The fate of a group of evicted backyard dwellers illegally occupying land in District Six is uncertain. It comes as the City of Cape Town was granted an interdict against the demonstrators, who are demanding housing. Several families from across Cape Town set up camp on the land earmarked for restitution about two months ago, in a bid to get government to address their housing needs. The group hosted two […]
Khan, also known as "Mama" or "Aunty Riefa", was born in 1921 in Vryburg in the North West. Her family came to Cape Town in 1928, and lived in Muizenberg and later Kensington where her father had the first halaal butchery in the area, before she married her husband Dawood Khan, an Indian migrant living in District Six. Her parents were Indian migrants too. Her father was Ahmad Khan Deshmukh […]
The iconic performing arts theatre, the Furgard Theatre in District Six - Cape Town- is closing its doors permanently, with immediate effect. Fugard founder and producer, Eric Abraham, says they are not convinced that the Theatre will be Covid safe and financially viable again after it was closed for about a year due to Covid restrictions. Abrahams says the theatre will be handed back to the owner of the freehold […]
Former Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has been dealt another court blow over her handling of the District Six land restitution project. The Labour Court on Monday handed Nkoana-Mashabane a third personal costs order against her, for refusing to take responsibility for her “reckless and grossly negligent” conduct towards the District Six community and continually attempting to “abuse the court system” to escape accountability. Nkoana-Mashabane was appealing a […]
Judge Siraj Desai says South Africa must carry on the baton of Dr Anwah Nagia and continue the fight for social and economic equality. He was addressing mourners at a tribute programme in honour of Dr Nagia at the Zeenatul Islam masjid on Tuesday before he was laid to rest at the Mowbray makbara. Dr Nagia died on Monday, following complications as a result of COVID19 and recent triple-bypass surgery. […]
A giant voice within the Cape Muslim community has fallen silent. Dr Anwah Nagia, one of Cape Town’s foremost human rights activists, businessman, philanthropist and a champion of the rights of the poor and disenfranchised. died at the age of 62 years old on Monday. He has spent the past month battling COVID-19 in hospital, following recent heart surgery. His death has sent shockwaves through South Africa – and his […]
The fight for restitution in South Africa is all the poorer, after the sudden passing of Shahied Ajam, the chairperson of the District Six Working Committee. Ajam died of a heart attack on Saturday afternoon, as the age of 62. His death has shocked the local community, particularly beneficiaries, who had a forged a close relationship with him over the years. Passionate, determined, resolute and fearless, Ajam will be remembered […]
Hundreds of restitution claimants have been assured by top officials that all levels of government were working together - and had adequate funding - to this year start creating a new District Six that would be well-designed, beautiful, sustainable and economically vibrant. The claimants, many of whom are elderly, gathered at the Castle of Good Hope this weekend to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the District Six forced removals which […]
Image courtesy: Johann du Plessis This week is a significant week for Capetonians, as they mark 54 years since the forced removals of District Six. More than 66,000 people were evicted over the course of 15 years and relocated to the fringes of the Cape Flats as the colourful area was officially declared “white” under apartheid legislation. To celebrate the start of a new era of hope for the claimants […]
VOC became the first Muslim radio station in South Africa when a special events license was granted to the station in Ramadan/January 1995. Subsequent temporary broadcast licenses were granted, permitting the station to broadcast for 24 hours.
