DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette
2 Oktober 2024 - 8 Oktober 2024 | Tel 021 853 0211 | www.districtmail.com
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GRA T FREEIS
Jodi sweef oor doellyn
Casablanca kry buurt-waghonde - 4
Helderberg Rugbyklub het Saterdag (28 September) ’n maklike sege van 38-0 oor Kimberley beklink. Berge het ses drieë aangeteken, met die span se sternr. 14-speler, Jodi Koul, wat soos ’n superheld oor die doellyn gevlieg het. Hierdie oorwinning, behaal sonder verskeie eerste-keuse-spelers, verseker hul plek in die laaste ronde van die kompetisie. Lees die volle verslag op die agterblad. Foto: Peter Bee
Sand shifts as lowering begins - 6
Tales binding comm(unity) Jamey Gordon
I
n commemoration of Heritage Month Macassar launched a groundbreaking community storybook celebrating unity, cultural diversity and social cohesion. “The one-of-a-kind book offers the ordinary person’s perspective of their hometown and focuses on celebrating the making of contemporary culture by unexpected people and places,” shared Clint Abrahams, senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town, professional architect and Macassar native. According to Abrahams the community storybook, Macassar: An Anthology of Stories, builds on two award-winning projects conducted in Macassar, an exhibition and the refurbishment of a local shack for storytelling and other community gatherings. It all started when 20 youngsters came together under Abrahams’ guidance for a street
All the contributing Macassar residents who share their tales as part of the community storybook which was launched in Macassar in commemoration Heritage Month.
photography project in 2018. The aim was to challenge deeply ingrained perceptions of Macassar and inspire residents to embrace responsible citizenship. The exhibition, “Macassar: Who We Are,” showcased photographs from the community, sparking conversations among residents. The installation was spread across three local sites: the Macassar Library, Thomas Adonis’ shack (known locally as Bong’s Inn or Bong se Yard), and Paul Swartz’s home in Ring Avenue. Adonis’ shack’s leaking
roof led to a community-driven refurbishment project involving students and staff from UCT, CPUT, RWTH Aachen, and PBSA Dusseldorf, Germany. These projects, underpinned by academic research, earned Abrahams numerous accolades, including the UCT Creative Works Award in 2019 and the UCT Social Responsiveness Award in 2022. “The refurbishment of Adonis’ shack created a vital gathering space for community events” shared Abrahams. “During the Covid-19 pandemic it became an
important site for memorial services. It has also become an architectural reference for UCT BAS students, offering fresh perspectives on community architecture.” “The street photography project serves as a crucial visual archive, capturing a pivotal time in Macassar’s development. The storybook chronicles the township’s history through the experiences of its residents, facilitating both healing and envisioning a better future. The book emphasises the significance of Sandvlei, Die
Kramat, and the Deep Freeze communities in Macassar’s culture. The stories reference the Khoi, Shaykh Yusuf, the old Zandvliet Farm, and the origins of the Deep Freeze army camp. The storytellers include Enid Adonis, Thomas Adonis, Owen Amsterdam, Abdusalaam Benjamin, Jan Booysen, Saul Claasen, Anita Constable, Colin Davids, Peter Davids, Taliep Edwards, Rosaline Etson, Hester Geduld, Shirleen Hopley, Jonathan Isaacs, Sophia Jantjies, Sophie Mack, Paul Swartz, Daniel van Wyk, Mario van Wyk, Ruben Wilson, September Wilson, Carl Wilters and Abrahams himself. Other contributors are Thys Abrahams, Shahied Alexander, Eileen Booysen, Allie Edwards, Boet Hendry, Martin Hopley, Ebrahim Rhoda, Sydney Samuels, and Mervyn Speelman. Illustrations were completed by UCT students Rayhaan Hamed, Shaye Ramsey, Aydan Wiggill, and Khiara Singh. V To page 2