City joins commemoration of District Six
15 February 2020
Speech delivered by the Executive, Alderman Dan Plato at the Commemoration of District Six being declared a whites' only area
Good morning
Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille
Deputy Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Mcebisi Skwatsha
City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning, Alderman Marian Niewoudt
City of Cape Town councillors
Chairperson of the District Six Working Committee, Shahied Ajam
Former residents of District 6
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Today is a bittersweet moment. A moment where we reflect on what has happened in the past.
But also a moment to think of the hope for the future of District Six.
This week we marked 54 years of District Six being declared a Whites’ only area.
A day where those who called this area home, were forced to leave.
A period where families, friends and a sense of community, had forever been changed.
This event marks a day where many people were robbed of their sense of stability and pushed into the unknown, and it is a day we must not forget so that those injustices are never allowed to be repeated.
This past week we commemorated another important date: the 30th anniversary of the late Nelson Mandela’s release.
Whereas the declaration of a Whites’ only area meant the start of the unknown for many, the release of the late Madiba marked a new period of healing and a journey towards unity. There is clearly still lots of work to do in this respect, but it is a moment that we need to remind ourselves of so that we remember what we should be focusing our energy on.
We hope today is the start of a new, positive chapter.
The City has shown its commitment to the redress process through a number of initiatives over the past year. Firstly, by supporting the return of the name Hanover Street, from Keizergracht.
Last year, the District Six Working Committee put forward a proposal to have Keizergracht returned to the original name of Hanover Street.
It was a moving sight to see, after the weeks of public participation and the 1 200 responses we received, to have the original name restored. I believe that this was a wonderful step closer to the restoration of dignity and hope for those who lived in District Six before the forced removals.
Secondly, in December last year, we saw another step in the process of redress, where the name change from Zonnebloem to District Six was gazetted.
During Heritage Month in September last year, Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Anroux Marais submitted an application to the National Minister of Arts and Culture, Minister Nathi Mthethwa to officially approve the name change from Zonnebloem to District Six.
As part of the application, the District Six Museum undertook a broad public participation process as required by the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act 3 of 2000.
Subsequently the names committee resolved to support the application at a meeting on 14 June 2019 and it was forwarded to MEC Anroux Marais.
On 17 September 2019, MEC Anroux Marais expressed, in writing, her support for the name change application.
In December last year, the Minister for Land Reform, Thoko Didiza submitted a redevelopment plan for the area to the Land Claims Court.
We hope this plan will soon be able to be implemented.
We are also assisting the national government wherever we can and have already attended several positive meetings. We have weekly engagements with their technical teams.
These are all positive developments, but these symbolic steps are not enough until the hundreds of claimants who were forcefully removed from their homes are able to return to the area.
The City of Cape Town remains committed to supporting the restitution process of the District Six community.
We hope the process of restitution, after many delays, will move much quicker for the hundreds of claimants still waiting to return to the area.
I look forward to seeing former residents receive the keys to their new homes. It is something I am sure will bring closure and joy in the hearts of the many who have fond memories of their time in District Six and having the opportunity to create new ones.
Thank you.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
