The District Six Working Committee is now campaigning for Keizersgracht Street to be reverted to Hanover Street.
“Hanover Street was the lifeblood and soul of the area (that) the street residents became familiar with. I grew up in Hanover Street and I was always so offended when they decided to rename the street,” said D6 Working Committee chairperson Shahied Ajam.
“This renaming will mark the start of the healing process for the people of District Six. With the judgement of the court case coming up, we need to start healing.”
The committee is locked in a battle with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform for its failure to provide restitution to D6 claimants since 1998.
Under the apartheid government, Hanover Street was renamed Keizersgracht Street after the area was declared whites-only and the previous residents forcibly removed.
The district was also reclassified as Zonnebloem.
The District Six Museum last week launched a campaign calling for the renaming of Zonnebloem back to District Six.
The committee sent a letter to Mayor Dan Plato and Mayco Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Marian Nieuwoudt.
Plato said the City had received a letter.
“I think it is important that our communities are proud of where they stay and that they feel part of and have a connection with their local suburb, and the greater Cape Town,” he says.
“It is also an important instrument to celebrate those who have contri-
buted to our democracy and our society, and to commemorate those who we hold dear.”