Central’s Trinder Square comes alive
Trinder Square in Central came alive on Sunday with children of all ages running around, dancing and playing, while the adults reminisced about “the good old days” by dancing and singing along to the music performed at the Central Alive Heritage Month celebration.
After complaints about the vandalism and criminal activity at Trinder, the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) steered the event.
The agency saw it as a key driver in activating safety in public spaces and joining hands to achieve an inclusive community.
The Central Alive stage was graced by winners of the Standard Bank Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, which included the gifted Intlombe, Joliza, Franko, Undead Generation and Asanda Mqiki in a group performance called the Vocal Explosion, featuring Lisa Fisher Yengeni.
The performances left the crowd wanting more.
MBDA creative industries project manager Oyama Vanto said the agency would continue to find means to advance sustainable socioeconomic developments that rejuvenated the CBD through such events and strategic partnerships with the Central Special Rating Area and the Nelson Mandela University music department.
“Thank you to all of the Bay, particularly Central residents, for supporting this initiative.
“We have purposefully partnered with institutions that play a crucial role in urban revitalisation and neighbourhood improvement — this is a new dawn for Central,” Vanto said.
Central resident Aphiwe Mtshisa was surprised to see just how beautiful Trinder Square was.
“I don’t usually come here because it always looks dangerous and is always occupied by people using drugs and vagrants.” Zwide resident Scelo Zalabe said he had come to enjoy himself with his wife and children.
‘We are having the best time; we all got our faces painted. We truly wish such events could happen more often.”
The inner city is one of the MBDA’s mandate areas.
In 2014, R25m was spent on the environmental upgrade of Bird Street and Belmont Terrace, which propelled the development of a precinct that will harmonise with Route 67, the Donkin Reserve and the Athenaeum.
All were redeveloped to transform Central into a creative and cultural industry hub.