About 50 people from various District Six organisations held a peaceful picket at the old Tafelberg Creche, on Saturday, to object to it being used as a homeless shelter.
They included members of the District Six Civic Association (D6CA), the Upper District Six Neighbourhood Watch (UD6NW) and the Silvertree Rugby Club.
The protesters suggested the site be used for community recreation instead of a shelter, as proposed by the provincial Department of Social Development, which owns the property (“Plan for shelter in D6,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, June 29)
UD6NW chairman Igsaan Alexander said they weren’t opposed to homeless people getting help, but he added: “There are three homeless shelters in District Six and all the open land around the creche is earmarked for restitution, and the claimants would need this building as a community centre.”
Mr Alexander said there was no community centre in District Six for community groups and residents to hold functions.
D6CA committee member Fairuz Bassardien said: “Never again are we, as the people of District Six, going to allow that any part of our beloved District Six to be taken away from us.”
The old Tafelberg creche had once served as the clubhouse of the Silvertree Boys Club, and, during apartheid, it had been the home of the Silvertree Rugby Club, said the rugby club’s president, Rashied Combrink. He added that the youth of District Six had also used it as a venue for boxing, netball, gymnastics and wrestling matches.
“We don’t have a problem with having a shelter, though we need a place where we can encourage youth development, and we, as part of the Silvertree Rugby Club, will assist in setting up youth structures for various sport codes at that site.”
Department spokeswoman Monique Mortlock-Malgas said the public-comment process would give everyone a chance to have their say about the future of the public facility.
“Depending on the inputs received, the department will follow further steps for engagement with stakeholders where this is required,” she said.
The deadline for comment is tomorrow, Friday July 14. Address submissions to the Head of Department of Social Development and email them to melissa.abrahams@westerncape.gov.za or deliver them to Union House, 14 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town.
