The City of Cape Town has officially renamed Ben Friedman Square to Strand Muslim Community Square, recognising the longstanding heritage and contribution of the Strand Muslim community and affirming the importance of inclusion, reconciliation, and shared belonging. The Renaming Ceremony took place on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, and was attended by the City’s Deputy Mayor and Chairperson of the City’s Naming Committee Alderman Eddie Andrews, Members of the Naming Committee, Subcouncil Chairperson Alderwoman Chantal Cerfontein, Reverend Emmanual Gabriel from the Methodist Church in Strand and Members of the Strand Muslim Community that led the application process. 

The renaming recognises the Muslim community’s longstanding presence in Strand, which celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2023. The community’s history and contribution to the area are reflected in its cultural and spiritual heritage, including the three mosques that continue to anchor the square today.

The community initiated the renaming process to acknowledge its historical presence and honour those who were forcibly removed from the area. The intention with renaming being to preserve this heritage, foster reconciliation and healing, and strengthen community pride and a sense of belonging. At its meeting on 30 July 2026, Council approved this renaming following a public participation process.

The renaming takes place against a history of longstanding, positive relations between the Muslim community and the Friedman family. For generations, members of the community have done business with Friedman & Cohen, and the community has highlighted this relationship as an important part of the broader story of Strand.

The Strand Muslim Community Square Renaming Committee said that renaming the square to Strand Muslim Community square is restorative justice for the uprootment and misrecognition of the community that lived there. The name change is a first step towards reconciliation and recognition.

Deputy Mayor of Cape Town and Chairperson of the City’s Naming Committee, Alderman Eddie Andrews, said the renaming was an opportunity to recognise an important chapter in the city’s history.

‘A name is never just a name. It tells us whose histories we remember, whose contributions we recognise, and what we choose to pass on to future generations. The renaming of Ben Friedman Square to Strand Muslim Community Square recognises the Muslim community’s deep historical roots in Strand and its contribution to the social, cultural, and spiritual fabric of Cape Town over more than two centuries.

‘This process is about more than changing a name. It is about acknowledging a community’s history, recognising the impact of forced removals, and ensuring that our public spaces reflect the diverse people and experiences that make up our city.

‘We also recognise the resilience of the Strand Muslim community, which initiated and remained committed to this process. The support for the renaming from the community, civic and faith-based organisations, and the Friedman family reflects the possibility of moving forward through mutual respect, understanding, and reconciliation.

‘While the public participation process included a range of views, Council considered the proposal and approved the renaming. Our responsibility is to continue building a Cape Town in which our shared spaces reflect our history and in which every community can experience a sense of recognition and belonging,’ said Alderman Andrews.