District Six land still not given back, 51 years on

RESIDENTS forcibly removed from District Six 51 years ago say they feel hard done by government as they are no closer to the restitution of their land.

About 300 people, represented by the District Six Working Committee, will gather on Saturday, at the Woodstock Town Hall to commemorate their removal after the area was declared for “whites only”.

Committee chairperson Shahied Ajam said they were planning to approach the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to take over the restitution process.

The committee was established four years ago to deal with a “slow pace” of restitution, Ajam said.

“Two hundred of the people still waiting for restitution are between 80 and 110 years old – they are alive and have been waiting for justice since 1998. We are working to back the city for generations to come,” Ajam said.

Department spokesperson Vuyani Nkasayi said their challenges related to negotiations for the release of extra land to redevelop District Six.

“Currently, the department is building 108 units which will be allocated to claimants immediately after completion. Structures and committees have been set up to ensure the delivery of the project within time, scope and cost,” Nkasayi said.

Nkasayi added that the Cape Peninsula University of Technology has offered to return land on the east side of its main campus for redevelopment.

“Government remains committed to speeding up the process of returning the people of District Six to their land,” Nkasayi said.