Manenberg is changing for the good
The late Vincent Carl Lindt was a well-known Manenberg musician and community peacemaker whose work focused on using music to calm tensions and encourage unity during periods of gang conflict.
Image: Supplied
Bronwyn February, Manenberg
Dear world, peace to me means remembering those who came before, not in silence, but where there is rhythm.
I write today to honour the life and memory of Vincent Carl Lindt, songwriter, jazz artist, community worker, and a voice of Manenberg who contributed to shaping my understanding of peace and resistance in music.
Seven years since his passing on November 15, 2018, his spirit still rises through the streets he sang about. His anthem “Manenberg is changing for the good” is a prophecy for the Cape Flats, declaring peace over Manenberg alongside every community surviving and scarred by violence on this continent.
Vincent believed in a future where our hood was safe and kids could play freely. His music still echoes what we’re fighting for as youth, reclaiming streets for moments of joy and care instead of blood.
His voice still reminds us of what we deserve as our human right for safety in this country, and his legacy lives in me, and every young person choosing healing, art, rhythm, and resistance.
Lyrics:
Verse 1:
People dying in our streets,
Mother’s weeping for their kids,
Gangsters fighting — no peace for me,
But we must stand together in harmony.
Chorus: Repeat x2
Manenberg is changing for the good,
We are cleaning our streets and our hood,
Safely and smart,
Well that is in our hearts,
Manenberg is changing,
Manenberg is changing,
And it’s changing for the good.
Verse 2:
People dancing in our streets,
And children playing — ooh so sweet,
No more fighting in our streets,
Because Manenberg is living in harmony.
Chorus - Repeat x2
By documenting our stories, preserving our songs, and honouring our legacy, I carry forward Vincent’s vision.
My letter of peace is for youth, for mothers who weep, for artists who sing for communities ready to heal. May his voice remain a prophecy, and may our memory become a force for justice.
May the change he believed in continue through us. Uncle Vincent, may your soul forever rest in peace, and Manenberg and our continent are still changing, and it’s changing for the good.
With hope, Bronwyn