District Six, the once vibrant multi-cultural residential heart of Cape Town, was ripped out by forcing more than 60 000 people from the economic centre and relocating a whole community to the Cape Flats, an area devoid of opportunity located at the periphery of the city. In the same fashion, many communities across South Africa were disenfranchised, disempowered and dehumanised. Urban dwellers of colour were relegated to the least favourable areas and their economic ability, social opportunities and lifestyle were considerably reduced through the dramatic erosion of a cosmopolitan and lively community.
District Six is considered to possess the national heritage value of ‘telling a national history of forced removals.’ District Six constitutes a previously neglected memory of the history of South Africa that is to be used as part of the reconstruction and healing of the nation, a memory closely guarded and kept alive by the former residents and celebrated and passed on through various means, such as the arts, schools and religious centres that remained.
The significance, of District Six, is threefold as it tells the story of how people became the victims of their circumstances, but through years of non-violent resistance and a fervent struggle became victorious, evidenced by the pride of many former residents and descendants of these residents.
1. Firstly, “land was stolen from people who were defenceless, voiceless and disenfranchised in the land of their birth”
2. Secondly the resistance and struggle of the people prevented the area of District Six from being redeveloped into a middle-class white area as was envisioned and planned by the apartheid planners. The pen and the word were used as armour in the struggle and resistance of this community to return and get back their ‘stolen goods’.
3. Restoration, redevelopment and reconstitution are the final steps in the reconciliation of a community. Currently, this is taking the form of recalling the community of District Six to transplant the cultural heart back into the city.
This legacy of history must be remembered for having the potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of South Africa's cultural heritage. It must be celebrated for its importance in the community and pattern of South Africa's history.
Seven Steps
The Seven Steps remains one of the main symbols to represent the community of District Six. The very mention of the ‘Seven Steps’ immortalized in Taliep Petersen’s musical ‘District Six’, stirs up deep emotions. The Seven Steps of stone, worn by the thousands who used these over the years, to work, to home, to school, to play, to ‘bok’, to church, to mosque, to shop, to celebrate and to mourn, were part of the great big soul of the district. Today, so many years after its destruction, the Seven Steps stands out as the premier symbol of District Six that still lives in the hearts of all who lived, loved, played and worked in the ‘District’. It is a powerful symbol of diversity and inclusivity and what that is currently located in the new CPUT residence.
