Wynberg East Civic Association (Weca), in collaboration with the Cape Family Research Forum (CFRF), will present an event titled “Wynberg Rewind” at the Muhammadeyah Primary School, on Heritage Day (Saturday 24 September).
Yunus Karriem, chair of Weca, says the event, which is open to the public, will be a fun-filled day where they will rewind, reminisce and remember days gone by. He says the event will serve as a showcase for their Wynberg East Oral History project on the entire suburb of Wynberg.
“To appreciate those who strove to make a difference, we will have an exhibition of artifacts, documents and photos on display, while CFRF will have their collection of books on family names on display,” says Karriem.
Present and former Wynberg East residents were invited to contribute to the project launched at Muhammadeyah on Saturday 11 June.
Moegamat (Kammie) Kammedien, CFRF public relations officer, says the showcase event will be an opportunity for Capetonians to embrace their past.
“Formal history was never able to capture the voices of our parents or our forebears because previous generations lived through three processes and that is the Dutch slave period, the British segregation period until 1948, and then when the National Party came to power, it was a process of separate development.
“We come from a community that has always been marginalised, we never had state resources taking care of our history and our contributions,” he says.
Kammedien says the Heritage Day event is only the start of a long process of bringing social justice to the community’s contribution.
“When our elders and seniors in our communities are reminiscing (at the event), they are going to tell us what was life during the apartheid era and then also prior to 1948.
“This will also serve to encourage the wider Wynberg community and also those outside Wynberg who were former residents to see what is of significance that they may not view to be important. They will also be able to recognise they also have a story to tell.”
In addition to the new research on Wynberg and its institutions and people that will be available on the day, several high-profile speakers will also share their knowledge on various topics related to the suburb and its history.
These include Zubeida Jaffer, who will speak on the importance of recording the history of marginalised communities from their perspective, and Dr Helen Robinson, who will present a talk on her doctoral thesis “Beyond the City Limits – People and Property at Wynberg 1795 to 1927 and Wynberg – A Special Place”.
Igshaan Amlay, Yasmina and Rabia Pandy and Bonita Dordel of the Wynberg 7 will also be in attendance to present a discussion on the events that led to their arrest, incarceration and lives post-democracy.
Other speakers will include Keith Richardson, Thelma Thebus, Ahmad Abrahams, Ebrahim Ismail Daylaan Petersen, Yusuf Jassiem and Ebrahim Rhoda.
A short play, performed by some current and past Wynberg residents, will also form part of the planned activities.
A variety of stalls selling food, clothing and toys, as well as a tea garden, will add to the day which will start at 10:00 and end at 17:30.
“The event will be recorded and we encourage all to attend. It’s going to be a great showcase event,” says Karriem.
Anyone who would like to display their artifacts or their family tree or research can contact Karriem on 082 620 2120 or email wynbergcivic@gmail.com
