Cape Town - Apartheid forced removals and the women who fought valiantly for freedom and education came to the fore during recent Heritage Day commemorative events.
The Simon’s Town Museum and the Simon’s Town Phoenix Committee facilitated a visit to the “Wag ‘n Bietjie” memorial benches.
This community-driven project, developed by the two organisations, was unveiled in 2019 and placed on Jubilee Square overlooking False Bay in 2021, a stark reminder of apartheid forced removals.
A wreath-laying ceremony took place at the Memorial Monument erected by Black Sash after the forced removals.
Attendees participated in a commemorative walk down the Main Road to St Francis Church led by the Ocean View Bikers, the St Clare’s and United Reformed Church Brigades from Ocean View, followed by the Simon’s Town and Noordhoek communities.
In attendance were those who had been painfully removed from Simon’s Town, Noordhoek, and surrounding areas, as well as current residents, with anti-apartheid activist and former politician Dr Allan Boesak delivering a speech.
“The objective of the programme was to bring the former community together and back to their hometown, their roots from where they were forcefully uprooted and removed.
“What we hope to convey and achieve through these commemorations is to never forget what injustices were imposed on our people because of their skin colour, bring awareness to and remind the current community of Simon’s Town and surrounds of the same and that the area they now occupy was an area of forced removal that once belonged to these people they see walking proudly together along the Main Road,” Mary Ann Kindo of the committee said.
On Sunday, the Salt River Heritage Society (SRHS) honoured four women and former residents: journalist Karima Brown, unionist Gadija Isaacs, political activist Zuraya Abass, and poet and playwright Gladys Thomas.
SRHS founder Shabodien Roomaney said the society wanted to focus on the women in Salt River who had contributed enormously to the liberation struggle.
Roomaney called on former residents and those currently living in Salt River to get involved in activities headed by the society.
shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za