Khoisan leaders met with city councillors to discuss the proposal for a Khoisan village.
Chief John Jansen, a Khoisan leader from Retreat, said they are in the process of looking for a suitable venue in the South.
“We are one of the Khoisan groups in Cape Town. We are in close discussion with councillors and other leaders and we are in the process of looking for a venue.
He added that a Khoisan cultural village is very important.
“As you may know, we were destroyed as a people in South Africa.
“What happened to us was a tragedy, from Khoisan we were made into Coloured and with that came many deep scars emotionally and economically. We have to rebuild ourselves as human beings.”
Jansen added that a Khoisan village close to nature will help heal wounds from the past.
“It’s something that we have to do in order to heal. We are sitting with these social scars on the Cape Flats such as gangsterism, murder and abuse.
“As I recently said at a United Nations conference, all indigenous people are suffering from generational trauma. The village we have in mind is to start healing the trauma. It is something that will not happen in my time but at least I can start the process.
“A Khoisan village is very important to us. We would like a facility close to nature and we intend to identify a few places in our area to see which is available to us.”
Ward 72 councillor Kevin Southgate said it was a privilege to share in the meeting with Khoisan leaders to discuss the proposal of a Khoisan village in the South that will be steeped in historical significance.
