Bringing the mountain to the people

Cape Town-140611-Events and Marketing, Councillor Garreth Bloor unveiled a large yellow frame at Lookout Hill in Khayelitsha, providing a unique vantage point for residents and visitors to photograph themselves with Table Mountain in tthe background. In pic is: Phumzile Nofemele, Racquel Barnard, Andisiwe Nikani, Cynthia Jonas, Bonke Vanda and Photographer Clayton Barnes all from City of Cape Town, Tourism events and marketing.-Reporter-Warren-Photographer-Tracey Adams

Cape Town-140611-Events and Marketing, Councillor Garreth Bloor unveiled a large yellow frame at Lookout Hill in Khayelitsha, providing a unique vantage point for residents and visitors to photograph themselves with Table Mountain in tthe background. In pic is: Phumzile Nofemele, Racquel Barnard, Andisiwe Nikani, Cynthia Jonas, Bonke Vanda and Photographer Clayton Barnes all from City of Cape Town, Tourism events and marketing.-Reporter-Warren-Photographer-Tracey Adams

Published Jun 12, 2014

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Cape Town - For many Khayelitsha residents Table Mountain is nothing more than a distant height that they may never see up close – let alone climb.

This could soon change, however, as the township has become the fourth site for installations in Cape Town’s Table Mountain New 7 Wonders of Nature legacy project.

The project puts up giant yellow picture frames at strategic points around the peninsula, allowing people to take a picture of themselves while showcasing Cape Town’s beauty in the background.

The 2.8m by 4m frames have been constructed on Signal Hill, at the V&A Waterfront and at Eden on the Bay. The fourth was unveiled on Lookout Hill, a tourist spot that is the highest point on the Cape Flats.

Garreth Bloor, mayoral committee member for tourism, events and marketing, said the latest addition to the series aimed to bring the city’s diversity to the forefront.

“We are delighted that Khayelitsha has been included as part of the project. We encourage tour operators to include this newest attraction on their itineraries.

 

“We want locals and foreigners to hop on a tour bus and experience the rich cultural diversity of our city.

“This includes the Cape Flats.”

Nombulelo Mkefa, director of tourism for the city, said Khayelitsha allowed visitors to see the “other side of the city”.

“This frame can really add to the tourism experienced here.

“We want tourism to be based on how people experience the positives of the city and not only focus on what apartheid has done to our communities.”

 

Khayelitsha resident Mninizo Mnukwa, 52, a security guard at Lookout Hill, has a perfect view of the mountain almost every day. Mnukwa said Table Mountain had become a part of his daily life, although he had not visited it.

 

“When I look at the mountain I see the heart and soul of Cape Town. I see it every day and it is on my list of places to visit.

“I want to take my family up there one day, especially my youngest child, who is only four. I want him to experience these things from an early age.

“With the frame being here you get to see the back of Table Mountain, which is seldom seen by visitors… they will be seeing the other side of Cape Town has well.”

The frames are also a World Design Capital project. The city is to put up three more frames this year. - Cape Argus

 

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