+27 21 959 2946library@uwc.ac.za
The politics of the return of its residents have been disconcerting and trying to say the least. The District Six Museum has been instrumental in strategising since the dawn of South African democracy and has made positive strides in seeing that its residents are returned to their right place - their home called District Six. However, the bureaucratic wheels turn too slowly and this is the juncture they, the museum find themselves at.
The building of new homes in the historic District Six community presents both challenges and opportunities for conservation. The physical reconstruction combined with the intricacies of rebuilding a traumatised community, is in itself a huge project which has forced the Museum to confront the concrete realities associated with the return. It is a context which the Museum has had no choice but to face head-on as it further explores the relationship between landscapes and memorialisation in support of human rights, urban justice and the creation of a more just and inclusive civil society.
For more information about the restitution process in District Six, visit the following websites of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and the District Six Beneficiary and Redevelopment Trust at:
http://www.ruraldevelopment.gov.za › About Us
http://www.districtsix.co.za/Content/Museum/About/NationalHeritageSite/index.php
Baluleka! Be Important! Wees Belangrik!
'This is the youth programme of the District Six Museum. It was launched on 10 December 2005 as an umbrella programme for a range of projects that serve to engage youth in the life of the Museum, the city and globally. The idea is that Baluleka! will become a partnership driven programme and resource centre with the District Six Museum Homecoming Centre serving as the hub for youth based and intergenerational activities. It is the hope fo the museum that the youth will bring the cultural and political life back to the city centre and will sustain the important link between the Museum and its community into the future.'
Source:http://www.districtsix.co.za/Content/Education/Learners/BalulekaYouth/Background/index.php
The Community Survey project focused on conducting life history interviews and re-connecting with a broader range of ex-residents who are either returning to District Six, those who have chosen not to return, and those who are currently living in the area. The aim was to understand the challenges of the restitution process for ex-residents and how the District Six community is able to impact on as well as benefit from the work of the Museum. A number of survey questionnaires were completed by Seven Steps Members, and focus groups as well as individual life history interviews were conducted. Phase two of the project included a number of oral history interviews with ex-residents from Horstley and the Cross Street area. We were able to conduct workshops with a small cluster of ex-residents from Horstley Street in particular: mapping the street, families, neighbours and landmarks that made up this small community.
Sponsored by the NLDTF
For more information contact chrischene@districtsix.co.za
Source: http://www.districtsix.co.za/Content/Projects/CommunitySurvey/index.php
The District Six Museum is the perfect extension of the classroom. Wonderful visuals, oral testimony, documentaries, audio-visual materials - and last but certainly not least, the knowledge of ex-residents: our Education Officers offer personal tours which pupils love.
Noor Ebrahim and Joe Schaffers continue to introduce learners, young and old alike, to the history of District Six, apartheid and forced removals.
It is recommended that learners not be younger than 10 years old, and that groups are restricted to a maximum of 40 learners. Education Programmes are available from Monday to Friday from 10h30, and last for approximately 1 hour. Longer programmes and workshops that include a tour of the actual District are available on request. We recommend you email education@districtsix.co.za for workshop requests or contact Zahra Hendricks: reception@districtsix.co.za to book a District Six site visit.
Tour fees are R5.00/ learner.
Workshop fees are negotiable - materials/costs/special programmes with partner organisations are negotiable and we encourage schools to approach local businesses / ex-learners / government organisations to enable the participation of learners in the interactive programmes that we offer.
At present, it is recommended that teachers arrange a visit to the District Six Museum Resource Centre and / or schedule a meeting to discuss how best to meet your curriculum needs at the District Six Museum. We offer a general visit suitable for primary school (Grades 3 – 7) as well as for all high school learners. However, we are able to customise programmes to support most learning areas and not just Social Sciences or History.
Most work with learners are focused and intensive learning journeys, where learners get to explore a topic from a range of themes: Apartheid; forced removals in District Six, South Africa and internationally; the Group Areas Act and identity; the life and culture of District Six; memorialisation; the heritage of resistance; the writers of District Six; the sites of District Six and the Cape Flats / townships; amongst others.
They also offer Learning Journeys where learners get to experience and sharpen their skills in research; oral history; digital storytelling; photography; writing; performance and visual art & design; amongst others.
Email: education@districtsix.co.za for more information
Reception: +27(0)21 466 7200
Fax: +27(0)21 466 7210
e-mail: info@districtsix.co.za
| Director | Bonita Bennett |
| PA to the Director | Nicky Ewers |
| Collections Manager | Chrischené Julius |
| Museum attendant | Edith Bulana |
| Exhibitions Manager | Tina Smith |
| Coffee shop assistant | Revina Gwayi |
| Exhibitions & general maintenance | Shafiek Boonzaaier |
| Education Manager | Mandy Sanger |
| Education officer | Joe Schaffers |
| Education officer | Noor Ebrahim |
| Reception, administration and bookings | Zahra Hendricks |
| Front-of-house | Thobeka Hobe |
| Ruth Cookson |
| Peggy Delport |
| Terence Fredericks |
| Lucien le Grange |
| Lalou Meltzer |
| Anwah Nagiah |
| Crain Soudien |
| Les van Breda |
| Chairperson: Ciraj Rassool |
| Deputy Chairperson: Gilbert Lawrence |
| Kay Jaffer |
| Premesh Lalu |
| Alison Lazarus |
| Nombulelo Mkefa |
| Jean September |
| Shaun Viljoen |
| Ms Nadine Gordimer |
| Bishop Peter Storey |
| Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu |
| Abubaker Brown |
| Ruth and Desmond Jeftha |
| Mercia Shoko |
Founding trustees and patrons who have passed on have not been included in the above list, but include Irwin Combrinck, Stan Abrahams and Vincent Kolbe - all of whom were pivotal to the creation of the Museum; as well as Professor Kader Asmal, who was a staunch patron for many years.
University of the Western Cape,
Robert Sobukwe Road,
Bellville,
7535
Tel: 021 959 2946
