Cape Town as a

>> page 12

Translating South Africa’s history into music

>> page 3

CTICC looks to a 2020 future

Coming home to District Six

>> page 7&10

HISTORIC CITy

CLEAN | SAFE | CARING

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CityViewsYOUR FREE CAPE TOWN CENTRAL CITY PAPER May 2012

2 about town May 2012CityViews

NEWSFLASH

This month, we’d like to thank Catholic Welfare and Development – one of the oldest NGOs in the city – for their work empowering communities throughout the Western Cape. Their aim is to develop people in a way that helps them rise out of poverty, and their work includes nine community development centres and a wide range of programmes including those that focus on community

capacity building, health and food security and economic empowerment.

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Catholic Welfare and Development’s JobStart students receive training for the hospitality industry

Brenda Scarratt at Church Street Antiques Market

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The Central City Improvement Dis-trict is a private-public partnership formed by the property owners of a defi ned geographical area to pro-vide top-up services over and above what the City of Cape Town provides. The CCID and its managing agent, the Cape Town Partnership, were formed when the City of Cape Town, the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), the Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other stakeholders came together to address issues of urban degeneration, disinvestment in the Central City and related social problems. The Central City’s rapid regeneration process has been built upon the strength and pillars of suc-cessful private-public partnerships at both operational and strategic lev-els, and a shared vision for a clean, safe and caring Cape Town CBD.

SAVE THESE NUMBERS ON YOUR PHONE

CCID Security Manager: 082 453 2942

CCID Deputy Security Manager: 082 442 2112

CCID 24-hour number: 082 415 7127

SAPS Control Room: 021 467 8002

Social Department:082 563 4289

CITYVIEWS

Reading City ViewsWe love knowing who our read-

ers are and what they think. If you enjoy your copy of City Views, why not mail a picture

of you reading it, wherever you love to read it (Your local coffee shop? On a street bench while people-watching?) telling us what you enjoyed most. If we

like it, we’ll run it. Get in touch: judith@capetownpartnership.co.za.

Telling your story in City Views

City Views does not sell advertis-ing or editorial space at this time. We are, however, always on the look out for city ownership sto-

ries: tales of people who love the CBD, who choose to live, work, study, invest, and play here. If you would like to be featured,

please send your story to judith@capetownpartnership.co.za

for consideration. Please note that submission of a story doesn’t guarantee that it will be included.

Distributing City Views

If you’re an eager reader of City Views – and you know others

who would enjoy reading it too, consider becoming a distri-

butor. All we need is your con-tact details, address and how many copies you need each

month. Or, if you would just like to track down where you can

obtain your FREE copy send an email to Aziza Patandin on

aziza@capetownpartnership.co.za.

Yesterday, today, tomorrow: The life of the CBDWelcome to our May edition of City Views, on Cape Town as a historic city. As you go through these pages and then go about the rest of your day, I’d like to encourage you to do three things: Firstly, to be mind-ful of the past. Secondly, to look to the future. And thirdly, to think about how you can connect the two in the present.

In the day-to-day of life in the CBD, it’s important to stand back some-times and get perspective. As the Central City Improvement District we’ve only been going for just over a decade, and in that time the CBD has changed dramatically.

Being mindful of the pastCape Town has a long and inter-esting history – not all of it easy or happy – but there’s no denying that what happened then funda-mentally informs who we are now.

My work as the COO of the CCID has taught me that there’s so much I still don’t know about the place I live and work today. How much do you know about our hidden history, or the role slavery played in the building of our city, or how so many diverse communities came to live here? Why not explore that history further, engage with it in a way that makes sense to you today, and then think about what role you want it to play in your tomorrow.

Looking to the futureThere’s little denying that we’ve got to understand where we’ve come from to know where we’re going. At the moment a lot of people are look-ing at the year 2040, and what Cape Town and the Western Cape can and should be by then, considering both the opportunities and chal-lenges we face. If you haven’t yet

heard about Cape Town 2040 (the City of Cape Town’s development strategy) and Future Cape 2040 (the Western Cape’s development strat-egy), let me encourage you to fi nd out more, contribute wherever you can, and start thinking where you’d like to be – as a person and as a com-munity – in 2040. After all, change starts with you.

Connecting in the presentWe have so many cultural treasures and hidden stories in the Central City – more than we could possibly unpack in one edition of City Views – and yet many of them are little known or seldom visited. I’d love to see our cultural institutions start to share their knowledge, pool their re-sources, and develop a joint market-ing strategy to promote the history and memory of our city. Isn’t it time we had visitors queuing up outside

our museums and galleries in the same way they do for the Louvre in Paris or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York?

Tasso EvangelinosCOO of the CCID

Published by:The Central City Improvement

District (CCID)

Editor:Judith Browne: 021 419 1881

judith@capetownpartnership.co.za

Deputy Editor:Benita Kursan

Contributors:Alan CameronKatie MooneyNadine Botha

Stephanie Katz

Address:Terraces Building, 10th fl oor

34 Bree Street,

Website:www.capetowncid.co.za

www.capetownpartnership.co.za

Design: Infestationwww.infestation.co.za

021 461 8601

CARING CITY

Gratitude AttitudeEveryday acts of kindness help transform Cape Town, and City Views would like to recognise those individuals who would otherwise continue doing good, but without thanks.

The Cape Film Commission and espAfrika, who bring you the jazz festival every year, have just signed a contract to bring Tribeca, New York’s famous fi lm festival, to Cape Town in 2013 and keep it here for the next fi ve years – an incredible opportunity for the local fi lm industry. Dates have yet to be announced, but keep an eye on the press – and City Views – for details.

Tribeca comes to Cape Town

Get in touch to get involved:

Catholic Welfare and Development37 Somerset RoadT: 021 425 2095www.cwd.org.za

Notes from the past, thoughts for the present

Read the latest e-dition: www.capetownpartnership.co.za/city-views

Friend us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CityViewsCapeTown

Follow us on Twitter:@City_Views

CITY VIEWS ONLINE

The editorial team of City Views recently received a handwritten, hand-delivered note, from Brenda Scarratt, and just in time for the history edition.

Brenda opened Second Time Around in 1972, and ran the store for 12 years before moving on to the Church Street Antiques Market, which she’s been running for the past 15 years. What does she have to say about long-time city retailers in the CBD?

“We need somebody who’s going to

stick with what they’re doing. We need businesses that weather all the changes, and are so good they go on and improve over time. There are a few businesses that have been running a long time, like Sturk’s. It’s great that some things carry on.”

Meet Brenda for yourself at the Church Street Antiques Market on the corner of Long and Wale Street, between 09h00 and 16h00, Monday to Saturday.

3 about town May 2012 CityViews

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The Cape Town International Convention Centre recently announced the winning ar-

chitectural team set to work on its R700-million expansion project. Piet Bakker of Stauch Vorster Ar-chitects, Mokena Makeka of Make-ka Design Lab, and Anya van der Merwe will be leading the project that will see the centre doubling in capacity over the next three years.

“We are looking forward to the positive impact this project will have on the marketability of the Western Cape and South Africa as a year-round business and leisure destination,” said Rashid Toefy, CEO of the CTICC.

Cape Town Partnership MD, Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana, said that the expansion confi rmed a sense of confi dence and opportu-nity in the city centre. “Through-out the world, convention centres rarely break even, let alone raise a profi t. The CTICC is not only profi table but it runs at full or nearly full capacity. The expan-sion is happening because there is demand that cannot currently be accommodated.”

More events, more jobsHome to world-famous events like the Design Indaba and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the CTICC has already received 863 bookings between now and 2020, including the 10 000-del-egate International Geological Conference scheduled for 2016.

The core mandate of the CTICC is to contribute to economic

growth and job creation in the province. Since opening its doors in 2003, the centre has contrib-uted to the creation of more than 60 000 direct and indirect jobs and has played a pivotal role in raising the profi le of Cape Town and the Western Cape as a lead-ing, globally competitive meet-ings destination. The expansion is likely to increase the number of direct and indirect jobs created by the centre from about 7 000 to over 10 000 per annum by 2018.

A bigger precinctComprising 10 000 square metres of retail space, a hospital, a hotel and an offi ce tower, the CTICC expansion project falls into a broader plan to create a R1.4-billion convention precinct. This will entail connecting the CTICC with Artscape by regenerating the Founders’ Garden, and devel-oping a hub for Cape Town’s busi-ness, retail, cultural and events activities.

Design for diversityThe architectural concept – enti-tled 6211 – is a design interpre-tation of the biodiversity of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, famous for being the smallest, yet most diverse of only six kingdoms in the world.

“Using the DNA code of the 6210 plant species endemic to the Cape Floristic kingdom, plus one dedicated to humanity,” explains Mokena, “6211 transforms the convention centre into an iconic

living artwork that celebrates and raises awareness about hu-manity and nature for the pas-sive enjoyment of local and glob-al audiences.”

Principal architect for the exist-ing CTICC Anya van der Merwe confi rmed that the new building will be a seamless extension – not only will it expand on existing ex-hibition and conference facilities, allowing for massive events, but it will also be able to function as an independent facility, allowing for simultaneous events.

Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana also emphasised Anya’s reputation for sustainability-motivated ar-chitectural interventions: “It’s clear from the design concepts presented that the expansion is being treated with the utmost sensitivity, both to the natural en-vironment – the CTICC has a four-star green rating and is aiming for a six-star green rating – and to the spatial and human context of the city.”

Next stepsQuantity surveyors and project managers will be appointed next and then the CTICC hopes to break ground within a year. The CTICC will also start engaging with users, suppliers and the public for their comment. Under construction from 2013 to 2015, the building will be in progress during 2014, the iconic year in which Cape Town will be recog-nised as World Design Capital.

“The expansion will serve as a fl agship architectural project in light of Cape Town’s 2014 desig-nation,” acknowledges Bulelwa. “Although work on the extension will not be completed until 2015, the [design] progress made in implementing this bold concept and vision will certainly be showcased in a global spotlight and celebrated worldwide.”

2020 visionThe CTICC looks to the futureThe Cape Town International Convention Centre has set its sights on being the best long-haul international convention centre in the world by 2020 – which is why it’s doubling its capacity by 2015. An all-star, all-local design team has been appointed to take it there.

“Turning the CTICC expansion into a

living art gallery and an expression of

the Western Cape will help to connect mankind and nature

in a poetic way, foster learning and establish a stronger connection

with the public.” Mokena Makeka

MAKING CITY HISTORY

Piet Bakker, Mokena Makeka, Anya van der Merwe and Rashid Toefy admire the future views of the CTICC (above left), from the Heerengracht

circle (top) and through the facade (above)

May 2012 sees a se ries of global and local events com-ing to Cape Town, including everything from the Mil-lenium Development Goals Summit and Exhibition and 1000 Women United Against Domestic Violence, to Market-ing Indaba, Hostex and the Good Food and Wine Show. For more details:

CTICC1 Lower Long StreetT: 021 410 5001@CTICC1www.cticc.co.za

FACTS & FIGURES

2012In nine years the CTICC has made

a cumulative contribution of

R16.8 billion to GDP – or a R2.3 billion contribution to

GDP per year – and created over 60 000 direct and indirect

jobs.

2018The CTICC aims to

contribute R5.1 billion to GDP

per year and create 8 000+

jobs per year.

4 about town May 2012CityViews

CV You’ve lived in Cape Town for two and a half years, how have you found your stay?I feel like a local. I live in Oranje-zicht, within walking distance of the embassy, and my children attend the French school in Hope Street.

CV What do you enjoy about living and working in the city centre?Being able to walk the city. I always fi nd an opportunity to take my guests on walking tours. Within a few blocks you can cover three centuries of the city’s history. I start across the road in the Company’s Garden – the raison d’étre of the city – and usually end at the castle. The city’s history provides a story on every corner, and the story con-tinues – did you know that there are more French speaking people here today than in the time of the Huguenots?

CV It’s estimated that 40 local surnames can be traced back to the Huguenots, from Cil-liers and Du Plessis, to Roux and Viljoen. What was their main impact? About 300 French Huguenots landed in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. They were generally wealthier, more educated and better

craftsmen than the 1 500 settlers who were already here. They were far more religious than the average Company soldier, and we can attrib-ute much of the church-going tradi-tion in the Afrikaner community to them. They are also largely respon-sible for starting the Cape’s wine in-dustry, which is today worth around R30-billion. They were committed people. There was no Plan B for the Huguenots; South Africa was home. CV France’s scientifi c con-tribution to South Africa is often overlooked. Can you tell us a little more about explorer and ornithologist François Le Vaillant and his Cape Town connection?Le Vaillant explored the coast as far as Port Elizabeth to the east, and al-most up to the Namibian border in the west. He utilised new illustra-tion and preservation techniques, cataloguing thousands of examples of never-before recorded wildlife before returning to Europe where he wrote a book on each expedition, to huge acclaim. The books were translated into seven languages, and through his writing, exhibitions, maps and travel accounts, Le Vail-lant provided a body of work that infl uenced how Europe saw, and still sees, Africa today: as an exotic location. A romantic relationship he

had with a Khoi woman from the Gonaqua tribe may have added to that. The centrepiece of a Le Vaillant exhibit to be held at the South Afri-can Museum later this year will be the original three metre by two me-tre map that King Louis XVII asked Le Vaillant to create to illustrate his adventures. And we’ve arranged for a copy to stay in South Africa. In-terestingly, his very fi rst exhibition in the 18th century was in a build-ing off Buitenkant, near the French school that now bears his name.

CV What is the Frenchconnection to the Cape like today?Approximately 2 500 French citi-zens live in Cape Town and the num-ber of expats increases every year by around 5%. Most relocate here when they’ve met a South African partner in London, and are hitting the 30-year mark and are ready to start a family. Tourists sometimes also fall in love with the city – or someone in it – and make contact with us while they look for work, or become entrepreneurs so they can move here permanently. Two examples that I love are Laurent De-slandes, who heads up the kitchen at Bizerca Bistro on the Foreshore, and Patrick Moreau, the pastry chef who set up Cassis Paris at Gardens Shopping Centre.

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Cape Town coffee, culture and community

“We’re invested in this part of town and

we feel like we’ve contributed to the

upliftment of the area in a small way.”

Jason Volckaert

CV You’ve been based on the Foreshore for close on eightyears now. How hasit changed?First of all, the CCID has been brilliant. This section of the Foreshore is com-pletely different now; it’s open and friendly, tourists and locals abound, and there are always people walking down from the convention centre. Also, if I come here at night I feel really safe, which is good for business.

CV What do you love most about being located here?We’ve had the same custom-ers for many years and we’ve built up a loyal following. It’s been great seeing the Fore-shore develop and improve over the last eight years as we’ve grown and developed.

CV How has the growth of Cape Town’s coffee culture affected your business?When we fi rst opened our doors most people wanted

fi lter coffee and not espres-so-based coffee, whereas nowadays everybody ex-pects to be served a cappuc-cino or latte. The growth of the coffee culture has boosted our sales because people seek out good cof-fee and are no longer happy to settle for a sub-standard cup. We’ve also seen an increase in chilled coffee sales. Customers still want the caffeine hit and coffee taste but in a cooler format in the summer months.

COCOA EXPRESSO CAFE

It’s no secret that City Views likes coffee – coffee shops help create a sense of community, giving Capetonians an excuse to get out of the offi ce and talk, think, create, commune. We speak to two long-standing Cape Town coffee institutions who’ve been in the business for over seven years.

Jason Volckaert, owner of Cocoa Expresso café, gives a good daily grind to those at work on the Foreshore.

Cocoa ExpressoVodacom BuildingPier Place (adjacent to Virgin Active on Jetty Street)T: 021 421 7000www.cocoa.co.za

Where the Continent and the Cape meetThe French and Dutch both have long histories in the Mother City – and their governments are still based in the CBD today. What’s their Cape Town connection?

French Consul Antoine Michon

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Antoine Michon takes time out in the Company’s Garden

Bizerca Bistro Jetty StreetT: 021 418 0001www.bizerca.com

Cassis Paris Shop 5, Ground Floor, Gardens CentreT: 021 461 6232www.cassis.co.za

The French Market at Alliance Française 155 Loop StreetFridays from 10h00 to 16h00T: 021 423 5699www.alliance.org.za

The Iziko South African Museum 25 Queen Victoria StreetT: 021 481 3800www.iziko.org.za

Societi Bistro & Brasserie50 Orange StreetT: 021 424 2100www.societi.co.za

The French Consulate in Cape Town 78 Queen Victoria StreetT: 021 423 1575www.consulfrance-lecap.org

Make your own French connections:

5 May 2012 CityViews

CV You moved here from Kandahar in Afghanistan. What do you enjoy about Cape Town? In my career I’ve lived in 12 coun-tries and I can confi dently say that this is the most beautiful location I have worked in. And it’s not just because of the obvious – the climate, food, wine and sights of the city. It’s the people that I meet here in and out of offi ce hours that make my time here special.

CV Why is the consulate based in the city centre?Our embassy is in a central location at a busy intersection. We’re happy in this building we’ve rented for decades from the Lutheran Church next door. Ironically, the church was an illegal schilkerk, or clandestine church, when the Dutch ruled the Cape, but by 1820 the Lutheran’s hall was converted into the beauti-ful structure it is today.

about town

CV A cup of coffee here is quite reasonable – priced between R10 and R15. How has the growing coffee culture affected your business?There’s more competition now but everyone can still afford to pay for a good cup of cof-fee. You can make a great cup with a cheaper machine as long as the coffee you use is of a good quality.

CV Is there a particular roast or blend that you’re famous for?I like a blend of Colom-bian, Kenyan and Continental beans but most of our regular

customers have their personal favourites. We write each per-son’s details down on a card and place them in our special black box so we never forget who likes what.

CV A lot has changed in this part of town over the past few years, what are some of the changes you’ve noticed?Everything has changed. I’ve noticed that people don’t carry cash as much as they used to, and since parking is scarce, it’s diffi cult to park on the street and run in to buy a cup of coffee. It would help small businessmen like me

a lot if the city could look at giving people ten minutes of free parking.

CV How did you end up setting up shop here?When Madiba was released from prison, it encouraged me to get out of my prison and start working for myself. I was employed by a well-known coffee supplier for many years so I had the experience to start my own thing, I just needed to fi nd the right place to do it. I started a coffee shop on the ninth fl oor of an offi ce block on Darling Street, then I moved to Long Street, and then seven years ago I moved

Anthony Swartz has been in the coffee business for over 50 years, and the butternut-coloured walls of his shop on Loop Street are plastered with fl ags, press clippings and photographs of customers from around the world.

ANTHONY’S GOLDEN CUP

Anthony’s Golden Cup 59 Loop Street T: 021 426 1268www.goldencup.co.za

Cape Town’s Dutch legacy within walking distance:

Dutch Consul General David de Waal

CV Your grandfather also walked the streets of Cape Town as the consul general in his time. What is your family’s connection to the city?My grandfather Bernhard Hen-drik de Waal was the Consul Gen-eral of Cape Town between 1892 and 1901. My father worked here before going off to the Dutch East Indies – or Indonesia, as it is now called – after WWII, and I start-ed my honeymoon here. There has always been an attraction to this country and to Cape Town in particular.

CV Do many of your country-men share this attraction?Absolutely. Around 15 000 Dutch citizens live in Cape Town, includ-ing those who just come to stay for the summer. Many more tour-ists come here, of course. They enjoy the diversity of the land-scape – the sights, food, beaches, wines and museums.

CV Tourism wasn’t always the reason the Dutch were interested inCape Town…Even today only a small yet im-portant percentage of our work deals with travel documentation. The main work of our consulate focuses on making it easier for Dutch fi rms to do business here in Cape Town. Everyone knows Heineken and Amstel beer, but not everyone knows that we have a Dutch shipbuilder – Da-men – in the harbour, and that the Netherlands is one of SA’s most important export markets. The Western Cape links espe-cially well with the Netherlands, which is why we’ve placed the

consulate here. Cape Town start-ed exporting right from the very beginning with the Dutch East India Company – a large private Dutch company that sent Jan van Riebeek here in 1652 to establish a food supply station for the trad-ing ships. Most often, of course, you hear the Dutch connection to Cape Town, with Afrikaans being the most spoken language in the Western Cape.

CV What plans are there to link with Cape Town as World Design Capital 2014?As the gateway to Africa, Cape Town’s infl uence on the conti-nent is substantial. It would be a great place to establish a design academy as a long-lasting legacy of World Design Capital 2014, linked to the Design Academy

“My grandfather Bernhard Hendrik de Waal was the

Consul General of Cape Town between

1892 and 1901. My father worked here before going off to

the Dutch East Indies – or Indonesia, as it is now called – after WWII, and I started

my honeymoon here. There has always been

an attraction to this country and to Cape Town in particular.”

David de Waal

in Eindhoven and Ravi Naidoo’s Interactive Africa. It would be important for the academy to be inclusive of the whole popu-lation since diversity makes creativity richer, and gives it credibility.

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David de Waal catches up with City Views at Hemelhuijs on

Waterkant Street

The Iziko Slave Lodge Corner of Adderley and Wale StreetT: 021 467 7229 www.iziko.org.za

Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 100 Strand StreetT: 021 421 5660www.dutchembassy.co.za

Company’s Garden Open daily from07h00 to 19h00T: 021 400 2521

Castle of Good Hope Monday to Sunday 09h00 to 15h30T: 021 787 1260 www.castleofgoodhope.co.za

here. I think I was the fi rst black man to roast coffee in the city centre.

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Anthony Swartz prepares his daily grind “I think I was the

fi rst black man to roast coffee in the

city centre.”Anthony Swartz

May 2012 CityViews

May 2012CityViews

CV Why do you live in the Central City?I’ve always been drawn to the diversity found in cities. They are not just about buildings, roads and statues but more importantly about the people who live in them. I admire Cape Town for its potential to become a truly great and inclusive city. A lot of work needs to be done to advance this vision, but cities must be seen as works in progress.

CV What is the SJC all about?The SJC is a Khayelitsha-based social movement and advo-cacy centre campaigning for improved access to basic ser-vices in Cape Town’s informal settlements. One of our main campaigns focuses on ensur-ing access to clean and safe sanitation.

CV Why sanitation?At least 500 000 people in the City of Cape Town do not have access to basic sanitation facilities. This has a signifi -cant effect on public health, contributing to the spread of preventable illnesses such as diarrhoea. Another lesser known impact is on personal safety. Crime is far higher in townships than in suburban or urban areas. Residents of informal settlements must often walk for more than 10 minutes (often at night) to fi nd a functioning toilet or empty clearing – rendering them particularly vulnerable to

crime. People are assaulted, raped, robbed and murdered when conducting a very sim-ple bodily function that many Capetonians take for granted.

CV Is Cape Town condu-cive to social activism?Cape Town has always been renowned for its activism. Many of South Africa’s most successful social movements started in Cape Town. One example is the Treatment Ac-tion Campaign – probably the most recognised social movement in the country and acclaimed as one of the best health advocacy groups in the world. During the 1980s the city was a critical base for the anti-apartheid movement– particularly the UDF and trade unions. That said, many of the historic divisions that existed before apartheid con-tinue to exist today. If we are to address this, more needs to be done to unite Capetonians across class and race divides.

CV How can Cape Town be improved?Cities should be places where all people can live, work and play. The reality at the mo-ment is that a great proportion of Capetonians fi nd the city inaccessible. People living on the Cape Flats are unable to get safe, effi cient and afford-able transport into the city. At night, public transport ceases to operate. Another challenge is ensuring that Capetonians from across income groups

are able to live in and around the city centre – a prospect that is currently unafford-able for many. Not only would this create a more inclusive city, but it would also lead to dramatic improvement in the energy of the city.

CV Where do you go for a moment of quiet?I do quite a bit of running and one of my escapes is the canal that runs just beyond the con-vention centre. So my running route is usually down Long Street, through the convention centre and around that canal. It’s peaceful, quiet and still in the city, but with no pollution – always a plus for a runner.

CV What is the most underrated aspect of Cape Town?Its walkability.

CV What are the fi ve things about Cape Town you could not live without?The ability to quickly escape to mountains, beaches or wilder-ness; the continuous shouts

of “Sea Point!” by taxi drivers in the CBD; my laundromat; good coffee; and, despite its challenges, its potential to be a trendsetting, inclusive city.

6 around town May 2012CityViews

“New people and new businesses are moving into

the Bo-Kaap, from different

communities, and in a way, things have come full circle –

people want to live above shops and businesses, like

we did in the early days.”Gunwant Jaga

CV Gunwant, what’s your connection to the Bo-Kaap?My father started our family busi-ness here in 1926. Over the years the shape and size of the premises changed, but the business has stayed the same. I grew up in a typical Indian family, living above the shop, and working in the shop came fi rst, homework second.

CV Rocksole, the familybusiness, stayed in the Bo-Kaap, but you moved elsewhere. Why?We moved to Rylands Estate in Athlone in 1975. The Group Areas Act had declared the Bo-Kaap a Muslim area and our apartment above the shop was getting too cramped – at one point there were 12 of us living in three bedrooms. We moved to a comfortable house so it wasn’t so bad, but the com-

mute was diffi cult. We weren’t al-lowed to buy property in the city centre, but my father was an as-tute businessman and he managed to get a friend to buy on his behalf, and today his investments really paid off.

CV How has the spirit of the Bo-Kaap changed over the years?Before the forced removals there wasn’t discrimation. All the kids played cricket together in Wale Street or on Riebeeck Square, or table tennis at the Table Tennis Club on Loader Street. Nowadays new people and new businesses are moving into the area, from different communities, and in a way, things have come full circle – people want to live above shops and businesses, like we did in the early days.

Family-run business in the Bo-Kaap The Jaga family’s specialist shoe repair business in the Bo-Kaap is still going strong after 86 years. Gunwant Jaga reminisces about growing up in the area.

Rocksole63 Wale Street021 424 3858www.rocksole.co.za

Follow Gavin on Twitter (@GavinSilber) or experi-ence his Cape Town for yourself:

Social Justice CoalitionT: 021 361 8160www.sjc.org.za

Treatment Action Cam-paignWestminster House122 Longmarket StreetT: 021 422 1700www.tac.org.za

Ndifuna Ukwazi Offi ce 203, 47 on StrandStrand StreetT: 021 423 7554www.nu.org.za

KN Laundry25 Adderley StreetT: 021 802 4006

I live in the Central CityLong Street resident Gavin Silber is the policy coordinator for the Social Justice Coalition (SJC), through which he campaigns for improved access to basic services for people living in Cape Town’s informal settlements.

CONNECTING TOWN CONNECTING TOWN AND TOWNSHIP

“I’ve always been drawn to the diversity found in cities. They are

not just about buildings, roads and statues but more importantly about the people who live in them. I admire Cape Town for its potential to become

a truly great and inclusive city.”Gavin Silber

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Gavin Silber on the steps of

the Civic Centre

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Gunwant Jaga and his son Raj behind the counter of their Wale Street store

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7 May 2012 CityViews

CV What’s your connection to the Bo-Kaap? I’ve lived here all my life, and so have my parents. It’s the only place I feel like myself because I’m surrounded by neighbours who’ve watched me grow up, and the Islamic culture that permeates nearly every aspect of the lifestyle here.

CV What was it like growing up in the area? My earliest childhood memories in-volve the Ramadan month of fasting and Eid, the day all the kids looked forward to more than their birthdays, when everyone’s doors would be open to welcome friends and family.

CV What’s the sound,smell and taste of your Cape Town? The sound would be the athan, or call to prayer, that goes off from the many mosques fi ve times a day, simultane-ously. The smell is the rainclouds that

come off the sea in the mornings, and the taste is my mommy’s koeksisters on a Sunday morning.

CV Where’s the best place in the area for a great meal at an affordable price? Lusitania Fisheries in Waterkant Street. Their fi sh and chips are the best – fresh, piping hot and smoth-ered in salt and vinegar, and the por-tions are huge.

CV Where do you send tour-ists and locals looking to experience the highlights of the Bo-Kaap?There are some fantastic heritage sites like the Auwal Masjid – the fi rst mosque in South Africa – and the Tana Baru Kramat, or burial ground, at the top of Longmarket Street. No excursion is complete without stock-ing up on spices at Atlas Trading, or taking a hike up Signal Hill to check out the Noon Gun.

CV What kind of Cape Town do you hope for in 2040? A Cape Town where each and every person is aware of their lifestyle and its impact on their environment; where every homeowner doesn’t feel compelled to install burglar bars on the windows, and the idea of a 24/7 city becomes a reality.

I LIVE IN

around town May 2012 CityViews

Atlas Trading94 Wale StreetT: 021 423 4361

Lusitania Fisheries49 Waterkant StreetT: 021 425 4532

Auwal Masjid 34 Dorp Street

Tana Baru KramatTop of Longmarket Street

District Six

The Bo-Kaap

CV What was itlike growing up in District Six? It wasn’t a wonderful fairy-land. We were poor. There were nine of us living togeth-er in our house in Caledon Street. When it rained we had to throw out buckets of rainwater. The house I have now is a mansion compared to what we had then. But we shared what we had and respected each other. Every-one knew everyone – not by name – but by their faces.

CV What are some of your happier memories growing up in District Six?The Eoan Group [a communi-ty outreach organisation] had their home in District Six don-key’s years ago, before mov-ing to Athlone. We loved their opera productions. They were all in Italian but we could fol-low the storylines. So many singers were factory workers and domestic workers, and many of us had friends or family members in the cho-

rus. The group was famous for its ballet too. As a family, we’d go for walks on the Grand Parade, and on Sundays, we’d be all dressed up after church and we’d go to the Company’s Garden and just chill there. We also loved the bioscope. There were four in the area, one being a former synagogue. Can you believe it? Jewish people lived in

the area and also owned businesses there. This was before District Six became a coloured area. Many Africans lived there. They were the fi rst to be forcibly removed.

CV How did the forced removals impact you and your family? In 1966 the Group Areas Act declared District Six a white area and we had to move. There were no other options.

If I’d had a choice I’d have gone for Bishopscourt, but we moved to Hanover Park in the Cape Flats. It was very traumatic.

CV If there had been one aspect of District Six that you could have taken with you to the Cape Flats, what would it have been? St Mark’s Community Cen-tre. It catered for all our needs. There was ballroom dancing, a drama society to which I belonged, and the Church Brigade where we did gymnastics, sang, played music, sewed... There was even a bank there. When we left the area I often said if only we could take it and plonk it in Hanover Park.

CV What’s District Six like so many years on?We’re still fairly close-knit – people recognise each other – but we’re a different gener-ation. There isn’t that strong sense of community yet.

After having spent over 30 years living on the Cape Flats, Susan Lewis is a District Six resident again.

“The Bo-Kaap is a residential area but for me it’s always been part of the business district. I

barely distinguish between the two areas. I love that we’re so close yet still tucked away from

the bustle of the CBD.”Shaheema Barodien

Channel 24 movies editor Shaheema Barodien refl ects on growing up in one of Cape Town’s most colourful communities.

I LIVE IN

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Virtual touristThe District Six Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about the area and the people who lived there. If you aren’t able to make it in person, however, you can still take a virtual stroll through the streets by going to www.districtsix.co.za/walk/index.htm.

District Six Museum25A Buitenkant Street T: 021 466 7200www.districtsix.co.za

“District Six is my home and it’s good

to be back.” Susan Lewis

Susan Lewis at home in Aspeling Street

Aspelling Street, District Six

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8 CityViews April 2012

Collection of fi ne art, and a selection of Cape Dutch furniture.

“If you’re interested in tracing your own personal history, or the history of a property, you’re going to need time and energy, and you’ll need to speak to people who have experi-ence in research in the specifi c area you’d like to explore. This is a short list of resources to help start you on your journey.”

Western Cape Provincial Ar-chives & Records Services“This is the best place to start any form of research. The informa-tion comes in many forms, from paper-based records, to electronic, audiovisual, photographic and cartographic records. You can view just about everything except for a small collection of sensitive

offi cial records.”72 Roeland StreetT: 021 466 8100www.national.archives.gov.za

Environmental Resource Management “If you’re looking to renovate or devel-op a heritage property, or a building in a heritage area, you’ll fi nd all the information you need on herit-age practices and property num-bers here.”City of Cape Town 7th Floor, Good Hope Subcouncil Building44 Wale Streetwww.capetown.gov.za/en/en-vironmentalresourcemanage-ment/Pages/default.aspx

Deeds Offi ce“You’ll be able to obtain information on all past owners of your property here.” 90 Plein StreetNew Revenue BuildingT: 021 464 7600www.deeds.gov.za

Iziko Museums of Cape Town“To develop a better understanding of the past as a whole, a visit to the various Iziko museums within the city is a must.” www.iziko.org.za

Planning and Building Development Management Department “This is another property resource that you’d use if you had to establish

might look incredibly modern today, but it started in 1929 as a simple wooden car with a tin roof. Before the cableway was established, the only way to the top of South Africa’s most icon-ic mountain was by foot, and only the most intrepid climbers would attempt the journey. In 1790, Lady Anne Barnard mounted an expedition in an attempt to be the fi rst woman to summit. Her entourage

included three men, slaves and her personal maid, and they summited via Platteklip Gorge. In the 1870s, Capetonians looked at implementing a less strenuous way of making the summit, and plans to build a railway and a funicular were proposed, but halted by the outbreak of the fi rst South Afri-can War and WWI, until, in 1926, Norwegian engineer Trygve Stromsoe proposed to build

a cableway. His proposal captured the imagination of a group of infl uential investors, who formed the Table Moun-tain Aerial Cableway Company, and built the fi rst cable car. The 1929 cable car carried only 20 people – a far cry from today’s cableway, which carries 65 people and is one of only three revolving cable cars of its kind in the world.

Take yourself on a history tour of Cape TownTime travel Cape Town is home to many histories and cultural treasures. We asked SAHO (South African History Online) to curate six great spots for exploring our city’s heritage.

2THE TABLE MOUNTAINCABLEWAY

Lower Cable StationTafelberg RoadT: 021 424 8181 Cost: No charge forchildren under 4, R85 return for children under 18, and R175 return for adultswww.tablemountain.net

Googling the National GalleryThe Iziko National Gallery recently took its place alongside the great art galleries of the world as part of Google’s Art Project – a slick online resource that showcases artworks from 151 galleries in 40 countries. So if you aren’t able to visit the gallery in the Company’s Garden, you can now enjoy the collection from the comfort of your couch or desk: Just go to www.googleartproject.com.

If you’d like to know more, you can email Sameena at sameenak7@gmail.com.

about town May 2012CityViews

FIND YOURSELF

How to uncover your personal history Sameena Khan is an archaeology student – currently completing her master’s degree in heritage and public culture at the University of Cape Town – who’s interested in dealing with the past in a way that’s relevant to the present. We asked her how to go about uncovering our personal and city histories.

is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa. Built by soldiers, sailors and slaves between 1666 and 1679, it was originally used as a refreshment station by the Dutch East India Company, or Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC). By 1678 it had become the centre of civilian, administrative and military life. It’s still the seat of the military today, housing the Castle Military Museum, as well as Iziko Museums’ very impressive William Fehr

1THE CASTLE OFGOOD HOPE

South African History Online (SAHO) is the largest and fastest growing online archive and encyclopaedia of South African history and culture. This “people’s history project” is a virtual hub that links together some of Cape Town’s most important cultural treasures. The website is visited by more than a million users every year and its collection of articles, books, images and videos – updated weekly by a team of researchers – is used extensively by students and researchers throughout the world. Go to www.sahistory.org.za to continue exploring.

Cape Town circa 1898

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a Corner of Darling and Buitenkant StOpen: Daily from 09h00 to 15h30T: 021 787 1260Cost: Teens and children free, students and pen-sioners R10, adults R20www.castleofgoodhope.co.za

if there were any limitations in-volved in renovating a heritage site.”City of Cape TownCivic Centre 16th Floor12 Hertzog Boulevardwww.capetown.gov.za/en/plan-ningandbuilding/Pages/default.aspx

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Sameena Khan at the ProvincialArchives in Roeland Street

Documenting history in the digital realm

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8 around

CV Why did you choose to move from Green Point to Bree Street?We always felt that we were wedged between a video store and a hairdresser in Green Point and although it was a great location, it never refl ected us as a brand. Internationally, shopping is mov-ing away from malls back onto the street. The street has more char-acter and individuality, whereas in every shopping centre in the world you can fi nd the same stores, which makes it almost not worth travelling. We wanted to keep our identity and integrity as a South African designer boutique with a specifi c message: “We are about holistic design, we are internation-al, we are special.”

CV You’ve moved from a rela-tively modern building to a heritage one. Can you tell us a little about the space you’re now in?We kept passing this building and loved the façade; it reminded us of ateliers in Italy and Paris. It has history and personality that our previous premises didn’t, and it

was built in the 30s, which is a dec-ade we love and reference often. Also, there is something special about being in the city – the infl ux of tourists mixed with the locals makes the city feel very worldly.

CV Passersby seem to have mixed reactions to the building’s striking black exterior. What made you opt for this shade? Black - or more accurately, Ani-seed - follows international trends toward darker exteriors and interi-ors, and our philosophy is about of-fering an international experience to a local market. It also frames our windows, making them the focal point of the building, particularly at night when the windows are lit up. And apparently it becomes a talking point, which draws atten-tion to our boutique and to the city.

9 9 around town

is one of Cape Town’s oldest buildings. Built by the VOC, it housed around 9 000 slaves, convicts and mentally ill people between 1679 and 1810. In 1810, the lodge was trans-formed into government offi ces, housing the likes of the upper house of the fi rst parliament, the Cape Supreme Court, the Deeds Offi ce and the fi rst library

6 THE IZIKO SLAVE LODGE

4 THE BO-KAAP

Open: Monday to Satur-day from 10h00 to 17h00T: 021 460 8242Cost: Teens and children free, students and pen-sioners R10, adults R20www.iziko.org.za/muse-ums/slave-lodge

is one of the oldest resi-dential areas in Cape Town. In 1834, after slavery had been abolished, there was increased pressure for housing in Cape Town, so a number of freed slaves moved into the area, taking over houses from immigrants who had started moving into the suburbs. The Bo-Kaap developed as a vibrant mixed area, but the 1950’s Group Areas Act dislocated the lives of many people living here, and despite protest, parts of the Bo-Kaap were declared Malay group areas and those people that did not fi t the category were forcibly removed. Number 71 Wale Street – one of the oldest houses in the Bo-Kaap – is a beautifully restored national monument and another of Iziko’s museums that docu-ments the history of the area and its people.

BUILDING BRIDGESEver wondered who built Cape Town? Head to the exhibition at the Bo-Kaap Museum dedicated to the slaves and workers who literally built the city during its three centuries of colonial rule.

High street shopping in the cityDesign duo Malcolm Klûk and Christiaan Gabriël du Toit recently relocated from a shopping centre in Green Point to a heritage building on Bree. Here they explain why moving to the heart of the city has been better for their brand.

“Internationally, shopping is moving

away from malls back onto the street.

The street has more character and

individuality, whereas in every shopping

centre in the world you can fi nd the same stores, which makes it almost not worth

travelling.” Christiaan Gabriël du Toit

Klûk CGDT 47 Bree StreetT: 083 377 7780www.kluk.co.zaPh

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The new Klûk CGDT storefront on Bree

May 2012 CityViews

and post offi ce. The building was restored in 1960, and it opened as the South African Cultural History Museum in 1966. In 1998 the mu-seum was renamed the Slave Lodge, and today it houses a permanent exhibition on the Cape’s slave history as well as temporary exhibitions.

71 Wale StreetOpen Monday to Saturday 10h00 to 17h00T: 021 481 3938Cost: Teens and children free, students and pen-sioners R5, adults R10www.iziko.org.za/muse-ums/bo-kaap-museum

The Bo-Kaap Museum

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is an urban sanctuary that was formally established by Dutch settlers in 1952, as a supply station for spice trading ships on their long sea routes to the east. Early documents reveal that the garden was originally divided into rectangular fi elds and watered via a system of open irrigation furrows fuelled by mountain streams. During the 17th century, as the city grew, the garden expanded, and by 1848, a portion of it was declared an open public space. In 1892 the municipal-ity took over, and by 1898 the garden was opened to all. One of the best things about

the city’s green lung is that it’s bordered by some of the city’s cultural gems: the Slave Lodge, the Houses of Parlia-ment, the Iziko South African Museum and Planetarium, St George’s Cathedral (the seat of the Anglican church in South Africa), the National Library of South Africa, the Iziko South African National Gallery, the Great Synagogue and Holocaust Centre, and Tuynhuys, the Cape Town of-fi ce of the Presidency.

3THE COMPANY ‘SGARDEN

The Botanical Gardens in 1875

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5THE NATIONAL LIBRARYOF SOUTH AFRICA

was initially one of two na-tional libraries – the South Af-rican Library, founded in 1818 in Cape Town, and the State Library, founded in 1887 in Pre-toria – before both were joined in 1999. The National Library’s fi rst signifi cant acquisition was a collection that belonged to Joachim Nicolaus von Dessin, who bequeathed his books to the Dutch Reformed Church in 1761 to serve as the founda-tion of a public library. Other notable donations followed over the years, including Sir George Grey’s personal library

that included valuable medi-eval and renaissance manu-scripts, rare books – including a Shakespeare First Folio – and very rare South African publi-cations. These items fall within the library’s special collec-tions department and may be viewed by appointment only.

Special Collections Department5 Queen Victoria StreetT: 021 487 5619 www.nlsa.ac.za

Did you know that the National Library is a legal deposit library, meaning it has a copy of every book, newspaper, government publication and other printed item published in South Africa since 1842?

Laddy McKechnie from the Special Collections Department of the NLSA

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Open daily from 07h00 to 19h00T: 021 400 2521 Cost: Free

Written and directed by Da-vid Kramer and scored by the late Taliep Petersen, Kat and the Kings is narrated by

and follows the story of Kat Diamond, an ambitious young singer and dancer in late-1950s District Six. He forms a rock’n’roll, doo-wop, a cappella group with four friends and for a spell their rise to fame knows no limit.

Based on the experiences of Salie Dan-iels – who played the older Kat in the original cast – the musical is about paying tribute to great talents that went unrecog-nised because of the laws of the time.

David Kramer explains: “Taliep and I were always interested in telling the sto-ries that weren’t being told by the people in power. Like the fact that there was this place here [District Six] with all these wonderfully talented people who were never acknowledged or given opportuni-ties, so that the rest of South Africa didn’t even know that they existed.”

The fact that the story went on to charm the world was a complete surprise, espe-cially since the musical was originally penned to provide employment to a group of unemployed young performers.

David attributes the show’s widespread appeal across generations and interna-tional cultures to its exuberant rock’n’roll energy, and universal theme: “Everybody dreams about using their talents and ful-fi lling their dreams, which is what the story is about: fi ve young people dream-ing of success, achieving a certain amount of it, but being denied the opportunity to become who they really should’ve been. Sometimes life treats you unfairly, but you don’t give up on your dreams; you keep believing that perhaps tomorrow will be your lucky day.

“The story remains relevant today, even if it is set in your grandparents’ time,” he continues, explaining that the apartheid era in which the musical is set is just a backdrop. “If young people enjoy the

show and are inspired to investigate their history further, all the better.”

David is particularly excited about the new talents he came across while audi-tioning the cast: “Most of the original cast performed in the show in various ways up until 2005. They grew up in the show – if they were 21 when they started, they were 31 when we fi nished.”

There is just one original Kat and the Kings cast member who will return to the stage though: Danny Butler as the older Kat Diamond. Alistair Izobel and Louk-maan Adams – who played Magoo and Bingo on Broadway and the West End – return in the capacity of vocal coach and choreographer. The designer of the West End production, Saul Radomsky, also returns.

The absence one feels the most, though, is that of Taliep Petersen. “This show would have meant a lot to him because this was the area where he grew up. Kat and the Kings is a journey of someone like him, who through sheer talent made it to Broadway and now fi nally has an opportunity to show his work close to home. It’s just sad that he’s not here to see it.”

CityViews April 2012on the fringe10 April 2012CityViewsfrom the 10

CV What do you love about Cape Town?I love that it’s close to nature. That it has a mountain or two and a nature reserve at its heart, makes Cape Town totally different. In fi ve or ten minutes I can be up on the mountain or down by the sea. In today’s world people who are cut off from nature are quite deprived. I’m also able to enjoy everything that an international city would offer, and more.

CV Does Cape Town have a unique fl avour of creativity?In terms of theatre and music, Cape Town has always produced amazing people, particularly musicians. It’s a good creative place because of the inspiration that comes from being at the tip of Africa, and also the moody and dramatic season changes – the drama in the weather alone is inspiring.

CV Where then do you go for inspi-ration?I’m a great believer that you need to break your routine, so I try to keep up with things in terms of art galleries, theatre and movies. Strangely enough, because I work and play with musicians, I don’t really like to go and listen to it. For me the creation of music is done quite privately – I don’t even have a very big CD collection.

CV What is Cape Town’s best-kept secret?I don’t think Cape Town is able to keep secrets! What used to be a secret was climbing Lion’s Head at full moon, but I mentioned this to a journalist once and now you practically have to buy a ticket to get up there. So, let me just say that I love the little beaches that you can sneak down to that no one seems to know about.

CV What do you think of this area between the city and District Six, which is now called The Fringe?It’s quite exciting, this rebirth of the eastern side of the city with the theatre and other kinds of clubs. One hopes that it starts a trend and that an anchor like the theatre starts to attract other places. The heart of the city was torn out by the destruction of District Six and now the rebuilding is starting. I went to look at the plans and I think it’s very well thought through.

CV Where’s the best place to buy velskoens?At a factory in Tulbagh called Tarzan’s Skoen Fabriek. Actually velskoens have suddenly become trendy internationally. People are wearing the suede velskoen in Manhattan and I’ve seen them all over other trendy shelves.

Coming home to District SixKAT AND THE KINGS

For the fi rst time since its debut in 1995, David Kramer and Taliep Petersen’s acclaimed musical Kat and the Kings comes home to District Six – just a few

streets away from the very place in which the production is set.

The city’s renowned playwright, director, singer and songwriter tells us where to fi nd inspiration, good food and velskoens.

David Kramer on Cape Town

Kat and the Kings runs at the Fugard Theatre from 1 May until the end of August. Tickets cost between R100 to R150, and are available from the Fugard Theatre box offi ce or via Computicket. Performances run Tuesdays to Fridays at 20h00, and on Saturdays at 17h00 and 20h30.

The Fugard Theatre Corner of Caledon and Lower Buiten-kant StreetT: 021 461 4554www.thefugard.com

The Kat and the Kings cast rehearsing

The cast in action on The Fugard Theatre’s rooftop

The original Cavalla Kings with David Kramer (front right)

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11 April 2012 CityViews

CV What inspired you to beautify Substation 13? The space provided me with an opportunity to create something that would inspire everyday passersby to connect to the positive spirit of District Six, without having to go into a museum or gallery.

CV Do you think there is one overriding factor that con-tributed to the community spirit of District Six?The community was completely mixed and I want to remind people

of that. The religious differences between the Muslims, Christians and Jews didn’t defi ne them; instead the community was a fertile, dynamic snapshot of what South Africa could be.

CV So does the mural intend to refl ect the cultural sig-nifi cance of its location?The buttons represent the clothing people wore during the heydays of District Six, and the stories of the past carried by the people who wore them. The key links people to the past, and opens the door to the future, and the children represent generations to come – they’re fl ying through history and into the future.

CV It seems like you have a strong emotional connec-tion to the area. What is your personal connection to District Six?My mother lived there as a child but my story is not the focus of the mural. It’s more about how resilient people can be if they take strength from their communities, like some of the communities around the Cape Flats do today.

CV How do you think most people feel towards Dis-trict Six now? There are a lot of mixed feelings. Some people feel frustrated about having to wait for land to be returned to them, but for others District Six is a catalyst that helps them to tell their stories, and in so doing, reclaim their histories.

CV And what is your person-al dream for the city?That there will be more murals covering the buildings and blank spaces in public areas. South Africans pride themselves on being the Rainbow Nation but cities don’t always refl ect this visually.

CV Do you think public art can help shape com-munities and affect them positively?Strong visuals can be incredibly positive because they stimulate the brain, and an uplifting mural can cause a ripple effect if it inspires people who in turn take that inspiration back to the communities where they live.

11

Step out of the gallery and onto the pavement: Go fi nd these public memorials, which all form part of The Sunday Times Heritage Project – an initiative to help us refl ect on where we’ve come from and where we’re headed.

Cissie Gool MemorialWHAT: The seventeen bollards that make up this memorial each symbolise a law that was passed as a result of actions taken by the “Jewel of District Six” Cissie Zainunnissa Gool (1897-1963) – the fi rst black woman in the country to serve in local government.

WHERE: Longmarket Pedestrian Mall, between Buitenkant and Plein Street

WHO: Ruth Sacks

MannenbergWHAT: Passersby on Bloem Street are invited to run a stick along this musical memorial that celebrates Abdullah Ibrahim’s legendary jazz anthem – Mannenberg – which was recorded in 1974 against a backdrop of forced removals, and went on to become an anthem of hope and resistance.

WHERE: 21 Bloem Street

WHO: Mark O’Donovan and Francois Venter

The Purple Shall GovernWHAT: A two-sided memorial commemorating the 1989 anti-apartheid Purple March that took place nearby. One surface features purple portraits of people who defi ed the state of emergency by participating in the protest, while the other features an illustration of a Casspir surrounded by items that protesters would have carried with them.

WHERE: Corner of Burg and Church Street

WHO: Conrad Botes

...and a people’s history

For more information, more memorials, and interviews with the art-ists, visit http://heritage.thetimes.co.za.

City street artist Mak1one has transformed a

once sombre electricity substation situated on

the boundary between District Six and The Fringe, where Canterbury meets Constitution Street, with a vibrant mural that tackles

the past with sensitivity and passion.

...and the heart of District Six

“Strong visuals can be incredibly positive

because they stimulate the brain, and an

uplifting mural can cause a ripple effect if it inspires people

who in turn take that inspiration back to the

communities where they live.”

Mak1oneStreet artist Mak1one

Maklone’s children fl y through history into the future

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STREET ART

PUBLIC ART

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llMay 2012 CityViews

CV How would you describe the soundof Cape Town to a foreigner?It’s diffi cult to describe it without hearing it, butI would say that the sound of Cape Town stems from the city as a whole. It’s a feeling you get when you arrive, or the vibration that’s around us. It’s an hon-est sound; it’s a sound that could not have come from anywhere else.

my town 12

Straatwerk has job rehabilitation

projects for men and women.

021 425 0140

The Haven’s vision is to get the

homeless home. 021 425 4700

The Homestead provides residential

care and family integration for boys.

021 461 7470

Many children and young adults living on the streets have severe drug addiction problems. More often than not, the money they receive from begging is used to buy their next “fix”.

The CCID therefore requests that members of the public do not give money or handouts directly. If you would like to help, please contact one of the listed organisations mentioned.

Contact the Central City Improve-ment District’s (CCID’s) Social Development Department for further information or assistance.

Ons Plek provides residential care while undertaking reunification process for girls.

021 465 4829

The Carpenters Shopprovides rehabilitation services and skills training for adults.

021 461 5508

Salesian Institute Youth Projects provide education, skills train-ing and rehabilitation to vulnerable youth.

021 425 1450

www.capetownpartnership.co.za

Pat 021 419 1881 | Dean 082 928 3862Headman Sirala-Rala 082 262 0113 Mark Williams 082 262 0112

He plays the piano, saxophone and xaru, has been called a musical savant, and the architect of modern Cape jazz, but you won’t hear Kyle Shepherd singing his own praises. Here, he turns the spotlight on his infl uences and sources of inspiration – the artists that came before him.

My Cape Town: Kyle Shepherd

CV Kyle, good music like yours must be a passport to the world. You’ve already mesmer-ised audiences across Africa, Europe and Asia, so what is it that makes you stay in Cape Town?Living in Cape Town is like be-ing plugged in to the source. I might have to leave at some point, so I’m charging my bat-teries now. If I have to leave, I will always be plugged in to this thing called Cape Town. I’m trying to fi ll myself up: trying to know this place, to understand it; trying to un-derstand my family, my cul-ture, my people; and trying to understand the music on a deeper level. I’m not sure I will leave, but if I have to, I will always be fundamentally connected to Cape Town. I’ll always be here.

CV Where do you go to get plugged in to this inspiration?To be honest I don’t have any specifi c place. For me there’s a personal connection to the whole – whether I’m in the confi nes of my studio or on Ta-ble Mountain, or driving – it’s a connection that’s beyond a physical location. Cape Town as a whole is not just the geography, but also the

culture, people, communities, families and everything else that makes this city unique. Whenever I leave the country and look back at the city with an outsider’s eye, I start see-ing the beauty all over again – specifi cally in the people.

CV There is a distinctly Cape Town fl avour to your music. How does your latest album, South African History !X refl ect this?Musically it ties in with my longstanding interest in the history of South Africa and Cape Town. I’ve always found the truth behind our history mysterious because in the past it was suppressed and buried alive. For instance, when my parents were at school, they learnt that Cape Town ‘began’ when Jan van Riebeek arrived. But when you do the research, you re-alise that a whole culture of people existed here for many years before the Europeans came. If this history had been taught, we’d have a com-pletely different idea of who we are. Instead, we’ve been conditioned to think that anything from elsewhere is better; we have a very deep-seated inferiority complex.

CV This sounds similarto the Afrikaaps project that you were involved in?Yes, for the Afrikaaps project we researched and investigat-

ed the origins of Afrikaans. In the project we brought to light that the language, apart from the Dutch infl uence, was really a language created by the people who spoke it – which is a completely dif-ferent take on the apartheid view of Afrikaans. When we did workshops with and per-formances for children in the Cape Flats and shared this insight, it was like a weight was being lifted off their shoulders.

CV You’re building on a longstanding legacy of Cape jazz, and your personal relationships with the legendary Ab-dullah Ibrahim and late Zim Ngqawana. How have you incorporated these histories into your album?It’s not something that I think about when making music, so it’s diffi cult to talk about. The way I play wasn’t a decision. I grew up with musical ele-ments around me in the com-munity, which infl uenced me when I started playing jazz and improvisation. My mother is a violin player and she played for Abdullah when I was very young. As a single parent, she took me everywhere with her. I’m thankful for that because to sit in on Abdullah rehearsals as a kid … I mean, I never sat down and had any lessons with him, but just seeing Abdullah with his piano and

hearing him talk had such an effect on me. It all sticks, and I’m very grateful for that. Zim had a profound impact on me too. I studied with him at his school – Zimology – and lived with him in Johannesburg, and played and travelled with him. Abdullah got me started, and Zim moulded me. I can’t begin to attach any sort of value to what I got from them.

CV You recently per-formed on St George’s Mall and Church Square as part of the Infecting the City festival. How was it?Apart from the pleasure of playing there, the main thing I’d like to say about that is: Why doesn’t it happen more often? Cape Town is such a beautiful city and we have such beautiful summer eve-nings. It’s absurd that we don’t have more outdoor fes-tivals. In Europe, if they had half of what we do, they’d use the space more.

Catch it liveThe Mahogany Room is Kyle’s favourite place to play in Cape Town. Modelled on some of the world’s greatest jazz clubs, it operates on a pay per set basis (R60 for one set, or R100 for two). Catch The Kyle Shepherd Trio featuring Kyle on piano, Shane Cooper on double bass and Jonno Sweetman on drums, there from Wednesday 2 May to Saturday 5 May at 20h30 and 22h30. Booking is essential.

The Mahogany Room79 Buitenkant StreetT: 076 679 2697 @TheMahoganyRoom

Kyle Shepherd

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“Living in Cape Town is like being plugged in to the

source.”Kyle Shepherd

May 2012CityViews

Kyle’s latest album – South African His-tory !X – is available for digital download from www.sheersound.co.za and other major digital stores, and as a CD at leading music stores across SA. For more information visit www.kyleshepherd.co.za.