‘Our District Six dream is fading’
Couple in their 90s losing hope they will return home
TWO OF District Six’s oldest evictees are fast losing hope of ever returning. Catherine and Cyril Wagner, aged 91 and 92, have listened to empty promises for more than 15 years and know they don’t have time on their side.
“The only house I’m certain of getting is in Maitland Cemetery,” Cyril commented wryly yesterday.
The couple, who lives in Elsies River with one of their daughters, lodged their land claim in 2000 and have a reference number but, apart from having to replace documents that were “lost”, they have heard nothing from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform.
Next Thursday, February 11, marks 50 years since District Six was declared a whites only area under the Group Areas Act, paving the way for forced removals.
The Wagners, like many others, only knew District Six as their home, until they were moved to Silvertown, Athlone.
Last year they joined a march, in their wheelchairs, on the mayor’s offices to express their concern about delays in the land claims process. But still they wait.
“What puzzles us is why young people are getting houses in District Six, yet we who were born and bred there can’t go back,” Catherine said.
She was born in Constitution Street and at the age of 12 moved to 213 Hanover Street, an area regarded as the heart of District Six. It was where the couple lived when they married in 1945.
“I knew her when she was a girl,” Cyril recalls. “I’d pass by and the door was always open. Initially I got a bad response but I told her that one day she would lie in my arms.”
It turns out he was right. The couple has been married for 72 years.
When the apartheid government started evicting people they weren’t sure where they’d be moved.
Cyril was in the army and they got a house in Silvertown in Athlone. They were among the first people to move to the area and lived in Durand Road.
“We felt bad about having to move,” Cyril recalls. “But there was nothing we could do.
“We actually felt lucky that we got a house with a toilet inside. District Six was ratinfested and the toilet was outside. You had to stamp your feet to make the rats run out.”
He said for the first time they had a bigger place with a yard.
“We missed District Six but Athlone wasn’t so far from town.”
But the couple now longs to return to their roots and fear that time is running out.
“I miss the atmosphere and the camaraderie,” Cyril says. “But it’s been 15 years since we were promised houses so now I’m losing faith.”
Cyril said what has been most discouraging was hearing nothing.
They also want to know why so many young people and foreigners appear to be getting priority.
“I met two blokes half my age who were living in District Six. It was meant to be for old people.”
Catherine says she was not unhappy living in Elsies River but dreams of going back.
“In District Six everything is at hand. The shops are all nearby. Here you have to take a taxi to get anywhere.”
They still have vivid memories of those days.
Cyril was a ballroom dancer but says his wife loved going to the bioscope so he had to go dancing alone.
He even remembers his method of getting into the dancehall for free.
“I’d go past and all the wallflowers (girls with no partners) would be outside. They’d pay for me to dance with them. Then I’d step on their toes until they bought me a drink.”
Catherine says she was always a “plain Jane”.
“I never wanted to dance. I didn’t even wear lipstick or make-up.”
Daughter Freda van der Merwe said her parents attended all the meetings about District Six but nothing ever got done.
“We’ve been told there are houses standing empty in District Six and that others are occupied by young people and foreigners.
“This was supposed to be about restitution so why aren’t old people being given houses?”
District Six Working Committee chairman Shahied Ajam believes the restitution process has been flawed from the start.
“Like many others, the Wagners’ papers were conveniently lost so they went to the back of the queue.”
Ajam said the committee was strongly advocating that the government give them one of the houses that are standing empty.
Department of Rural Development and Land Reform spokesman Vuyani Nkasayi promised to provide an update on the Wagners’ case today, as well as details about Phase 3 of the development which is currently under way.