Cape Town: Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis met with National Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development – Mzwanele Nyhontso, at District Six and received an update from project teams on the restitution project. As, February 11 also marks 60 years since the apartheid government’s whites-only area declaration that would lead to forced removals.
Lewis stated that he was encouraged by Minister Nyhonto’s update that the next phase of housing for the verified District Six beneficiaries is ready to go out on construction tender. He added that restoring a vibrant community of beneficiaries here is the guiding motivation, as they mark 60 years since the apartheid government declaration has led to forced removals here. City of Cape Town wants to see beneficiaries return to new homes in District Six as soon as possible, and they are doing everything possible within the role to make that a reality.
Meanwhile, the City’s public space upgrades will continue in line with the District Six public space plan developed together with the community and beneficiaries. The City has further obtained court interdicts over time to protect restitution land from unlawful occupation, which is a shared concern of District Six trustees that they have escalated to the Minister.
Following the meeting, the Mayor and Minister walked the area to view the sites for forthcoming phases, important areas for land protection efforts, as well as the City’s ongoing public realm upgrades, currently focusing on Chapel Street.
The historical Chapel Street is the central spine linking Trafalgar Park to the east of the Zeenatul Islamic Mosque with District Six, the new restitution areas, and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology to the west.
The project started in June 2025 and the design interventions focus on prioritising pedestrians, providing space and opportunity for seating along the pedestrian walkways.
With this, various institutions and facilities along the route will accommodate these. Traffic calming measures will be improved for pedestrian safety and the safety of vulnerable road users such as children and the elderly. Planting of trees and other vegetation to create an alluring environment that is conducive to socialising.