Langa 100th Anniversary this year and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has announced the City’s plans to commemorate and celebrate this event.
Speaking at the Guga S’Thebe Cultural Centre in Langa on Human Rights Day, the Mayor said the City’s #Langa100 plans include restorations to historical and tourist attractions, precinct improvements, public participation on new heroes memorials, and a series of community events including a major three-day open-air festival.
‘This year we celebrate one hundred years of Langa, of people’s stories, history, culture and heritage. Langa has been a crucial part of Cape Town’s fabric for a full century, and I have no doubt that the next hundred years will deliver an even more impressive list of achievements and contributions from this community.
As the City, we want to ensure that Langa is primed to make the most of its business and tourism opportunities to enable more jobs and opportunities for more people. Langa is close to the city centre, airport and major traffic routes, with a well-established food and hospitality industry. Local historical and cultural attractions can play a big role in bringing tourist revenue to Langa,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
- The City has already undertaken repairs and maintenance work on the old historic Pass Office building. At the Langa Memorial Site, restoration work is due to be completed within three months.
- The City is also completing a study on the potential conversion of the old Single Men’s Quarters into a multi-purpose space. This is a major project with forthcoming community consultations on the best uses for this site.
‘While most people associate 21 March with Sharpeville in 1960, the same day is etched into Langa’s history too, as thousands of Langa residents gathered that day – without their passbooks – to march to the Langa police station, about 200 meters down the road. At least three people died – some eyewitnesses put the figure higher – and many more were injured as police opened fire on protesters here in Langa. A horrible, terrible tragedy.
‘We dedicate today to Langa’s fallen heroes, and we acknowledge the contributions that so many talented Langa individuals have made to Cape Town and South Africa over the years,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
During his address, Mayor Hill-Lewis reflected on famous Langa residents who have left such a big mark in politics, in music and culture and on sports fields over the past hundred years.
These include the much-loved Ma Brrrr – Brenda Fassie; the talented Tsolekile cousins: Thami the Proteas cricket player and Lungile the SA hockey player; football star Thabo Mngomeni; and playwright and theatre director, Fatts Dike, who was the first black woman in South Africa to have a play published. One of Langa’s proudest sons, Temba Bavuma, the current national cricket captain, is also celebrating Langa’s centenary with an incredible recent run of back-to-back test centuries.
‘One of the potential projects we’d like to introduce during a public participation process is the idea of a new Langa Heroes Memorial along King Langalibalele Road, where the names – and possibly hand prints of those still alive – of Langa heroes can be displayed, and added to as a new generation of heroes emerges. Hollywood has its walk of fame. Langa could have its road of heroes.
Langa 100th Anniversary Events and Festival
‘I want to be very clear that we want to involve the Langa community in decisions by the City on future projects including elements of our centenary celebration plans for Langa. So over the next three months, we will conduct a Public Participation process to ensure the needs and wishes of residents are taken into consideration,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
‘The City is also planning a series of community events to mark Langa’s centenary, including a sports festival and a major three-day open-air festival.
‘In September we want to close the street King Langalibalele street in front of the Guga Sthebe centre, and host a street music festival where Langa can showcase its music and its people to the world,’ said the Mayor.
These plans are intended to complement community initiatives to commemorate the anniversary and ensure support and collaboration amongst stakeholders.
WHAT: Langa 100th Anniversary – #Langa100 plans
PHOTO: The City announces Centenary plans for Langa at Guga S’Thebe Cultural Centre on Human Rights Day, 21 March 2023. Pictured from left to right: City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo, Cllr Thembelani Nyamakazi, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, Cllr Lwazi Phakadse and Alderman JP Smith
See also Cape Town Green Map
