The City of Cape Town and its residents rightfully honoured the Cape’s Fire-fighters and Rescue workers on International Fire-fighters Day, May 2 2015 at Zandvlei recreational area.
This event marked a special occasion for the Capes fire-fighters especially after they laid their lives on the line battling some of the worst fires in the Cape’s history this summer.
Cape Fire burns on the Southern slopes of the Cape mountain range. Pic Jacques Unshakable West
This summer season fires razed over 300 000 hectares with fires in more than 300 locations across the Western Cape.
Not too long ago we witnessed the fire-fighters battling one of Cape Town’s biggest fires first hand as the flames swept from Muizenberg across Ou Kaapse Weg through Silvermine and Tokai Forest’s to Constantia and Hout Bay.
For days our braves fire-fighters and rescue services battled the blaze, just when they doused this fire they were called out to battle a fire high in the mountains of Bains Kloof.
Fire-fighting services vehicles on display Zandvlei recreational park in Muizenberg pic: Working on Fire
A dry summer with hot and windy conditions created high fire danger conditions.
In the face of their best efforts a number of fighters lost their lives, a reminder of the dangerous conditions under which our fire-fighters operate.
The people of Cape Town came out in their numbers to celebrate International Fire-fighters Day and to personally thank their heroes for keeping them safe.
The event started with a cavalcade of fire-fighting services vehicles leaving from the Roeland Street Fire Station travelling to Zandvlei recreational park in Muizenberg.
After a remembrance service to honour the fallen fire-fighters, rescue workers and fire-fighters put on a display to showcase their skills and vehicles.
The event ended with a ceremony awarding the top achievers in Cape Town’s Fire Services.
The International Fire-fighters Day is celebrated annually since 1999 among the fire-fighting community to commemorate the efforts of these brave men and women’s commitment and dedication to their work and to remember the sacrifices of those who lost their lives answering the call of duty.
St Florian’s Day is celebrated as a ‘Day of Service’ on the 4th day of May.
St Florian, the patron saint of fire-fighters. He was the commander of a fire-fighting squad in the Roman Empire and lost his life in fire-fighting service to the public.
The scar on the slopes of the southern side of Table Mountain above the CBD serves as a grim reminder of that fateful day when the bulldozers rolled into District Six and by government decree, destroyed a thriving community.
District Six demolitions in progress on 11 February 1966
February 11, 1966 is etched forever in the annuls of South Africa’s history, the day residents of the “Six” were forcibly removed from their homes and scattered across the dusty plains of the Cape Flats.
It was an emotional moment for many families and the community of District Six as a whole, the brute force of having to gather-up all they owned and leave on the back of vans and trucks; in fact any form of transport available as the bulldozers razed their homes.
Elderly District Six resident Isabel Hutton holds her 1978 eviction order from the then Department of Community Development. (pic Cape Argus )
In fact between 1957 and 1985, more than 150 000 Capetonians classified as non-white was forcibly removed under the apartheid government’s Group Areas Act.
Forty-nine years later, members of the once-proud District Six community returned to the area and gathered at the Homecoming Centre in Buitenkant Street where the “Cairn of Remembrance” is located, to commemorate that fateful day.
Some of these folks never recovered from the injustice, some folks grew more resilient making a life for themselves in the far reaches of the sprawling flats of the Cape, while some have returned to new homes in District as a result of a successful land claim.
For others, they were not so lucky; losing their papers in the carnage of the forced removal while some have passed on. Remaining relatives have gathered annually at the cairn vowing never to forget.
New homes in District Six
The area once known as District Six has a few new buildings but a large tract of land remains bare, a stark reminder of the destruction of a South Africa’s first township.
Notes; District Six (Afrikaans Distrik Ses) is the name of a former inner-city residential area in Cape Town, South Africa. Over 60,000 of its inhabitants were forcibly removed during the 1970s by the apartheid regime.
The area of District Six is now partly divided between the suburbs of Walmer Estate, Zonnebloem, and Lower Vrede, while the rest is undeveloped land.
The area was named in 1867 as the Sixth Municipal District of Cape Town. The District Six neighbourhood is bounded by Sir Lowry Road on the north, Tennant Road to the west, De Waal Drive on the south and Cambridge Street to the east. By the turn of the century it was already a lively community made up of former slaves, artisans, merchants and other immigrants, as well as many Malay people brought to South Africa by the Dutch East India Company during its administration of the Cape Colony. It was home to almost a tenth of the city of Cape Town’s population, which numbered over 1,700–1,900 families. (Wikipedia)
The Homecoming Centre in Buitenkant Street – The D6M Homecoming Centre is a place from which information will be disseminated, and also where visitors can experience in micro-form, some of the potential encounters possible as part of the broader District Six city experience. There will be opportunities to engage with films from the archive as well as promotional footage on the Museum, storytelling, cultural performances, to have a meal, purchase gifts and books, or lounge around and read, and in future even book tours and tickets for other partner sites. Soon Wi-Fi facilities will be available to the general public. Further research and partnerships are needed to create this vibrant space in the city. (http://www.districtsix.co.za/Content/Museum/About/HomecomingCentre/index.php )
The District Six Museum – Physical Address, 25A Buitenkant Street Cape Town, 8001, South Africa. http://www.districtsix.co.za/
For information about the Museum:-Tel/Fax: +27 21 466 7200 email: info@districtsix.co.za
Open daily – ADULTS: R30 per person (self-guided visits), R45 per person (with an ex-resident / guide), R5 per scholar (SA & African), R15 per scholar (International)
FREE ENTRANCE: – Ex-residents of District Six & other areas of forced removals; SA pensioners
The Group Areas Act – Government officials gave four primary reasons for the removals. In accordance with apartheid philosophy, it stated that interracial interaction bred conflict, necessitating the separation of the races. They deemed District Six a slum, fit only for clearance, not rehabilitation. They also portrayed the area as crime-ridden and dangerous; they claimed that the district was a vice den, full of immoral activities like gambling, drinking, and prostitution. Though these were the official reasons, most residents believed that the government sought the land because of its proximity to the city centre, Table Mountain and the harbour.
On 11 February 1966, the government declared District Six a whites-only area under the Group Areas Act, with removals starting in 1968. By 1982, more than 60,000 people had been relocated to the sandy, bleak Cape Flats township complex some 25 kilometres away.
The old houses were bulldozed. The only buildings left standing was places of worship. International and local pressure made redevelopment difficult for the government, however. The Cape Technikon (now Cape Peninsula University of Technology) was built on a portion of District Six which the government renamed Zonnebloem. Apart from this and some police housing units, the area was left undeveloped.
Since the fall of apartheid in 1994, the South African government has recognised the older claims of former residents to the area, and pledged to support rebuilding. (Wikipedia)
In Cape Town affected areas include District Six, Claremont, Constantia, Harfield Village, Steurof, Diep River, Kalk Bay, St James, Millers Point, Simonstown, Kirstenbosch, Mowbray, Plumstead, Newlands, Sea Point, Windemere and Wingfield (all Cape Town).
eaSummertime in Cape Town is an ideal time for a number of outdoor activities, one such activity is a favourite for a number of Capetonians hoping to enjoy the fine summer days and dusky evenings.
Spier picnic basket
I know a number of you would be thinking going to the beach, spending time with the family at the movies or even hosting a family braai (barbecue), but it’s neither of these… it is however, a picnic.
A picnic in any of Cape Town’s scenic spots is a firm favourite for locals and tourists alike, fine weather and great views make for a fine outdoor activity.
The humble picnic allows you to fill your basket with food to suit any occasion; salads, cold cuts, yoghurt, fruit, crackers, pate’s, breads, jams, cheeses, fruit kebabs, chocolate, champagne and orange juice make for a perfect picnic meal.
Whether it’s a morning breakfast picnic at one of the many nature reserves that ring the Cape, an afternoon picnic at a local wine estate or an evening sunset picnic on the western side of Table Mountain, Cape Town has a picnic venue for e very occasion.
Beach Picnics
Top picnic spots in Cape Town include; Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Table Mountain, Lions Head, Tokai Forest, Silvermine Nature Reserve, Paarl Mountain, Zeekoevlei, Wynberg Park, Zandvlei, Signal Hill and Green Point Urban Park.
Beaches famous for sunset picnics include Oudekraal, Sea Point, Camps Bay, Clifton Beach and Blouberg beaches.
Sunset from Signal Hill
Many wine farms around the Cape like Groot Constantia and Buitenverwachting in Constantia, Boschendal Wine Estate between Franschoek and Stellenbosch, as well as Blaauwklippen and Spier in Stellenbosch offer great options for a picnic.
No matter what your picnic option, Cape Town has a venue for every picnic occasion so grab the picnic basket, fill it with tasty goodies and head for your picnic spot of choice.
Please note: – No alcoholic beverages are allowed on Cape Town’s beaches.
Top Tips to make your picnic hassle free:
Pick your spot to ensure your picnic can be accessible and safe especially at night.
Keep it simple.
Pack only the food you will eat, ensure that allergies are noted.
Pack the essentials.
Make sure you’re fully equipped for your adventure.
Here’s a list of essentials for your outdoor excursion:
Picnic basket and/or cooler box
Bottled water (freeze overnight and use as an ice pack)
Outdoor dinnerware, plates, cups, cutlery
Napkins
Corkscrew and/or bottle opener
Tablecloth and/or a picnic blanket
Sunscreen
Bug spray
citronella candles or battery powered lamps
Warm clothing should the weather take a turn for the worst
Make sure someone knows where you are going
Ensure that your mobile phone battery is fully charged and that there is mobile phone reception
Avoid any risk of food poisoning
Avoid ice cream as it will melt before you reach your picnic spot
Avoid sticky puddings, and sweet cakes as they attract insects
Trash bags.
Make sure you leave only your footprints at the picnic spot.
Visitors to Cape Town often seek out the top attractions of the Mother City like Table Mountain, Cape Point, the Vineyards of Stellenbosch & Constantia, Chapmans Peak Drive, Boulders Beach, Mariners Wharf, the V&A Waterfront, diving with the Great White’s at Gansbaai, Robben Island and Kirstenbosch.
Cape Town in Colour would like to take you to some attractions off the beaten track in Cape Town.
It was a difficult trying to steer clear of the well known tourists attractionsand maybe find a gem or two that has yet to be explored, so here we go in no particular order.
Kalk Bay, visit the harbour and watch the local fishermen land their catch after a long day at sea and maybe getting a bargain after negotiating the price of your sale. A walk through this close-knit village and explore a variety of art studios, café’s, antique shops, bakeries, boutiques, bookshops, gourmet ice-cream parlours and the village theatre housed in the old Dutch Reformed Church in Main Road. A hike up Jacobs Ladder will take you to the Kalk Bay Caves where the splendour of the village and its harbour is revealed.
Kalk Bay Harbour, a famous scenic spot for visitors
Visit Muizenberg and take time to watch learner surfer’s from one of the many café’s on the beachfront at Surfer’s Corner. Visitors can also learn to Kite Surf from the expansive beach or enjoy the warm waters of False Bay, and if fishing is your idea of relaxing reach for your rod and the many fishing spots along the walkway between Muizenberg and St James would be your destination. The rocky coast-line provides ideal fishing spots for the avid angler. The old village along Main Road provides history buffs with enough places to visit as they retrace the past in the village where the “Battle of Muizenberg” took place.
For those visitors keen to venture off the beaten track, Coffebean Routes offers the “Revolution Route Tour”. It’s a visit to the areas of Cape Town synonymous with the “Struggle Period” of South Africa’s history, from a visit to areas of Athlone where the “Trojan Horse” incident took place to the Langa and Nyanga.
Jazz Safari pic Coffebeans Routes Tours
Another alternative tour offered by Coffebean Routes is the “Cape Town Jazz Safari”, visitors are taken into the homes of local celebrated jazz musicians to share a meal and hear the story of their musical journey. Part of the experience is a no frills performance in the most intimate setting of their homes.
The Bo-kaap Cooking tour takes you on a voyage into the life, food and culture of the Cape Malay’s in Bo-Kaap whilst offering you a hands-on, practical lesson on how to cook like a Cape Malay ‘Auntie’! Learn how to fold Samoosa’s and mix Masala for that perfect pot of Cape Malay Curry!
Zainie Misbach has more than 30 years’ experience cooking Malay dishes with from recipe’s handed down from one generation to another.
Complete your visit with a reservation at the very first Cape Malay Restaurant in South Africa, Biesmiellah Restaurant to the most well renowned Noon Gun Restaurant and ‘Bo-Kaap Bazaar’.
The night life in Cape Town is vibrant but to experience this you have visit venues that the local’s clubbers frequent. The Galaxy/West End, in Athlone it is the oldest night club in Cape Town and it is still one of the more popular clubs for the younger set. Established in 1978, Galaxy/West End boasts four dance floors with Cape Town’s best DJ’s spinning the decks.
West End opened its doors in 1993 and soon became Cape Town leading live entertainment venue catering for the over 21 crowd.
Performing at Swingers – Alvin Dyers, Denver Furness and David Bloem (Photos copyright John Edwin Mason)
For jazz lovers the venue has to be Swingers in Wetton, this venue is frequented by jazz lovers and musicians alike. Monday’s open mic evenings often springs surprise visits by internationally renowned musicians as well as local musicians who set the stage alight with impromptu performances. Artists known to have performed at this popular venue are; Ross Eustice, Abdullah Ibrahim , Gordon Vernick, John Baboian, Alvin Dyers, Alistair Andrews, Denver Furness, Jonathan Rubain, Mac Mckenzie, Sammy Webber and Mark Fransman. (Swingers Photos copyright John Edwin Mason)
Alistair Andrews and Nicolas Williams (Photo copyright John Edwin Mason)
There are still so many Cape Town attractions not even mentioned so next time you visit the Mother City or as a local become a tourist in your own city, take the time to explore Cape Town off the beaten track.
Cape Town in Colour promotes the Mother City, its people, art, culture, events, music and cuisine.
Cape Town in Colour 