Residents to march for heritage status
DEVELOPMENT within the historical areas of District Six and Bo-Kaap has been a point of contention in both communities and now residents from these areas have decided to unite and work in solidarity to have the areas declared heritage sites.
The Bo-Kaap Civic Association, as well as District Six residents and claimants, gathered at the community office on Sunday to discuss a way forward.
They raised issues of a feasible restitution for those in District Six and general degradation of the area which hasn’t been attended to.
D6 Rising from the Dust film director Weaam Williams said the pending developments threaten the heritage value of the communities and will cause property rates to increase, forcing residents out of the area.
“They approve new developments marketed at tourists in the area while there are people waiting to come home.
“This is not restitution. They’re allowing the land to go to the dogs and they’re dumping us in the middle of a ghetto again, so that they can develop the area and say they’re upgrading it.
“We need District Six to become a heritage site to stifle development taking place.
“We need a place of memory or a plaque to always remember what happened in District Six. On Friday, we plan to March together,” said Williams.
Bo-Kaap Civic Association chairperson Osman Shaboodien said both communities have always been close and will help one another overcome the gentrification taking place by assisting
the residents of District Six with the heritage site application.
The association will also join the residents in a planned march on Friday.
Shaboodien explained that unrestricted development plagues both areas and threatens to destroy history, which is not only contained in the buildings, but in the culture within these areas.
Ward 77 councillor Brandon Golding said he was unaware of the intention of District Six residents to have the site declared as a heritage site, however, he said he met with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to expedite the building of houses, so that claimants can find redress.
“The bulk of the site is vacant, having it declared as a heritage site has never been raised in meetings. The heritage in District Six is different to Bo-Kaap. In terms of Bo-Kaap, they are declared as a provincial heritage site and they want it to be declared as a national heritage site.
“With regards to District Six, buildings can be declared as heritage sites if it’s 60 years old, but I have asked for a heritage assessment to understand what is there from a development point of view.”