District Six residents who moved into the Hanover Street complex celebrated their first Heritage Day in their new homes and as a community on Saturday, September 24.
Many of them were claimants who had been forcefully removed from their homes under apartheid’s Group Areas Act.
The 108 units of the Hanover Street complex consist of flats and terraces.
The District Six Phase Three Steering Committee, which is a group of family members staying with their elderly relatives in the Hanover Street complex, organised a Heritage Day event, which included a braai for the residents. The steering committee is helping residents with the transition to their new environment and providing assistance for anyone who needs help in their units.
Secretary of the steering committee, Jameyah Abrahams, who is living with her mother Louisa Smith, 90, says there was a jovial spirit among the community as they celebrated Heritage Day together. “The residents are all happy to be back, because many of them waited a long time for restitution and now they have come full circle to be home.”
Ms Abrahams says they are still sad for the claimants that did not get the opportunity to move back, though she can see slowly that the sense of camaraderie is coming back for those returning.
Many of the residents were happy to interact with each other on this special public holiday.
Monica van Sitter, 90, stayed in Bloemhof Flats in District Six before she had to move out. She and her family moved to Kensington when they were evicted. She has a son and daughter, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. “I am living on the ground floor, and I am happy to be back home in District Six,” she says.
Another resident, Mavis Alexander, 82, also stayed at the Bloemhof flats. For the past 20 years she had been staying at an old age home in Matroosfontein. Her fondest memory of the old District Six was playing with her friends, especially games like, “kennetjie” , dodgeball, badminton and “hokkies”. She says it was lovely to be spending Heritage Day with her new neighbours. “I haven’t met them all yet, though those that I met have been kind.”
Michael Francis Martinus, 78, stayed in residences in Van der Leur Street and Tennant Street. He attended Holy Cross Primary when he was 12. He started work at the Grand Hotel in Cape Town as a teenager where he worked there for over 30 years. He and his family moved to Gatesville when they were evicted from District Six.
“I enjoyed staying in District Six, there was no crime,” he says. Mr Marthinus says it was always a dream to move back to District Six. “I am settling in at the new place, I am still getting used to the stairs,” he says.
Another resident, Lutfie Majiet, 72, stayed in Nelson Street in District Six. He moved to Woodstock when he was evicted. He worked as a barber for 50 years. “When I lived in District Six everyone always cared for one another and would do favours to help each other,” he says. He says it is good moving back to District Six and spending Heritage day with fellow residents. “Many of us residents reminisce about where we used to live in the old District Six,” he says.
The residents could also enjoy music, while their grandchildren played on a jumping castle and they were also entertained by the Western Province Marching Band.
