Cape Town – After waiting for more than 60 years to have Bo-Kaap renamed and 18 months to finalise the renaming process, the Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association has been nominated for a 2016/17 Cultural Affairs Award.
Nkosikhulule Nyembezi, a committee member of the Western Cape Provincial Geographical Names Committee, said he had nominated the association because it was patient during the process and accommodated everyone.
“I am pleased by the co-operation of all those involved in a manner that ensured that the consultation processes were never a sheer box-ticking exercise.
"They were never about the quantity of meetings held but always about the substantive quality and representativeness of all relevant views that ensured the adequacy of the participatory process.”
Nyembezi said that Bo-Kaap was an old area and unique to the landscape of the Western Cape and the country.
“In asserting their right to a sense of belonging and the place now officially named Bo-Kaap, based on historical affinity, community members have done the people of Cape Town proud. They did so guided by the preamble to the constitution, which states that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity. Indeed, recognising and preserving cultural rights is important in our constitutional society.”
Stacy McLean, spokesperson for MEC of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport Anroux Marais, confirmed that a nomination was received for the association, under the Geographical Names category.
The association’s Mohammad Groenewald said he was not aware of the nomination but was glad about it. “The significance of this for many was restitution. The best place to start is with the name. That gives a lot of sense to many people. It might not resolve the challenges in Bo-Kaap, but I think changing the name signified hope, honour and dignity to the people,” Groenewald said.
Mustapha Salie, 81, who has lived there since he was a child, said he had never known the Bo-Kaap by any other name. He was given the honour of cutting the ribbon of the new Bo-Kaap sign and said he hadn't noted any significant changes in the area.