: 021 410 5001 @CTICC1 www.cticc.co.za
FACTS & FIGURES
2012 In nine years the CTICC has made a cumulative contribution of R16.8 billion to GDP – or a R2.3 billion contribution to GDP per year – and created over 60 000 direct and indirect jobs.
2018 The CTICC aims to contribute R5.1 billion to GDP per year and create 8 000+ jobs per year.
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May 2012
Where the Continent and the Cape meet The French and Dutch both have long histories in the Mother City – and their governments are still based in the CBD today. What’s their Cape Town connection?
French Consul Antoine Michon
CV What do you enjoy about living and working in the city centre? Being able to walk the city. I always find an opportunity to take my guests on walking tours. Within a few blocks you can cover three centuries of the city’s history. I start across the road in the Company’s Garden – the raison d’étre of the city – and usually end at the castle. The city’s history provides a story on every corner, and the story continues – did you know that there are more French speaking people here today than in the time of the Huguenots?
It’s estimated that 40 local surnames can be traced back to the Huguenots, from Cilliers and Du Plessis, to Roux and Viljoen. What was their main impact? About 300 French Huguenots landed in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. They were generally wealthier, more educated and better CV
craftsmen than the 1 500 settlers who were already here. They were far more religious than the average Company soldier, and we can attribute much of the church-going tradition in the Afrikaner community to them. They are also largely responsible for starting the Cape’s wine industry, which is today worth around R30-billion. They were committed people. There was no Plan B for the Huguenots; South Africa was home. CV France’s scientific contribution to South Africa is often overlooked. Can you tell us a little more about explorer and ornithologist François Le Vaillant and his Cape Town connection? Le Vaillant explored the coast as far as Port Elizabeth to the east, and almost up to the Namibian border in the west. He utilised new illustration and preservation techniques, cataloguing thousands of examples of never-before recorded wildlife before returning to Europe where he wrote a book on each expedition, to huge acclaim. The books were translated into seven languages, and through his writing, exhibitions, maps and travel accounts, Le Vaillant provided a body of work that influenced how Europe saw, and still sees, Africa today: as an exotic location. A romantic relationship he
had with a Khoi woman from the Gonaqua tribe may have added to that. The centrepiece of a Le Vaillant exhibit to be held at the South African Museum later this year will be the original three metre by two metre map that King Louis XVII asked Le Vaillant to create to illustrate his adventures. And we’ve arranged for a copy to stay in South Africa. Interestingly, his very first exhibition in the 18th century was in a building off Buitenkant, near the French school that now bears his name. CV What is the French connection to the Cape like today? Approximately 2 500 French citizens live in Cape Town and the number of expats increases every year by around 5%. Most relocate here when they’ve met a South African partner in London, and are hitting the 30-year mark and are ready to start a family. Tourists sometimes also fall in love with the city – or someone in it – and make contact with us while they look for work, or become entrepreneurs so they can move here permanently. Two examples that I love are Laurent Deslandes, who heads up the kitchen at Bizerca Bistro on the Foreshore, and Patrick Moreau, the pastry chef who set up Cassis Paris at Gardens Shopping Centre.
Photo: Lisa Burnell
CV You’ve lived in Cape Town for two and a half years, how have you found your stay? I feel like a local. I live in Oranjezicht, within walking distance of the embassy, and my children attend the French school in Hope Street.
Antoine Michon takes time out in the Company’s Garden
Make your own French connections: Bizerca Bistro Jetty Street T: 021 418 0001 www.bizerca.com
The Iziko South African Museum 25 Queen Victoria Street T: 021 481 3800 www.iziko.org.za
Cassis Paris Shop 5, Ground Floor, Gardens Centre T: 021 461 6232 www.cassis.co.za
Societi Bistro & Brasserie 50 Orange Street T: 021 424 2100 www.societi.co.za
The French Market at Alliance Française 155 Loop Street Fridays from 10h00 to 16h00 T: 021 423 5699 www.alliance.org.za
The French Consulate in Cape Town 78 Queen Victoria Street T: 021 423 1575 www.consulfrance-lecap.org
Cape Town coffee, culture and community “We’re invested in this part of town and we feel like we’ve contributed to the upliftment of the area in a small way.”
It’s no secret that City Views likes coffee – coffee shops help create a sense of community, giving Capetonians an excuse to get out of the office and talk, think, create, commune. We speak to two long-standing Cape Town coffee institutions who’ve been in the business for over seven years.
COCOA EXPRESSO CAFE
Jason Volckaert
Jason Volckaert, owner of Cocoa Expresso café, gives a good daily grind to those at work on the Foreshore.
CV How has the growth of Cape Town’s coffee culture affected your business? When we first opened our doors most people wanted
filter coffee and not espresso-based coffee, whereas nowadays everybody expects to be served a cappuccino or latte. The growth of the coffee culture has boosted our sales because people seek out good coffee and are no longer happy to settle for a sub-standard cup. We’ve also seen an increase in chilled coffee sales. Customers still want the caffeine hit and coffee taste but in a cooler format in the summer months.
Cocoa Expresso Vodacom Building Pier Place (adjacent to Virgin Active on Jetty Street) T: 021 421 7000 www.cocoa.co.za
Jason a
nd the
a Burnell
What do you love most about being located here? We’ve had the same customers for many years and we’ve built up a loyal following. It’s been great seeing the Foreshore develop and improve over the last eight years as we’ve grown and developed. CV
Cocoa
Expres
so team
Photo: Lis
You’ve been based on the Foreshore for close on eight years now. How has it changed? First of all, the CCID has been brilliant. This section of the Foreshore is completely different now; it’s open and friendly, tourists and locals abound, and there are always people walking down from the convention centre. Also, if I come here at night I feel really safe, which is good for business. CV
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Dutch Consul General David de Waal
Why is the consulate based in the city centre? Our embassy is in a central location at a busy intersection. We’re happy in this building we’ve rented for decades from the Lutheran Church next door. Ironically, the church was an illegal schilkerk, or clandestine church, when the Dutch ruled the Cape, but by 1820 the Lutheran’s hall was converted into the beautiful structure it is today. CV
“My grandfather Bernhard Hendrik de Waal was the Consul General of Cape Town between 1892 and 1901. My father worked here before going off to the Dutch East Indies – or Indonesia, as it is now called – after WWII, and I started my honeymoon here. There has always been an attraction to this country and to Cape Town in particular.” David de Waal
CV Your grandfather also walked the streets of Cape Town as the consul general in his time. What is your family’s connection to the city? My grandfather Bernhard Hendrik de Waal was the Consul General of Cape Town between 1892 and 1901. My father worked here before going off to the Dutch East Indies – or Indonesia, as it is now called – after WWII, and I started my honeymoon here. There has always been an attraction to this country and to Cape Town in particular.
Do many of your countrymen share this attraction? Absolutely. Around 15 000 Dutch citizens live in Cape Town, including those who just come to stay for the summer. Many more tourists come here, of course. They enjoy the diversity of the landscape – the sights, food, beaches, wines and museums. CV
CV Tourism wasn’t always the reason the Dutch were interested inCape Town… Even today only a small yet important percentage of our work deals with travel documentation. The main work of our consulate focuses on making it easier for Dutch firms to do business here in Cape Town. Everyone knows Heineken and Amstel beer, but not everyone knows that we have a Dutch shipbuilder – Damen – in the harbour, and that the Netherlands is one of SA’s most important export markets. The Western Cape links especially well with the Netherlands, which is why we’ve placed the
Photo: Lisa Burnell
CV You moved here from Kandahar in Afghanistan. What do you enjoy about Cape Town? In my career I’ve lived in 12 countries and I can confidently say that this is the most beautiful location I have worked in. And it’s not just because of the obvious – the climate, food, wine and sights of the city. It’s the people that I meet here in and out of office hours that make my time here special.
consulate here. Cape Town started exporting right from the very beginning with the Dutch East India Company – a large private Dutch company that sent Jan van Riebeek here in 1652 to establish a food supply station for the trading ships. Most often, of course, you hear the Dutch connection to Cape Town, with Afrikaans being the most spoken language in the Western Cape. What plans are there to link with Cape Town as World Design Capital 2014? As the gateway to Africa, Cape Town’s influence on the continent is substantial. It would be a great place to establish a design academy as a long-lasting legacy of World Design Capital 2014, linked to the Design Academy CV
in Eindhoven and Ravi Naidoo’s Interactive Africa. It would be important for the academy to be inclusive of the whole population since diversity makes creativity richer, and gives it credibility.
David de Waal catches up with City Views at Hemelhuijs on Waterkant Street
Cape Town’s Dutch legacy within walking distance: The Iziko Slave Lodge Corner of Adderley and Wale Street T: 021 467 7229 www.iziko.org.za Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 100 Strand Street T: 021 421 5660 www.dutchembassy.co.za
Company’s Garden Open daily from 07h00 to 19h00 T: 021 400 2521 Castle of Good Hope Monday to Sunday 09h00 to 15h30 T: 021 787 1260 www.castleofgoodhope.co.za
ANTHONY’S GOLDEN CUP Anthony Swartz has been in the coffee business for over 50 years, and the butternut-coloured walls of his shop on Loop Street are plastered with flags, press clippings and photographs of customers from around the world.
Is there a particular roast or blend that you’re famous for? I like a blend of Colombian, Kenyan and Continental beans but most of our regular CV
customers have their personal favourites. We write each person’s details down on a card and place them in our special black box so we never forget who likes what. A lot has changed in this part of town over the past few years, what are some of the changes you’ve noticed? Everything has changed. I’ve noticed that people don’t carry cash as much as they used to, and since parking is scarce, it’s difficult to park on the street and run in to buy a cup of coffee. It would help small businessmen like me CV
a lot if the city could look at giving people ten minutes of free parking. CV How did you end up setting up shop here? When Madiba was released from prison, it encouraged me to get out of my prison and start working for myself. I was employed by a well-known coffee supplier for many years so I had the experience to start my own thing, I just needed to find the right place to do it. I started a coffee shop on the ninth floor of an office block on Darling Street, then I moved to Long Street, and then seven years ago I moved
Photo: Lisa Burnell
CV A cup of coffee here is quite reasonable – priced between R10 and R15. How has the growing coffee culture affected your business? There’s more competition now but everyone can still afford to pay for a good cup of coffee. You can make a great cup with a cheaper machine as long as the coffee you use is of a good quality.
Anthony Swartz prepares his daily grind
here. I think I was the first black man to roast coffee in the city centre.
“I think I was the first black man to roast coffee in the city centre.” Anthony Swartz
Anthony’s Golden Cup 59 Loop Street T: 021 426 1268 www.goldencup.co.za
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Why do you live in the Central City? I’ve always been drawn to the diversity found in cities. They are not just about buildings, roads and statues but more importantly about the people who live in them. I admire Cape Town for its potential to become a truly great and inclusive city. A lot of work needs to be done to advance this vision, but cities must be seen as works in progress.
Photo: Lisa Burnell
CV
CONNECTING TOWN AND TOWNSHIP
Gavin Silber on the steps of the Civic Centre
I live in the Central City Long Street resident Gavin Silber is the policy coordinator for the Social Justice Coalition (SJC), through which he campaigns for improved access to basic services for people living in Cape Town’s informal settlements.
CV What is the SJC all about? The SJC is a Khayelitsha-based social movement and advocacy centre campaigning for improved access to basic services in Cape Town’s informal settlements. One of our main campaigns focuses on ensuring access to clean and safe sanitation.
Why sanitation? At least 500 000 people in the City of Cape Town do not have access to basic sanitation facilities. This has a significant effect on public health, contributing to the spread of preventable illnesses such as diarrhoea. Another lesser known impact is on personal safety. Crime is far higher in townships than in suburban or urban areas. Residents of informal settlements must often walk for more than 10 minutes (often at night) to find a functioning toilet or empty clearing – rendering them particularly vulnerable to CV
crime. People are assaulted, raped, robbed and murdered when conducting a very simple bodily function that many Capetonians take for granted. CV Is Cape Town conducive to social activism? Cape Town has always been renowned for its activism. Many of South Africa’s most successful social movements started in Cape Town. One example is the Treatment Action Campaign – probably the most recognised social movement in the country and acclaimed as one of the best health advocacy groups in the world. During the 1980s the city was a critical base for the anti-apartheid movement– particularly the UDF and trade unions. That said, many of the historic divisions that existed before apartheid continue to exist today. If we are to address this, more needs to be done to unite Capetonians across class and race divides.
How can Cape Town be improved? Cities should be places where all people can live, work and play. The reality at the moment is that a great proportion of Capetonians find the city inaccessible. People living on the Cape Flats are unable to get safe, efficient and affordable transport into the city. At night, public transport ceases to operate. Another challenge is ensuring that Capetonians from across income groups CV
May 2012
“I’ve always been drawn to the diversity found in cities. They are not just about buildings, roads and statues but more importantly about the people who live in them. I admire Cape Town for its potential to become a truly great and inclusive city.” Gavin Silber
are able to live in and around the city centre – a prospect that is currently unaffordable for many. Not only would this create a more inclusive city, but it would also lead to dramatic improvement in the energy of the city.
of “Sea Point!” by taxi drivers in the CBD; my laundromat; good coffee; and, despite its challenges, its potential to be a trendsetting, inclusive city.
Where do you go for a moment of quiet? I do quite a bit of running and one of my escapes is the canal that runs just beyond the convention centre. So my running route is usually down Long Street, through the convention centre and around that canal. It’s peaceful, quiet and still in the city, but with no pollution – always a plus for a runner.
Follow Gavin on Twitter (@GavinSilber) or experience his Cape Town for yourself:
CV
What is the most underrated aspect of Cape Town? Its walkability. CV
CV What are the five things about Cape Town you could not live without? The ability to quickly escape to mountains, beaches or wilderness; the continuous shouts
Social Justice Coalition T: 021 361 8160 www.sjc.org.za Treatment Action Campaign Westminster House 122 Longmarket Street T: 021 422 1700 www.tac.org.za Ndifuna Ukwazi Office 203, 47 on Strand Strand Street T: 021 423 7554 www.nu.org.za KN Laundry 25 Adderley Street T: 021 802 4006
How has the spirit of the Bo-Kaap changed over the years? Before the forced removals there wasn’t discrimation. All the kids played cricket together in Wale Street or on Riebeeck Square, or table tennis at the Table Tennis Club on Loader Street. Nowadays new people and new businesses are moving into the area, from different communities, and in a way, things have come full circle – people want to live above shops and businesses, like we did in the early days. CV
Rocksole 63 Wale Street 021 424 3858 www.rocksole.co.za
Gunwa
Gunw a Mr Ka nt’s late fa y t friend (second f her, know ro n s in th e Bo-K m left) and as aap
“New people and new businesses are moving into the Bo-Kaap, from different communities, and in a way, things have come full circle – people want to live above shops and businesses, like we did in the early days.”
Photo: Lisa Burnell
Rocksole, the family business, stayed in the Bo-Kaap, but you moved elsewhere. Why? We moved to Rylands Estate in Athlone in 1975. The Group Areas Act had declared the Bo-Kaap a Muslim area and our apartment above the shop was getting too cramped – at one point there were 12 of us living in three bedrooms. We moved to a comfortable house so it wasn’t so bad, but the comCV
mute was difficult. We weren’t allowed to buy property in the city centre, but my father was an astute businessman and he managed to get a friend to buy on his behalf, and today his investments really paid off.
: Court esy of
CV Gunwant, what’s your connection to the Bo-Kaap? My father started our family business here in 1926. Over the years the shape and size of the premises changed, but the business has stayed the same. I grew up in a typical Indian family, living above the shop, and working in the shop came first, homework second.
Photo
The Jaga family’s specialist shoe repair business in the Bo-Kaap is still going strong after 86 years. Gunwant Jaga reminisces about growing up in the area.
nt Jaga
Family-run business in the Bo-Kaap
Gunwant Jaga Gunwant Jaga and his son Raj behind the counter of their Wale Street store
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N I LIVE I
District Six rus. The group was famous for its ballet too. As a family, we’d go for walks on the Grand Parade, and on Sundays, we’d be all dressed up after church and we’d go to the Company’s Garden and just chill there. We also loved the bioscope. There were four in the area, one being a former synagogue. Can you believe it? Jewish people lived in
What are some of your happier memories growing up in District Six? The Eoan Group [a community outreach organisation] had their home in District Six donkey’s years ago, before moving to Athlone. We loved their opera productions. They were all in Italian but we could follow the storylines. So many singers were factory workers and domestic workers, and many of us had friends or family members in the cho-
Susan Lewis
“District Six is my home and it’s good to be back.”
CV
the area and also owned businesses there. This was before District Six became a coloured area. Many Africans lived there. They were the first to be forcibly removed. How did the forced removals impact you and your family? In 1966 the Group Areas Act declared District Six a white area and we had to move. There were no other options. CV
If I’d had a choice I’d have gone for Bishopscourt, but we moved to Hanover Park in the Cape Flats. It was very traumatic. CV If there had been one aspect of District Six that you could have taken with you to the Cape Flats, what would it have been? St Mark’s Community Centre. It catered for all our needs. There was ballroom dancing, a drama society to which I belonged, and the Church Brigade where we did gymnastics, sang, played music, sewed... There was even a bank there. When we left the area I often said if only we could take it and plonk it in Hanover Park. CV What’s District Six like so many years on? We’re still fairly close-knit – people recognise each other – but we’re a different generation. There isn’t that strong sense of community yet.
Aspelling Street, District Six
Virtual tourist The District Six Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about the area and the people who lived there. If you aren’t able to make it in person, however, you can still take a virtual stroll through the streets by going to www.districtsix. co.za/walk/index.htm.
District Six Museum 25A Buitenkant Street T: 021 466 7200 www.districtsix.co.za
Photo: Lisa Burnell
CV What was it like growing up in District Six? It wasn’t a wonderful fairyland. We were poor. There were nine of us living together in our house in Caledon Street. When it rained we had to throw out buckets of rainwater. The house I have now is a mansion compared to what we had then. But we shared what we had and respected each other. Everyone knew everyone – not by name – but by their faces.
Photo: Courtesy of the National Library of South Africa
After having spent over 30 years living on the Cape Flats, Susan Lewis is a District Six resident again.
Susan Lewis at home in Aspeling Street
N I LIVE I
The Bo-Kaap Channel 24 movies editor Shaheema Barodien reflects on growing up in one of Cape Town’s most colourful communities.
CV What was it like growing up in the area? My earliest childhood memories involve the Ramadan month of fasting and Eid, the day all the kids looked forward to more than their birthdays, when everyone’s doors would be open to welcome friends and family.
What’s the sound, smell and taste of your Cape Town? The sound would be the athan, or call to prayer, that goes off from the many mosques five times a day, simultaneously. The smell is the rainclouds that CV
come off the sea in the mornings, and the taste is my mommy’s koeksisters on a Sunday morning. CV Where’s the best place in the area for a great meal at an affordable price? Lusitania Fisheries in Waterkant Street. Their fish and chips are the best – fresh, piping hot and smothered in salt and vinegar, and the portions are huge.
Where do you send tourists and locals looking to experience the highlights of the Bo-Kaap? There are some fantastic heritage sites like the Auwal Masjid – the first mosque in South Africa – and the Tana Baru Kramat, or burial ground, at the top of Longmarket Street. No excursion is complete without stocking up on spices at Atlas Trading, or taking a hike up Signal Hill to check out the Noon Gun. CV
CV What kind of Cape Town do you hope for in 2040? A Cape Town where each and every person is aware of their lifestyle and its impact on their environment; where every homeowner doesn’t feel compelled to install burglar bars on the windows, and the idea of a 24/7 city becomes a reality.
Atlas Trading 94 Wale Street T: 021 423 4361 Lusitania Fisheries 49 Waterkant Street T: 021 425 4532 Auwal Masjid 34 Dorp Street Tana Baru Kramat Top of Longmarket Street
Photo: Lisa Burnell
CV What’s your connection to the Bo-Kaap? I’ve lived here all my life, and so have my parents. It’s the only place I feel like myself because I’m surrounded by neighbours who’ve watched me grow up, and the Islamic culture that permeates nearly every aspect of the lifestyle here.
Shaheema Barodien’s home is where her heart is, in the Bo-Kaap
“The Bo-Kaap is a residential area but for me it’s always been part of the business district. I barely distinguish between the two areas. I love that we’re so close yet still tucked away from the bustle of the CBD.” Shaheema Barodien
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Time travel
Take yourself on a history tour of Cape Town Cape Town is home to many histories and cultural treasures. We asked SAHO (South African History Online) to curate six great spots for exploring our city’s heritage.
Photo: Courtesy of the National Library of South Africa
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Documenting history in the digital realm South African History Online (SAHO) is the largest and fastest growing online archive and encyclopaedia of South African history and culture. This “people’s history project” is a virtual hub that links together some of Cape Town’s most important cultural treasures. The website is visited by more than a million users every year and its collection of articles, books, images and videos – updated weekly by a team of researchers – is used extensively by students and researchers throughout the world. Go to www.sahistory.org.za to continue exploring.
Cape Town circa 1898
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THE CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE
is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa. Built by soldiers, sailors and slaves between 1666 and 1679, it was originally used as a refreshment station by the Dutch East India Company, or Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC). By 1678 it had become the centre of civilian, administrative and military life. It’s still the seat of the military today, housing the Castle Military Museum, as well as Iziko Museums’ very impressive William Fehr
might look incredibly modern today, but it started in 1929 as a simple wooden car with a tin roof. Before the cableway was established, the only way to the top of South Africa’s most iconic mountain was by foot, and only the most intrepid climbers would attempt the journey. In 1790, Lady Anne Barnard mounted an expedition in an attempt to be the first woman to summit. Her entourage
included three men, slaves and her personal maid, and they summited via Platteklip Gorge. In the 1870s, Capetonians looked at implementing a less strenuous way of making the summit, and plans to build a railway and a funicular were proposed, but halted by the outbreak of the first South African War and WWI, until, in 1926, Norwegian engineer Trygve Stromsoe proposed to build
Corner of Darling and Buitenkant St Open: Daily from 09h00 to 15h30 T: 021 787 1260 Cost: Teens and children free, students and pensioners R10, adults R20 www.castleofgoodhope. co.za The Castle of Good Hope
personal history Sameena Khan is an archaeology student – currently completing her master’s degree in heritage and public culture at the University of Cape Town – who’s interested in dealing with the past in a way that’s relevant to the present. We asked her how to go about uncovering our personal and city histories. “If you’re interested in tracing your own personal history, or the history of a property, you’re going to need time and energy, and you’ll need to speak to people who have experience in research in the specific area you’d like to explore. This is a short list of resources to help start you on your journey.” Western Cape Provincial Archives & Records Services
“This is the best place to start any form of research. The information comes in many forms, from paper-based records, to electronic, audiovisual, photographic and cartographic records. You can view just about everything except for a small collection of sensitive
a cableway. His proposal captured the imagination of a group of influential investors, who formed the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company, and built the first cable car. The 1929 cable car carried only 20 people – a far cry from today’s cableway, which carries 65 people and is one of only three revolving cable cars of its kind in the world.
Lower Cable Station Tafelberg Road T: 021 424 8181 Cost: No charge for children under 4, R85 return for children under 18, and R175 return for adults www.tablemountain.net
Googling the National Gallery
How to uncover your
Photo: Lisa Burnell
Collection of fine art, and a selection of Cape Dutch furniture.
THE TABLE MOUNTAIN CABLEWAY
FIND YOURSELF
Sameena Khan at the Provincial Archives in Roeland Street
April May 2012
Photo: Supplied
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official records.” 72 Roeland Street T: 021 466 8100 www.national.archives.gov.za Environmental Resource Management
“If you’re looking to renovate or develop a heritage property, or a building in a heritage area, you’ll find all the information you need on heritage practices and property numbers here.” City of Cape Town 7th Floor, Good Hope Subcouncil Building 44 Wale Street www.capetown.gov.za/en/environmentalresourcemanagement/Pages/default.aspx
The Iziko National Gallery recently took its place alongside the great art galleries of the world as part of Google’s Art Project – a slick online resource that showcases artworks from 151 galleries in 40 countries. So if you aren’t able to visit the gallery in the Company’s Garden, you can now enjoy the collection from the comfort of your couch or desk: Just go to www.googleartproject.com.
Deeds Office
“You’ll be able to obtain information on all past owners of your property here.” 90 Plein Street New Revenue Building T: 021 464 7600 www.deeds.gov.za Iziko Museums of Cape Town
“To develop a better understanding of the past as a whole, a visit to the various Iziko museums within the city is a must.” www.iziko.org.za Planning and Building Development Management Department
“This is another property resource that you’d use if you had to establish
if there were any limitations involved in renovating a heritage site.” City of Cape Town Civic Centre 16th Floor 12 Hertzog Boulevard www.capetown.gov.za/en/planningandbuilding/Pages/default. aspx
If you’d like to know more, you can email Sameena at sameenak7@gmail.com.
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CityViews
THE COMPANY ‘S GARDEN the city’s green lung is that it’s bordered by some of the city’s cultural gems: the Slave Lodge, the Houses of Parliament, the Iziko South African Museum and Planetarium, St George’s Cathedral (the seat of the Anglican church in South Africa), the National Library of South Africa, the Iziko South African National Gallery, the Great Synagogue and Holocaust Centre, and Tuynhuys, the Cape Town office of the Presidency.
Open daily from 07h00 to 19h00 T: 021 400 2521 Cost: Free
Photo: Courtesy of the National Library of South Africa
is an urban sanctuary that was formally established by Dutch settlers in 1952, as a supply station for spice trading ships on their long sea routes to the east. Early documents reveal that the garden was originally divided into rectangular fields and watered via a system of open irrigation furrows fuelled by mountain streams. During the 17th century, as the city grew, the garden expanded, and by 1848, a portion of it was declared an open public space. In 1892 the municipality took over, and by 1898 the garden was opened to all. One of the best things about
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THE BO-KAAP
is one of the oldest residential areas in Cape Town. In 1834, after slavery had been abolished, there was increased pressure for housing in Cape Town, so a number of freed slaves moved into the area, taking over houses from immigrants who had started moving into the suburbs. The Bo-Kaap developed as a vibrant mixed area, but the 1950’s Group Areas Act dislocated the lives of many people living here, and despite protest, parts of the Bo-Kaap were declared Malay group areas and those people that did not fit the category were forcibly removed. Number 71 Wale Street – one of the oldest houses in the Bo-Kaap – is a beautifully restored national monument and another of Iziko’s museums that documents the history of the area and its people.
town
71 Wale Street Open Monday to Saturday 10h00 to 17h00 T: 021 481 3938 Cost: Teens and children free, students and pensioners R5, adults R10 www.iziko.org.za/museums/bo-kaap-museum
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THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SOUTH AFRICA
was initially one of two national libraries – the South African Library, founded in 1818 in Cape Town, and the State Library, founded in 1887 in Pretoria – before both were joined in 1999. The National Library’s first significant acquisition was a collection that belonged to Joachim Nicolaus von Dessin, who bequeathed his books to the Dutch Reformed Church in 1761 to serve as the foundation of a public library. Other notable donations followed over the years, including Sir George Grey’s personal library Photo: Courtesy of Iziko Museums Cape Town
May 2012
that included valuable medieval and renaissance manuscripts, rare books – including a Shakespeare First Folio – and very rare South African publications. These items fall within the library’s special collections department and may be viewed by appointment only.
Special Collections Department 5 Queen Victoria Street T: 021 487 5619 www.nlsa.ac.za
Did you know that the National Library is a legal deposit library, meaning it has a copy of every book, newspaper, government publication and other printed item published in South Africa since 1842?
The Bo-Kaap Museum
BUILDING BRIDGES Ever wondered who built Cape Town? Head to the exhibition at the Bo-Kaap Museum dedicated to the slaves and workers who literally built the city during its three centuries of colonial rule. The Botanical Gardens in 1875
High street shopping in the city
Photo: Courtesy of Klûk CGDT
Design duo Malcolm Klûk and Christiaan Gabriël du Toit recently relocated from a shopping centre in Green Point to a heritage building on Bree. Here they explain why moving to the heart of the city has been better for their brand.
The new Klûk CGDT storefront on Bree
CV Why did you choose to move from Green Point to Bree Street? We always felt that we were wedged between a video store and a hairdresser in Green Point and although it was a great location, it never reflected us as a brand. Internationally, shopping is moving away from malls back onto the street. The street has more character and individuality, whereas in every shopping centre in the world you can find the same stores, which makes it almost not worth travelling. We wanted to keep our identity and integrity as a South African designer boutique with a specific message: “We are about holistic design, we are international, we are special.” CV You’ve moved from a relatively modern building to a heritage one. Can you tell us a little about the space you’re now in? We kept passing this building and loved the façade; it reminded us of ateliers in Italy and Paris. It has history and personality that our previous premises didn’t, and it
Photo: Lisa Burnell
Open: Monday to Saturday from 10h00 to 17h00 T: 021 460 8242 Cost: Teens and children free, students and pensioners R10, adults R20 www.iziko.org.za/museums/slave-lodge
Laddy McKechnie from the Special Collections Department of the NLSA
was built in the 30s, which is a decade we love and reference often. Also, there is something special about being in the city – the influx of tourists mixed with the locals makes the city feel very worldly. CV Passersby seem to have mixed reactions to the building’s striking black exterior. What made you opt for this shade? Black - or more accurately, Aniseed - follows international trends toward darker exteriors and interiors, and our philosophy is about offering an international experience to a local market. It also frames our windows, making them the focal point of the building, particularly at night when the windows are lit up. And apparently it becomes a talking point, which draws attention to our boutique and to the city.
Klûk CGDT 47 Bree Street T: 083 377 7780 www.kluk.co.za
k CGDT
and post office. The building was restored in 1960, and it opened as the South African Cultural History Museum in 1966. In 1998 the museum was renamed the Slave Lodge, and today it houses a permanent exhibition on the Cape’s slave history as well as temporary exhibitions.
Christ Malcolm Klû iaan G abriël k and du Toit
Photo: Courtes y of Klû
is one of Cape Town’s oldest buildings. Built by the VOC, it housed around 9 000 slaves, convicts and mentally ill people between 1679 and 1810. In 1810, the lodge was transformed into government offices, housing the likes of the upper house of the first parliament, the Cape Supreme Court, the Deeds Office and the first library
Photo: Carina Beyer (Courtesy of Iziko Museums of Cape Town)
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THE IZIKO SLAVE LODGE
“Internationally, shopping is moving away from malls back onto the street. The street has more character and individuality, whereas in every shopping centre in the world you can find the same stores, which makes it almost not worth travelling.” Christiaan Gabriël du Toit
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from on thethe fringe
CityViews CityViews CityViews
April May 2012
The original Cavalla Kings with David Kramer (front right)
Photo: Caroline Jordan
David Kramer on Cape Town The cast in action on The Fugard Theatre’s rooftop
KAT AND THE KINGS Coming home to District Six
For the first time since its debut in 1995, David Kramer and Taliep Petersen’s acclaimed musical Kat and the Kings comes home to District Six – just a few streets away from the very place in which the production is set.
CV What do you love about Cape Town?
I love that it’s close to nature. That it has a mountain or two and a nature reserve at its heart, makes Cape Town totally different. In five or ten minutes I can be up on the mountain or down by the sea. In today’s world people who are cut off from nature are quite deprived. I’m also able to enjoy everything that an international city would offer, and more. CV Does Cape Town have a unique flavour of creativity?
In terms of theatre and music, Cape Town has always produced amazing people, particularly musicians. It’s a good creative place because of the inspiration that comes from being at the tip of Africa, and also the moody and dramatic season changes – the drama in the weather alone is inspiring.
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CV Where then do you go for inspiration?
I’m a great believer that you need to break your routine, so I try to keep up with things in terms of art galleries, theatre and movies. Strangely enough, because I work and play with musicians, I don’t really like to go and listen to it. For me the creation of music is done quite privately – I don’t even have a very big CD collection.
Photos: Jesse Kramer
ritten and directed by David Kramer and scored by the late Taliep Petersen, Kat and the Kings is narrated by and follows the story of Kat Diamond, an ambitious young singer and dancer in late1950s District Six. He forms a rock’n’roll, doo-wop, a cappella group with four friends and for a spell their rise to fame knows no limit. Based on the experiences of Salie Daniels – who played the older Kat in the original cast – the musical is about paying tribute to great talents that went unrecognised because of the laws of the time. David Kramer explains: “Taliep and I were always interested in telling the stories that weren’t being told by the people in power. Like the fact that there was this place here [District Six] with all these wonderfully talented people who were never acknowledged or given opportunities, so that the rest of South Africa didn’t even know that they existed.” The fact that the story went on to charm the world was a complete surprise, especially since the musical was originally penned to provide employment to a group of unemployed young performers. David attributes the show’s widespread appeal across generations and international cultures to its exuberant rock’n’roll energy, and universal theme: “Everybody dreams about using their talents and fulfilling their dreams, which is what the story is about: five young people dreaming of success, achieving a certain amount of it, but being denied the opportunity to become who they really should’ve been. Sometimes life treats you unfairly, but you don’t give up on your dreams; you keep believing that perhaps tomorrow will be your lucky day. “The story remains relevant today, even if it is set in your grandparents’ time,” he continues, explaining that the apartheid era in which the musical is set is just a backdrop. “If young people enjoy the
The city’s renowned playwright, director, singer and songwriter tells us where to find inspiration, good food and velskoens.
The Kat and the Kings cast rehearsing
show and are inspired to investigate their history further, all the better.” David is particularly excited about the new talents he came across while auditioning the cast: “Most of the original cast performed in the show in various ways up until 2005. They grew up in the show – if they were 21 when they started, they were 31 when we finished.” There is just one original Kat and the Kings cast member who will return to the stage though: Danny Butler as the older Kat Diamond. Alistair Izobel and Loukmaan Adams – who played Magoo and Bingo on Broadway and the West End – return in the capacity of vocal coach and choreographer. The designer of the West End production, Saul Radomsky, also returns. The absence one feels the most, though, is that of Taliep Petersen. “This show would have meant a lot to him because this was the area where he grew up. Kat and the Kings is a journey of someone like him, who through sheer talent made it to Broadway and now finally has an opportunity to show his work close to home. It’s just sad that he’s not here to see it.”
CV What is Cape Town’s best-kept secret?
I don’t think Cape Town is able to keep secrets! What used to be a secret was climbing Lion’s Head at full moon, but I mentioned this to a journalist once and now you practically have to buy a ticket to get up there. So, let me just say that I love the little beaches that you can sneak down to that no one seems to know about. CV What do you think of this area between the city and District Six, which is now called The Fringe?
Kat and the Kings runs at the Fugard Theatre from 1 May until the end of August. Tickets cost between R100 to R150, and are available from the Fugard Theatre box office or via Computicket. Performances run Tuesdays to Fridays at 20h00, and on Saturdays at 17h00 and 20h30. The Fugard Theatre Corner of Caledon and Lower Buitenkant Street T: 021 461 4554 www.thefugard.com
It’s quite exciting, this rebirth of the eastern side of the city with the theatre and other kinds of clubs. One hopes that it starts a trend and that an anchor like the theatre starts to attract other places. The heart of the city was torn out by the destruction of District Six and now the rebuilding is starting. I went to look at the plans and I think it’s very well thought through. CV Where’s the best place to buy velskoens?
At a factory in Tulbagh called Tarzan’s Skoen Fabriek. Actually velskoens have suddenly become trendy internationally. People are wearing the suede velskoen in Manhattan and I’ve seen them all over other trendy shelves.
April2012 May 2012
on the
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STREET ART
...and the heart of District Six of that. The religious differences between the Muslims, Christians and Jews didn’t define them; instead the community was a fertile, dynamic snapshot of what South Africa could be.
CV It seems like you have a strong emotional connection to the area. What is your personal connection to District Six?
My mother lived there as a child but my story is not the focus of the mural. It’s more about how resilient people can be if they take strength from their communities, like some of the communities around the Cape Flats do today.
So does the mural intend to reflect the cultural significance of its location? CV
Maklone’s children fly through history into the future
City street artist Mak1one has transformed a once sombre electricity substation situated on the boundary between District Six and The Fringe, where Canterbury meets Constitution Street, with a vibrant mural that tackles the past with sensitivity and passion.
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What inspired you to beautify Substation 13? CV
CV How do you think most people feel towards District Six now?
There are a lot of mixed feelings. Some people feel frustrated about having to wait for land to be returned to them, but for others District Six is a catalyst that helps them to tell their stories, and in so doing, reclaim their histories.
“Strong visuals can be incredibly positive because they stimulate the brain, and an uplifting mural can cause a ripple effect if it inspires people who in turn take that inspiration back to the communities where they live.”
The space provided me with an opportunity to create something that would inspire everyday passersby to connect to the positive spirit of District Six, without having to go into a museum or gallery. CV Do you think there is one overriding factor that contributed to the community spirit of District Six?
The community was completely mixed and I want to remind people
CV And what is your personal dream for the city?
That there will be more murals covering the buildings and blank spaces in public areas. South Africans pride themselves on being the Rainbow Nation but cities don’t always reflect this visually.
Mak1one
PUBLIC ART
Strong visuals can be incredibly positive because they stimulate the brain, and an uplifting mural can cause a ripple effect if it inspires people who in turn take that inspiration back to the communities where they live.
Street artist Mak1one
...and a people’s history
Step out of the gallery and onto the pavement: Go find these public memorials, which all form part of The Sunday Times Heritage Project – an initiative to help us reflect on where we’ve come from and where we’re headed. 1
Mannenberg
WHAT: Passersby on Bloem Street are invited to run a stick along this musical memorial that celebrates Abdullah Ibrahim’s legendary jazz anthem – Mannenberg – which was recorded in 1974 against a backdrop of forced removals, and went on to become an anthem of hope and resistance. WHERE: 21 Bloem Street WHO: Mark O’Donovan and Francois Venter
Cissie Gool Memorial
The Purple Shall Govern
WHAT: The seventeen bollards that make up this memorial each symbolise a law that was passed as a result of actions taken by the “Jewel of District Six” Cissie Zainunnissa Gool (1897-1963) – the first black woman in the country to serve in local government.
WHAT: A two-sided memorial commemorating the 1989 antiapartheid Purple March that took place nearby. One surface features purple portraits of people who defied the state of emergency by participating in the protest, while the other features an illustration of a Casspir surrounded by items that protesters would have carried with them.
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WHERE: Longmarket Pedestrian Mall, between Buitenkant and Plein Street WHO: Ruth Sacks
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WHERE: Corner of Burg and Church Street WHO: Conrad Botes
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Photos: Lisa Burnell
For more information, more memorials, and interviews with the artists, visit http://heritage. thetimes.co.za.
Photo: Caroline Jordan
Photo: Nicoline Jongens
The buttons represent the clothing people wore during the heydays of District Six, and the stories of the past carried by the people who wore them. The key links people to the past, and opens the door to the future, and the children represent generations to come – they’re flying through history and into the future.
CV Do you think public art can help shape communities and affect them positively?
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my
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CityViews
May 2012
My Cape Town: Kyle Shepherd
He plays the piano, saxophone and xaru, has been called a musical savant, and the architect of modern Cape jazz, but you won’t hear Kyle Shepherd singing his own praises. Here, he turns the spotlight on his influences and sources of inspiration – the artists that came before him.
“Living in Cape Town is like being plugged in to the source.” Kyle Shepherd
Where do you go to get plugged in to this inspiration? To be honest I don’t have any specific place. For me there’s a personal connection to the whole – whether I’m in the confines of my studio or on Table Mountain, or driving – it’s a connection that’s beyond a physical location. Cape Town as a whole is not just the geography, but also the CV
Straatwerk has job rehabilitation projects for men and women. 021 425 0140 The Haven’s vision is to get the homeless home. 021 425 4700 The Homestead provides residential care and family integration for boys. 021 461 7470
culture, people, communities, families and everything else that makes this city unique. Whenever I leave the country and look back at the city with an outsider’s eye, I start seeing the beauty all over again – specifically in the people. There is a distinctly Cape Town flavour to your music. How does your latest album, South African History !X reflect this? Musically it ties in with my longstanding interest in the history of South Africa and Cape Town. I’ve always found the truth behind our history mysterious because in the past it was suppressed and buried alive. For instance, when my parents were at school, they learnt that Cape Town ‘began’ when Jan van Riebeek arrived. But when you do the research, you realise that a whole culture of people existed here for many years before the Europeans came. If this history had been taught, we’d have a completely different idea of who we are. Instead, we’ve been conditioned to think that anything from elsewhere is better; we have a very deepseated inferiority complex. CV
CV This sounds similar to the Afrikaaps project that you were involved in? Yes, for the Afrikaaps project we researched and investigat-
Ons Plek provides residential care while undertaking reunification process for girls. 021 465 4829 The Carpenters Shop provides rehabilitation services and skills training for adults. 021 461 5508 Salesian Institute Youth Projects provide education, skills training and rehabilitation to vulnerable youth. 021 425 1450
ed the origins of Afrikaans. In the project we brought to light that the language, apart from the Dutch influence, was really a language created by the people who spoke it – which is a completely different take on the apartheid view of Afrikaans. When we did workshops with and performances for children in the Cape Flats and shared this insight, it was like a weight was being lifted off their shoulders. CV You’re building on a longstanding legacy of Cape jazz, and your personal relationships with the legendary Abdullah Ibrahim and late Zim Ngqawana. How have you incorporated these histories into your album? It’s not something that I think about when making music, so it’s difficult to talk about. The way I play wasn’t a decision. I grew up with musical elements around me in the community, which influenced me when I started playing jazz and improvisation. My mother is a violin player and she played for Abdullah when I was very young. As a single parent, she took me everywhere with her. I’m thankful for that because to sit in on Abdullah rehearsals as a kid … I mean, I never sat down and had any lessons with him, but just seeing Abdullah with his piano and
Photo: Marwhaan Lodewyk
CV Kyle, good music like yours must be a passport to the world. You’ve already mesmerised audiences across Africa, Europe and Asia, so what is it that makes you stay in Cape Town? Living in Cape Town is like being plugged in to the source. I might have to leave at some point, so I’m charging my batteries now. If I have to leave, I will always be plugged in to this thing called Cape Town. I’m trying to fill myself up: trying to know this place, to understand it; trying to understand my family, my culture, my people; and trying to understand the music on a deeper level. I’m not sure I will leave, but if I have to, I will always be fundamentally connected to Cape Town. I’ll always be here.
Kyle Shepherd
hearing him talk had such an effect on me. It all sticks, and I’m very grateful for that. Zim had a profound impact on me too. I studied with him at his school – Zimology – and lived with him in Johannesburg, and played and travelled with him. Abdullah got me started, and Zim moulded me. I can’t begin to attach any sort of value to what I got from them. CV You recently performed on St George’s Mall and Church Square as part of the Infecting the City festival. How was it? Apart from the pleasure of playing there, the main thing I’d like to say about that is: Why doesn’t it happen more often? Cape Town is such a beautiful city and we have such beautiful summer evenings. It’s absurd that we don’t have more outdoor festivals. In Europe, if they had half of what we do, they’d use the space more.
How would you describe the sound of Cape Town to a foreigner? It’s difficult to describe it without hearing it, but I would say that the sound of Cape Town stems from the city as a whole. It’s a feeling you get when you arrive, or the vibration that’s around us. It’s an honest sound; it’s a sound that could not have come from anywhere else. CV
Kyle’s latest album – South African History !X – is available for digital download from www.sheersound.co.za and other major digital stores, and as a CD at leading music stores across SA. For more information visit www. kyleshepherd.co.za.
Catch it live The Mahogany Room is Kyle’s favourite place to play in Cape Town. Modelled on some of the world’s greatest jazz clubs, it operates on a pay per set basis (R60 for one set, or R100 for two). Catch The Kyle Shepherd Trio featuring Kyle on piano, Shane Cooper on double bass and Jonno Sweetman on drums, there from Wednesday 2 May to Saturday 5 May at 20h30 and 22h30. Booking is essential. The Mahogany Room 79 Buitenkant Street T: 076 679 2697 @TheMahoganyRoom
Many children and young adults living on the streets have severe drug addiction problems. More often than not, the money they receive from begging is used to buy their next “fix”. The CCID therefore requests that members of the public do not give money or handouts directly. If you would like to help, please contact one of the listed organisations mentioned. Contact the Central City Improvement District’s (CCID’s) Social Development Department for further information or assistance.
Pat 021 419 1881 | Dean 082 928 3862 Headman Sirala-Rala 082 262 0113 Mark Williams 082 262 0112
www.capetownpartnership.co.za