A civic group is asking Harfield Village residents to paint hearts on their municipal wheelie bins to pay homage to those who were forced out of the neighbourhood by apartheid.
Those former residents of the area will be visiting it on Heritage Day, Tuesday September 24, for a walk of remembrance.
The Newlands/Claremont Heritage, Environmental Justice and Restitution Society (NCHERS) has held the walk annually since 2021 to commemorate the history of those who lived in Newlands and Claremont before the forced removals under the Group Areas Act (“A walk down memory lane on Heritage Day,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, September 30, 2021).
James Fernie, the chairman of the Harfield Village Association, hopes that when the former residents visit the neighbourhood this year, they will be met by bins bearing heart designs, demonstrating support from the current residents.
Painting the bins in this way, he believes, will also promote good relations in the community.
“We wish residents to get involved in the community, meet their neighbours and foster a community spirit,” he said.
“It is also a wonderful way for current residents to feel part of history, to learn and understand the difficult history of Harfield Village and teach their children in a fun but meaningful way.”
Mr Fernie said the association had met with the NCHERS and “they loved it”.
NCHERS committee member Rashied Omar said they were inspired by Harfield Village Association’s efforts to show solidarity with the walk of remembrance.
He said the NCHERS looked forward to working with the Harfield Village Association “in finding creative ways of remembering and engaging in acts of restorative justice to provide healing for these victims of the oppressive and racist Apartheid system”.
On the day, NCHERS members, former residents and the Young Guiding Stars Sacred String Band will walk through Harfield Village visiting landmarks, including the Harvey Road Mosque, Kenilworth Methodist Church, St Matthews Anglican Church, Livingstone High School and Rosmead Central Primary School.
Mr Fernie said residents could either paint their bins or cover them with heart stickers from the Secret Love Project, a non-profit that sells the stickers to help the needy.
Mr Fernie also urged residents to join the walk of remembrance. Those wishing to do so should meet at Livingstone High School on Tuesday September 24, from 8.30am.
