Children playing in the street in District Six, early 1970's
At the start of apartheid in 1948, no one living in District Six could have imagined being forcibly removed and relocated to what is today the 'Cape Flats'. District Six was established in 1867 as a mixed community of labourers, immigrants, freed slaves, merchants and artisans. The area was a vibrant and culturally rich community and was within walking distance of the City Center and the Port.
District Six with Table Mountain in the background
District Six was the opposite of everything apartheid stood for, where people of every race and different religions and cultures lived peacefully side by side. The 'group areas act' was passed on 27 April 1950 and on 11 February 1966, exactly 52 years ago, District 6 was declared a 'whites only' area under the 'group areas act'. The act enforced the seperation of people, based on the colour of their skin.
Pontac Street, District Six
My mother was born in District Six in the year 1966 in their home in Pontac Street, and long to return to her place of birth. More than 60 000 people were forcibly removed from the area, packing their belongings on to trucks and watching as their beloved District Six was bulldozed to the ground.
A Family loading their belongings on to a truck
A woman and children walking past a house being demolished
Quotes from ex-residents of District Six
District Six “No matter where we are, we are here.”
Mrs Abrahams (taken from the memory cloth, 1994)
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird, that cannot fly.” – Langston Hughes of District 6.
District Six Today - An Open and Empty Land, Waiting for the Return of it's People
Thanks for this great post, awesome information! https://steemit.com/donations/@pjcswart/help-me-see-my-kids-more
Thanks for reading :-)
Youre welcome!
One of the sad losses of our time, lovely historical buildings, beautiful people and music developed in the area at the time before all the politics entered.
I remember as a very young girl going through this area with my parents, I remember when catching the bus, everyone could still travel together, it was later as I grew older I noticed the change.
There are just no words to express how the people felt being shoved from pillar to post at a whim. Forced removal of area, burning, or flattening them to the ground happened in other regions.
Living in the 'Transvaal' Fietas was a place we frequented often to shop, buying material with my Mother to sew clothing for us, it was also close to where my Gran lived. Here is the link if you are interested in this http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/fietas-site-forced-removal-johannesburg-renamed-pageview
Thanks for sharing some of your memories 😊... will have a look at the article about 'Fietas'.
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It's always refreshing to learn about one's history. But some history lessons bring on sad emotions. The apartheid hated peace. District Six was the place that South Africans what the future could look like, should look like. Such grateness was a thorn in the backside of the apartheid government. I hope your mother does return there one day soon.
To think that the apartheid government thought they were doing the right thing then. District Six, as far as I know, was a relatively poor area, but people lived in peace there. Such a shame.
Infomative. Are you White or black?
Not white, not black... Little bit of everything... Indonesian, Mauritian, Irish, Indian, African... Basically I'm coloured.
Good info for us all to learn from. Thanks @hoosain!
Cape town is high up for a For 91 Days! So much history! But it's sad that something so alive is now abandoned!
Hopefully not for long, there are people hard at work to make sure that people return.
A well-sourced article that told me a very sobering historical fact that I wasn't aware of and certainly didn't learn about in school in the UK. I'm glad that people like your mother have kept the memories going.
It's all about "divide and rule", again and again.
Very true!! Thanks for stopping by :-)
Wow. That is some sad history there. Hopefully people learn and don't ever repeat it. Thank you for sharing I always enjoy a bit of history.
Thanks for the history lesson and sharing your memories so we do not forget.
Now the question is : have we learned anything from it?
Thanks for the poignant reminder. I remember watching the musical about district six at the waterfront as a kid. My mum took me to see it so many times and I loved it :) It's a heart-wrenching piece of our history...
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Good article with a fine collection of photos. Pity I only saw it today. I noticed the other day, District Six got a mention in parliament - must be elections drawing nearer.