Bonteheuwel residents took to the streets with a remembrance walk, stopping along cultural sites to listen to storytellers and celebrate the community’s diverse heritage at the area’s Freedom Square on Saturday September 24.
The event was arranged by the Bonteheuwel Historical and Cultural Society (BHS) and the Bonteheuwel Legacy Arts Collective (BLAC).
The three-hour walk, also known as the resilience walk, was in commemoration of Heritage Day, celebrating Freedom Square’s status as a provincial heritage site, while honouring fallen freedom fighters such as Anton Fransch, Robert Waterwitch, Coline Williams and Ashley Kriel.
As the walkers made their way through the area, led by the Bonteheuwel High School’s marching band, more people joined in along the way.
Omar Parker from BHS said this event was a “wonderful teachable moment for the youth”.
“They could experience the momentous affirmation of their parents’ contribution. The tribute at Freedom Square rounded off the collaborative efforts of a community memory walk, with visits to at least 10 different sites of interest, accompanied by local storytellers,” Mr Parker added.
Among the older generation who joined the walk, was Isabel Julies, 61, who said programmes like this are important to educate the youth.
“I think our youth are not aware of the magnitude of our hard-fought democracy. I grew up in Bonteheuwel, and was a pupil at Bonteheuwel High in 1976. I am honoured to be here today because one must never forget your roots. I moved out of the area 41 years ago, but I am still very proud to be from Bonteheuwel. Even if the young people who are here today don’t know who Ashely Kriel is, for example, they can go home and ask their parents about it. This is how we should preserve our history. Despite everything else, good things happen in Bonteheuwel and good people live here,” Ms Julies said.
Marc Fransch, the brother of the slain freedom fighter Anton Fransch, said he joined the memory walk in honour of his brother.
“I am glad to be here, and I believe we must continue to offer programmes to improve the lives of our youth,” he said.
Jo-anne Lewis, the School Governing Body (SGB) chairperson of Bonteheuwel High, said its marching band was part of the school’s initiative to “take back our school”.
“The marching band teaches discipline, among others, and today is also about educating our pupils about our history. We need to leave a legacy and we might just find our next Ashley Kriel,” Ms Lewis said.
One of the storytellers along the route, Anthony Dietrich, said that it was important that “we know and build on our history”.
“Bonteheuwel is going through deep trauma, which is linked to young people not being able to find employment. It is essential that we remain connected to our past and use the struggle of the working class as our inspiration. There are too many disparities in our community. What we need to do is work together as a community to bring about change,” Mr Dietrich said.
Denvor Trimble, started Eileen se Tuin – a dumping site which he turned into a garden.
“Our grandparents and great-grandparents used to have the most beautiful gardens, and we need to preserve this heritage by starting our own gardens,” he said.
Irma Titus from BLAC, said despite the socio economic challenges and issues around crime, she believes the “good needs to be celebrated”.
“The magic about today is the affirmation – that we are telling the community that their story matters. Colonialists could steal our bones or wealth, but they could never steal our stories because it lives in our hearts. We must continue with the theme of resilience, as I believe in the law of attraction – to focus on the good so more good can follow,” she said.
