‘This is how we would like the City to talk to the community about Princess Vlei: with transparency, accountability, inclusivity and mutual respect.’

This was the overall message from a diverse group of people who gave up the rugby and soccer on Saturday to attend a workshop hosted by the Princess Vlei Forum.

The workshop was part of the Forum’s Imagine Princess Vlei campaign to develop a community-led vision for Princess Vlei as a nature and heritage site. Following the watershed decision in March to scrap the plans for the mall at Princess Vlei, the City has committed itself to developing and implementing the vision with the community, and Ald. Belinda Walker has set up a team for this purpose.

Since its inception in 2012, the Princess Vlei Forum has been canvassing community views on what should be at Princess Vlei. This was building on the work done by the Dressing the Princess Project to rehabilitate and re-envisage the space, which was undertaken in collaboration with Working for Wetlands under the direction of Kelvin Cochrane, SANBI and the City.

The Forum is now working with the City to ensure that the process to consolidate this vision, and to manage the vlei in the long term, is truly participatory, meaningful and inclusive.

The Forum hosted this workshop to explore:

- Who are the community and other stakeholders who should be part of this process?

- What are the most effective methods to engage these stake holders?

- What principles should guide the way the City engages with the community?

The workshop was attended by over sixty participants from a range of community, cultural and environmental organisations, or with an individual interest in the area. It was facilitated by Vernon Rose, who has years of experience in strategic planning facilitation and organisational development.

Daniel Sullivan, from the City of Cape Town’s World Design Capital 2014 team, faced some tough questions from community members. There was particular concern that if this was seen as a WDC project, the City would not sustain its commitment beyond the end of the WDC 2014 period.  Sullivan assured the participants that this was seen as a legacy project, and the intention was to use the WDC impetus to change the way that the City works with communities.  “Our mandate is not just focussed on a one year project, but on how to change the way the City does things.”

 Sullivan said that the City was very committed to making the Princess Vlei project work, and using it to demonstrate how community engagement can work in a constructive way. The project would serve as an inspiration not just for Cape Town, but for the rest of the country, and give substance to the City’s new tagline “making progress possible together.”

Vernon Rose pointed out that it was also up to the community to find ways of working to ensure that they were “not junior partners” in this project with the City, and this workshop was a step in that process.

The workshop came up with a number of guidelines on how to engage with the community, including: workshops and meetings; using the print and audio-visual media and social media; using public spaces such as libraries; and ensuring that the issue is placed on the agenda of relevant organisations.

Guidelines for making the engagement meaningful and constructive included sustainability – building in checks and balances to ensure that the project did not depend on the goodwill and interest of individual councillors and community members; community ownership and empowerment; transparency; signing agreements to ensure accountability; inclusivity; respect for heritage and nature, and many others.

The outcomes of the workshop will be conveyed to the City by Sullivan and by Forum members, and will be used to guide the process going forward.

Although there are many challenges ahead, the Forum welcomes the City’s commitment to this process. This is complex but extremely exciting time in the history of the struggle for Princess Vlei. If we all play our part, this could be a flagship project modelling meaningful community empowerment and engagement around public spaces and natural resources. We call on all with an interest in this Princess Vlei to join us in this exciting journey.

• If you would like to be kept informed of public engagement processes, please subscribe to our mailing list, or email us at [email protected]. Please also fill in our online survey to express your views about what should happen at Princess Vlei.

Dr Ian McCallum of Marina da Gama, analyst, poet, author, lecturer and Wilderness Leader, was the keynote speaker at an event – ‘Landscapes and Identity’ - hosted recently by Princess Vlei Forum in Grassy Park on 29th April.  The theme of the evening, that identity is tied inextricably to place, threaded through all the presentations. 
Linda Daniels, storyteller and broadcaster, stressed that storytelling is a way to restore memory and this in turn can restore both individuals and communities. She played the audience broadcasts of colourful stories from local residents, stories of mythological creatures such as dragons and mermaids woven in with childhood memories of family picnics, fishing, playing and observing the animals and plants that live at the vlei. Linda is currently collating local stories from the community surrounding the Vlei - anyone interested in sharing their story can contact Linda or the Princess Vlei Forum.

Patrick Dowling, Regional Head of Environmental Education at WESSA, whose talk was entitled Princess Vlei and the Wetland Kingdom, spoke about the connectivity of the wetlands in the area. Despite massive human impact through canalising, diverting and draining  (even creating, as in the case of Little Princess Vlei and Rondevlei)  Patrick believes that it  still possible to restore them. For example, Zandvlei as an example, provides a functional a nursery for  fish stocks; and Zeekoevlei is also the healthy sustainable condition. In the past a number of our vleis were seasonal, fed by both aquifer and rain. Today they are largely permanent water bodies requiring careful maintenance.

Dr McCallum stressed that in his work, when most people are asked to recall their childhood, they will almost always describe a moment or a place in the natural environment.  This identifies them, places them, and can be the starting point for healing. The rapid changing of landscapes brought about by industrial and urban development can cause fragmentation and loss of identity - there is a sense of psychological discontent when there is a change in the geography of one's childhood.

However, humans have to able to connect with local natural environments to be able to identify with them. He told a story of a young man from Vrygrond who had been led on a walk up the mountain that he faces each day. Muizenberg  Peak. On the way home he was asked if he could see the mountain from his home. His answer was “No, my house is too small.” But in fact, although his house was small, he had a clear view of that mountain. Until that day he had felt no identity with it, not even a recognition that it was there.

Dr McCallum also spoke about the moral issue of conserving nature. 'People often suggest that nature needs to "pay its way" to be conserved, but nature has paid over and over, and it is time to give back... Conservation without moral values cannot sustain itself, and unless we reach people through ethics, beauty, spiritual values or whatever, we are going to lose our wilderness areas'

At the end of the evening, Cicilia Johnson who recently turned 90 years old, read her beautiful poem about Princess Vlei. The full poem can be read here.

Examples of how Princess Vlei is inspiring young creative minds were evident in the models and drawings done by the CPUT first year Architectural Technology students. The students were asked to create a floating structure inspired by the natural and cultural heritage of Princess Vlei.

The discussions held clearly showed how important natural landscapes are in holding personal, cultural and community identity, and how important it is for people to have access to these landscapes in forming and reconnecting with their individual and collective identity. Princess Vlei, with its rich history, is a landscape with a vital role to play in the identity of thousands of CapeTonians. It's continued preservation and rehabilitation is vital to enable it to play this role.

• Download a PDF on Linda's story telling project
• Download Linda Daniels's broadcast on Princess Vlei for Deutschewelle.
• Listen to Dr McCallum's talk on Youtube or below.

Over one hundred learners from local schools were treated to an exquisite windless autumn day at Princess Vlei when they came to Meet the Birds on April 25th.

The event was co-ordinated by the Princess Vlei Forum, the Children’s Art Centre, and Frank Joubert Art Centre as part of the Flight of Dreams programme. It was attended by learners from South Peninsula High School, Zeekovlei Primary School and Hyde Park Primary School.

The learners were welcomed by Emile Jansen from Heal the Hood, who told them about the history of Princess Vlei. They were then divided into three groups, to attend the three programmes in rotation.

Volunteers from the Cape Bird Club took children on a walk to spot interesting birds, with the help of a bird identification chart from Rondevlei reserve. "It was a pleasure to do the Bird Walks with the children from the different schools, and we enjoyed seeing the interest the children displayed in learning to identify the birds and answering the many questions they asked.  We would like to help the Princess Vlei Forum with similar  events in future," said Anne Gray of the Cape Bird Club.

Interesting birds spotted included Blacksmith Lapwings, pipits, purple heron, and a pelican. Find out more about the birds of Princess Vlei here. 

City of Cape Town conservationists were organised by  the Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET) to give the children a good understanding of why wetlands are so important for our environmental health and water resources, and what life forms are sustained by these critical ecosystems. Children had the opportunity to hold a corn snake and examine a leopard toad close up.  Taryn van Neel of CTEET said, "We are all part of the food chain, and destroying one natural habitat area would definitely impact negatively on different species. Thus we try and make children, parents and all people in the community aware of the importance of our natural environment. These kind of events not only target students but the community, and  benefits us all presently and for the future."

 Ayesha Price from the Children’s Art Centre helped learners to create observational drawings of the landscape in charcoal. She showed the children how to create texture by rubbing on a rough surface such as bark or a rock.

The programme ended with a musical performance by Collin Meyer, Quinton Matthews, and Bradley Van Sitters from the Khoi and San Active Awarness Group (KSAAG). The performance gave the children an opportunity to learn about traditional KhoiKhoi instruments, and to learn a song in the Khoekhoegowab Language.

The event highlighted again the value of Princess Vlei as an educational resource for local schools – the Hyde Park Primary learners were able to walk to the site. Hyde Park teacher Ingrid Solomon said, "The kids thoroughly enjoyed it. All the teachers as well. I even bought up the courage to touch a snake... When they did the art work I was amazed at the talent some of them had. Once again what was highlighted for me is how our present Education Department is failing our children as far the creative arts is concerned having removed the specialised teachers from the school."                                    

The event was part of our Flight of Dreams programme to make children aware of wetland habitats, and to celebrate and honour the birds of Princess Vlei and other local wetlands. The programme will culminate in a Carnival Parade on 27 September this year.

Thanks to Anne Gray, Celia Wolfe, Anne McCloud, Penny Dichmont and Gillian Barnes, Cape Bird Club; Cape Town Environmental Education Trust; Emile Jansen; Kelvin Cochrane and Golden Bake for supplying and making cheese rolls; Collin, Quinton and Bradlley for supplying the music; and Gavin Lawson for taking photographs. Go the Cape Bird Club website for a wonderful account of the day.

So said Ayesha Price, principal of the Children’s Arts Centre, Zonnebloem at the Arts Alive event at Princess Vlei on Thursday, 27 September. And whether it was the dream catchers, the inspiring passion of the 120 children and their dedicated teachers, the sun breaking through the clouds or just the magic of the Princess, there was certainly nothing but good vibes at the Vlei on this day.
    The project was the dream child of Cape Town artist and activist Paul Hendricks and three long standing colleagues – Ayesha Price, Berenice Carlese-Plato and Lies Hartman,  the principals of The Children’s Art Centre (Zonnebloem), the Frank Joubert Art Centre (Claremont) and the Battswood Art Centre (Grassy Park) respectively. The three art schools between them service several thousand children from schools in surrounding areas. Most of these schools have limited or no art programmes of their own.  
    These groups came together in their first-ever collaborative project to create dream catchers to hang in the trees of Princess Vlei. Each college made one giant dream catcher about 2 metres in diameter, and the children also made individual smaller ones. In the words of Ayesha Price, “The idea of a precious cultural space such as Princess Vlei being built on is sacrilegious, and we wanted to do something to show how much we value it. We also want to show the children that art is not just something you hang in a room, it is powerful and can carry a strong message.”
    For the children of Battswood College, the dream catcher project is one of several art projects inspired by the Princess Vlei, including collages, mixed media, paintings and clay. “Most od our learners come from sub-economic urban environments where there is not much visual and textual variety. Few of them have the opportunity even to travel to Table Mountain or other natural areas. Princess Vlei offers them a unique resource, as it has a variety of natural textures and colours. It also has a rich mythological and cultural heritage. Projects such as this can build the children’s social awareness and awareness of their environment. It brings art alive, and helps the children to realise that art has a voice beyond the classroom.
    The first part of the morning was spent attaching the giant dream catchers to the trees alongside Prince George drive. The artworks are made of biodegradable material such as wood and hessian, and decorated with lentils, seeds, palm fronds, and natural dyes. This ensures that as the dream catchers naturally disintegrate over time, they will leave no footprints. Passing motorists hooted and shouted encouragement as the dream catchers went up.
    The children then hung the smaller dream catchers in trees around the vlei, before enjoying refreshments donated by Menngos, a local business promoting small enterprise in the area.
    The formal part of the proceedings  began with a speech by young Savio Simonpong 12) from Sid G Rule Primary. He said that he’d been motivated to learn more about Princess Veli after hearing his parents and teachers talk, and had read the articles about the schoolchildren planting trees on arbour day in the People’s Post. “I actually fell in love with the with caption in the paper, “greening the vlei.” He said
“It’s really good to see our youth of today showing and interest in saving our planet and preserving the vlei for future generations.  The children need to learn. We hope they can spread the message to their friends so that they can love nature…. We say yes to the princess, we say no to the mall.”
    The group was then entertained by the choir from Sid G Rule Primary (Grassy Park), who sang “We are the world.”
        The three principals of the college spoke next, and all commented on what a positive experience the project had been for both teachers and learners.
    “A process such as this teaches you about awareness of the community, your place in the community, and it teaches you how to enjoy arts in a creative way in a natural environment, it teaches you camaraderie and team spirit … It was very lovely to see all of that unpack in the classroom with so many different bodies working together to create one final art piece...” said Berenice Carlese-Plato.
    Liesl Hartman commented, “Dream catchers are symbols of things that catch thoughts and dreams and beautiful things and filter good things from bad… we wanted to create three artworks that would inhabit the environment but not overpower it, that with time would wear away and become part of the environment.”
        Ayesha Price said, “When my class heard that a building made of concrete, glass and steel was going to be planted into a natural environment, the first thing they said was, “Miss Price we must fight this thing, we must go in there” … we have discovered that  using art as our voice and as our weapon, perhaps we can overcome and achieve much more than we can perhaps with just our voices and our fists.”
She reminded the audience that the Princess Vlei links us to the First Nations, who had much to teach us about living in harmony with the earth and protecting it.
Paul Hendricks spoke about the importance of dreams. “This is a dream we must carry with us all the time, the dream that Princess Vlei becomes a symbol of hope for the future for you and for all the other people in the area.”
    Glen van Harte from the Western Cape Education Department  remarked that “it is very important that we understand what is going on in our environment, so that when there are people who try to harm that environment, we will stand up for our environment... Today is not just a visit to a big lake, it’s about making sure that you have a space that one day you can take your children and show them what a beautiful environment this is.”
    Mr Philip Bam, chair of the Lotus River and Grass Park residents association and of the Princess Vlei Forum spoke about the value of holding dreams for the Princess Vlei.
    “The vlei is more than the water, the vlei is more than the vegetation around it, the vlei has a soul. And it gives expression to our souls, and to what we believe in ... so continue to dream of those things that will make you great, and believe me the BMW is not what is going to make you great, it is not the bank balance that makes you great... what makes a nation great is when we respect the earth, when we care for it and protect it, and even when we say that we will die to defend it.”
    Nazeer Sonday of the PVF spoke of how today we can use vehicles such as art to express our protest, not stones and fists, and of how this action gives a vision of a Princess Vlei where culture and art can be freely expressed.  “The dreamcatchers are beautiful… each on is not just a piece of art hanging from a tree, it has life, it tells a story, it reflects what is in our hearts...The princess is alive and she is so happy that you are all here and trying to protect her dignity and honour. Your work here this morning has deep meaning for all of us. “
    He said he looked forward to further collaborations between the three colleges and the Princess Vlei Forum, so “That we can have more art pieces on the sacred soil of our vlei,   so that we can jointly promote the arts and culture on the Cape Flats and expose and display the amazing talents that we have in you and in our community.”
     As the buses pulled away, the dream catchers fluttered and swayed in the wind, eloquently expressing the dreams of these remarkable young artists. Let us hope that these dreams to protect and conserve this beautiful space will not be decimated and destroyed by the proposed mall. The children of Cape Town have much to teach our officials about the true value of our natural open spaces

About the participating  Art Schools

Co-ordinator of the Princess Vlei  art project: Paul Hendriks  [email protected]>

The Battswood Art Centre, 5th Avenue, Grassy Park

Contact: Berenice Carlese-Plato  [email protected]
The Battswood Arts Centre covers various disciplines, including visual arts, dance and drama. It works with 15 primary schools and 2 high schools in the surrounding areas, and has undertaken a number of projects linked to Princess Vlei.

The Children’s Art Centre, Zonnebloem
Contact: Ayesha Price (Principal) [email protected]
The Children's Art Centre has been in existence since 1945. It services 2300 children from six schools. It provides a range of extracurricular art programmes for the children, as well as assistance to the schools with specific projects such as building stage sets etc. It provides teacher training workshops and outreach programmes.  

Frank Joubert Art Centre, Palmyra Road, Claremont
Contact: Liesl Hartman, (Principal) [email protected]
Frank Joubert Art Centre is attended by learners from over 30 schools, and has a number of extra mural and community outreach art programmes. It has been working with Grade 8 and 9 learners from South Peninsula high on the Princess Vlei project.


 

11 September 2012

"We need to draw a line in the sand, and say to the developer, ‘Jy is mal! We don’t want a mall!’"

These words from Goodhope Breakfast Show host Guy Mcdonald summarise the feelings
of the crowd who had come to celebrate Arbor Day at the Princess Vlei by planting 50 trees donated by Zaitun Rabani, Director of the Botanical Society of South Africa, and 150 fynbos plants.
        The event was hosted jointly by the Princess Vlei Forum; the Biodiversity Education and Empowerment Directorate of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden; SANBI; and the students and teachers of John Graham Primary School and Lotus River High School
        After a welcome by Philip Bam, chair of the Princess Vlei forum, and Muslim and Christian prayers, the learners were instructed on how to wield a spade safely. Most of them needed no instruction, as they are already seasoned planters, responsible for much of the fynbos now gracing Princess Vlei. Their enthusiasm was summed up by the words of Joshua Roybin (12) from John Graham Primary. “We just love the feeling of planting something.” His friend Ceathon Hendricks (13) agreed, “The outdoors is very important for children, especially nowadays when a lot of kids just play on their Xboxes. Planting has such emotional value for us, because you can see what you’ve planted, and when you come here again you can see how it is growing.”
    Benny Pietersen, a teacher at Lotus River High, has been bringing students to plant at Princess Vlei for four years. “It has such positive spin-offs,” he said. “It teaches the kids leadership skills, and teaches them to take ownership of their environment, and to invest in it.”
    Faldiela Chotia from the Western Cape Education Department agreed. “Spaces like this is vital for these children, many of whom come from areas plagued by gangsterism, drug abuse and poverty. It is hugely beneficial for them to come and experience the beauty and tranquility.”
        While the children were busy, a number of community members and well-wishers came to offer support. Amongst them was Rachel Adams, grandmother of the cricketer Paul Adams, who announced that she had  “come to protect our vlei”. Her nephew, Clarence, said that he and his friends had grown up near the vlei, and has many happy memories of sand boarding, boating, picking the abundant water lilies for waterblommetjie bredie and catching fish for supper.  “This is a landmark from one of the cradles of human kind,” he said. “It is very important that we conserve it.”
    After planting, the learners listened to short speeches from the various guests.  The speeches kicked off with Kelvin Cochrane, from the Princess Vlei Forum, who thanked the learners for the contribution that they have made over the years to make the “people’s Plan” a reality.

“When we plant a tree, we are planting a lifestyle ... if you look across the road and see the urban build up, it tells us is that we need space to walk, for people to engage with, so we want to create a Kirstenbosch here at princess vlei. The vlei is part of our heritage, and it important that all of us take responsibility to redefining it.  Let’s hope and pray that there will never be a mall on the princess.
    Fadly Agiet from the Western Cape Department of Education said that by celebrating Arbor day, the children were joining a world community. He reminded them of the words of Chief Seattle, that what you do to the earth you do to yourself, and commended them for doing something for future generations. “What you have done today is increased your handprint on earth and decreased your footprint.”
    Fadiela Chotia thanked the children, and challenged them to speak to their friends and get all the schools in the area involved in the Princess Vlei.
    “More schools should hold their events here, their walks, market days and other events. It is very important for the community to be consulted on developments, as they impact on every one. As the Education Department, we would like to take hands with others and mobilize all schools to protect the vlei.”
    Simone van Royen from the Botanical Society saluted the efforts of all to sustain and protect the vlei, which she said is “near and dear to all of us”. She commended the efforts of the learners, especially Learner “Chantal, who planted seven trees”, and said she was looking forward to driving past the vlei and knowing that in the years to come she and her family would still be enjoying these trees.”
    Guy McD0nald from Goodhope FM, who received an enthusiastic applause from the crowd. He said that he was delighted to be there as he had “witnessed something momentous”. “It is so important for the youth to take a stand, and everyone of you has embraced a commitment to the future of this place. We need to draw a line in the sand, and say to the developer, ‘Jy is mal! We don’t want a mall!’
    Roleen Elma, from SNBI outreach programme, and herself from Grassy Park,  said that she’d been attending Arbor Day events for many years, but this event was really outstanding. “How often do we stop and look at a living thing that is not human? That is my challenge to you, try to take note of and appreciate a non-human living thing every day.”
    Nikita January, from the Environmental Club at Lotus River High said “The reason I have personally chosen to be a part in saving the princess is not only because of its natural beauty but also because of the environmental benefits....we are dependent on the vlei, the trees and plants that the vlei provides a safe haven for. The very oxygen we are currently breathing is purer than elsewhere because of the natural contribution the vlei makes to our environment.
    Uninformed or money hungry capitalist people are eager to get rid of this vlei. Why destroy something that was given to us freely? We live with this mentality that by building a mall we are doing good, creating jobs and preventing certain transgressions that take place at this vlei but have we ever stopped to think about the indigenous plants and animal species found here.
    The event was rounded off with an enthusiastic performance from the Grade Four class of “The Primitives” dance group, led by their teacher Andrea Sefoor, before the children enjoyed a well-earned snack. Biscuits were donated by Simon Mantell, an enthusiastic supporter of the Save the Vlei Campaign.

The Arbor Day event illustrated yet again what a powerful role the Vlei can play in building community, apart from the social and physical benefits of living near a sustained and conserved natural environment. The message from all of the children and others attending was unmistakable: “This vlei as a natural site where we can enjoy the view and tranquility is priceless to us. We do not want a mall here!” Let us hope that those trees they planted will still be growing for many years to come.  

The Khoi Princess of Princess Vlei would have been happy this Women’s Day, to see the gathering of remarkable women and community elders on her shores at the Women's Day event hosted by the Princess Vlei Forum. The Forum is an association of concerned community members and environmentalists to protect the Vlei from the threat of the shopping mall development, which was approved by MEC Anton Bredell earlier this year.
Women elders from the local community and three local old age homes gathered to plant three Milkwood trees to honour strong South African women, past and present. The most honoured guest was one-hundred-year-old Sophie Norling, a passionate nature lover from Retreat.
 
Sophie Norling led the ceremony by planting the first Milkwood tree, which was planted in her honour. The other two Milkwood trees, planted by 82-year-old Joan Evans of Plumstead and 88-year-old Cicilia Johnson from Grassy Park, were in honour of the Khoi Princess, and Saartjie Baartman. August 10 this year marks the 10th anniversary of the return of Baartman’s remains to South Africa.

The women were then hosted at a tea party at LOFOB hall in Grassy Park, where they were treated to snacks and tea provided by Menngos, an organization devoted to promoting local small enterprises. Menngos also supplied posies from local flower growing projects in Lavender Hill and Retreat.

At the gathering, Sophie Norling and other guests were invited to share their memories of the area around Princess Vlei. Mrs Norling spoke about raising her children at the Langvlei in Retreat, and describe how much she valued the natural beauty of the local vleis. She thanked God for blessing her with a long life, family, and a long happy marriage to her husband who died in his nineties. Her daughter, Mrs Denis Variend, described the many hours her family had spent picknicking on the banks of Princess Vlei.
“I am very passionate about saving the Princess Vlei, because that is where my kids grew up,” she said.

Eighty-nine-year-old Mr Pietersen has lived near the Princess Vlei for his whole life, and remembers swimming in the vlei and taking his horses to cool down in the water. He recounted the popular legend that the Khoi Princess had, on her death, become a mermaid who would lure young men to their death if they swam in the wrong part of the vlei.

“When we grew up, there were Proteas growing everywhere in this area. We used to pick them, and eat veldkos from the bulbs – in those days we did not know we were damaging the environment.” He described how Zeekovlei dried up from a drought in 1932, and how a Mr White would give the local children rides in his aeroplane.

Mr Johnson, who also grew up near the Vlei, described how he would travel into town with his parents, who were farmers, to sell vegetables. He would be given half a crown, which he spent on ‘boermusiek’ records.

Mrs Cicilia Johnson, who has spent 64 of her 88 years near the vlei, recited a poem that she’d written to express the pleasure that the serenity of the vlei brought to her:
“My Haven of Refuge I found
 Where the carp and the trout abound;
 Where the Weeping Willow softly sway.
 This dear Reader, is Princess Vlei.”

Students from Lotus River High School and Cedar House School were there to serve the food. Nikita January, from Lotus River, explained that she is part of an environmental group at the school, which has been extensively involved in projects to rehabilitate and save the Vlei from unwanted development.
“I’m totally against the mall being developed at Princess Vlei.” she said, “As a teenager, I love malls, but we have enough to keep us going. We need nature − without nature, we would have no life. Being in nature is very valuable for children, it brings a feeling of serenity. We are very committed to saving the Princess Vlei.”

Philip Bam assured the guests that the Forum would engage the community in fighting to protect the Vlei. “Those of you who love the Princess Vlei, who grew up there, know that we will fight to save the Vlei. No mall, no taxi rank will be built on our beloved Vlei.”

The Princess Vlei Forum is determined to fight for the right of our communities to decide on how our city’s natural resources can best be protected and preserved for future enjoyment by all. We have developed a People’s Plan to show how the Vlei could be developed to honour the historical, cultural and environmental significance of this natural wetland, and to serve our community for generations to come. This Woman’s Day event is an example of the type of community service the Vlei can provide if it is properly protected and sustained.

“If the bulldozers come my wife must look for another husband because I will fight to the end…”
Elton Rinquest, local community member in response to the proposed mall at Princess Vlei.

This message expresses the feelings of most attending the Youth Day Celebration hosted by the Princess Vlei Forum (PVF) on June 16. The event was held to show what at living, breathing Vlei could offer surrounding communities in contrast to the Mall development effectively approved by MEC Bredell earlier this year.

But despite the militancy expressed by many speakers and audience members, the mood of the day was festive and celebratory. It seems as if someone much higher than the MEC was smiling kindly on the event, by providing one of those magical midwinter sunny days to welcome the participants. The crowd was a mirror of Cape Town’s diversity, ranging from five –year old princesses decked in pink organza and tiaras, to octogenarians reminiscing about what the Vlei has meant to them over the years. There were Muslims, Christians, businessmen, workers, nature conservationists, community activists, rappers, kite-flyers, fishermen, poets…. all united in their passionate desire to defend ‘the Princess’ from unwanted and destructive development.

Children rode the two ponies on offer, painted banners and posters, and tied themselves in knots break-dancing on the stage, while their parents enjoyed braaing and picnicking and taking in the colourful sights in a more leisurely fashion.

Graffiti artist Mak1one demonstrated his considerable skill with a spray can on a board. He’d graced the Princess Vlei toilet block with the masterpiece a few weeks before, but the council had it removed. So this time he brought his own “wall”. The back proved a canvass for children to contribute their own messages and drawings. “Don’t even think about destroying our wetlands”, said a butterfly drawn by one young artist. “I totally agree” replied a neighbouring fish.

Mak1one has a long history with the Vlei, having grown up in nearby Kafda. He used to sneak out to swim in the Vlei, disobeying his grandmother who subscribed to the common belief that the Khoi Princess who was murdered here took a life each year in payment – and she was determined that her grandson would not be sacrificed. Mak1one claims that the beatings he earned were worth it.

The formal part of the day was hosted on the back of truck donated by Buildwell Buildit (Grassy Park). It began with a cleansing ceremony, introduced by Chief !Kora Hennie van Wyk and others from the House of Xoraxoukhoe. The dignitary leading the ceremony explained that the imphepho herb which was burnt , often used in Xhosa ceremonies, was originally significant to the Khoi san – showing how the Khoi ancestry is common to many of us.
Shegh Shaheen Abrahams opened with a prayer for the future of the People’s Plan for the Princess. He remarked on how critical young people are to our future, and how much better they are served by open spaces than a mall. “ It is nice to see our youngsters here … if our youngsters are full of spirit, if they are active, then our community has a future.”

His prayer was followed by one by Rev John Oliver, of the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative, who said that “the earth is on loan from God, and we must keep it in safekeeping for our children and our children’s children.’
Long standing residents commented on how memories of the Vlei are deeply interwoven with their lives. 84 year old Mr Edward Johnson raised his six children three minutes away. “On Saturday afternoons we would walk down to the Vlei and I would put in a line for each child and they would catch beautiful carp…. In winter, th Vlei would run over and we couldn’t get out of our house… My children still remember these days… This Vlei belongs to our people.”
Mr Sam Khan recalls, “I can remember the days when every evening I took a walk down here with my dog and we watched the swans in the water… everything was so peaceful… I believe that this land was left to the people by a private land owner in the early fifties so I say this matter must go to the highest court in the land, and I will put part of my pension towards the effort.”

Mr Philip Bam, Chair of Lotus River and Grassy park Civic Association (LOGRA), one of the founding organisations of the Princess Vlei Forum, commented on how the campaign was another step in helping people of the area in their search for heritage and identity. “One of the wonderful things that this campaign has done for us it has brought us to realise who we are… Harry the Strandloper was the undignified way the powers of the old days referred to our people. In this way they took away our heritage and inheritance. Just as we are restoring the fynbos here at the Vlei, we will restore our dignity….

Tony Ehrenreich roused the leisurely crowd to enthusiastic applause when he said: “Don’t for a minute believe those who will tell you that workers will stand with these big business interests because it will provide us jobs. We know that we need jobs in this country but much more importantly we know that we need to defend and sustain our heritage and that is why COSATU is standing behind the Princess Vlei committee.

“We have come together in all our hues, black and white, DA and ANC, this is not about politics and it is not about race, it is about assuring ourselves that we must stand on the side of justice”

Ehrenreich commented on the power of open public spaces to unite South Africans and build a common nation: “We need places where we can come together as black and white in a real space like the Princess Vlei, but those spaces are shrinking… they are being taken away but they should be expanding.

“Our greatest responsibility is to raise the house of our people to be better than how we found it, and it will not be better if we are tearing down the legacies and beauty of our country in the interests of a few capitalist who have no regard for our long term interests … an injury to one sacred space is an injury to all.”

Ehrenreich concluded with the following pledge: “We want to assure you as COSATU that while we will sign petitions and pray for the Princess Vlei, we will also not hesitate to fight for the legacy of all our people…”

The speeches ended, and as the shadows lengthened across the grass as the crowd sang and danced into the afternoon, the children ran and laughed, and the Vlei seemed to smile to see her banks being so enjoyed by so many. For one day, the Princess Vlei Forum and the community, the birds, the water, the mountains had all come together to show what can happen when natural spaces are cared for and made available to heal us, unite us, and, (to paraphrase a comment by Philip Bam) “soothe our angry souls.”

We can only hope that those with the power to ensure that the Vlei is not “Malled” will recognise the priceless value of this land as a restored and nurtured natural space. But the day made one thing clear: Anyone who wants to build a mall on the Vlei, will have to fight a rapidly growing and determined community of people dedicated to defending their Princess.