Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: District Six originated in the eighteen fifties on neighbouring wine farms close to Cape
Town's city centre. The first inhabitants were Europeans, but were later joined by free slaves.
By 1849 the total number of inhabitants was 2943 and as a municipal area became known as
the sixth district of Cape Town.
Over the years District Six developed an own unique cosmopolitan character and despite a
stigma as a backward residential area District Six developed as a multiracial community with
its own vibrant spirit. By 1966 there were 3700 properties of which 56% were owned by
Whites, 26% by Coloureds and 18% by Indians. In the same year the area had 21 schools and
17 places of worship.
One of the main causes of physical deterioration was overpopulation. The occupancy figure
by the 1850's was approximately 2,5 persons per habitable room. Overcrowding led to
subletting of even the smallest rooms and resulted in gross exploitation of tenants, horrific
crime and moral decay, all of which contributed to the slum status of the area. In 1962 the
City of Cape Town devised a pilot plan for the rehabilitation of the area, but this plan was
never implemented. Years of neglect of municipal services worsened the degredation of
many historic buildings as well as decent living conditions for its residents.
In 1962 the Group Areas Board recommended that District Six be declared a Coloured Group
Area. The N.P. government rejected this recommendation and on 11 February 1966 through
Proclamation 43, declared 94 hectares of the traditional District Six as an area for White
occupation.
Between 1965 and 1975 the government froze all property transactions in District Six to
enable them to plan the redevelopment of the area. The state made financial offers to property
owners, but only 10% accepted these. The majority declined these and blamed this on inflexible property valuations of the state. By 1980 the state had spent R25 million on the
acquisition of properties in District Six.
Government demolition of structures took place between 1968 and 1982 and resulted in the
flattenning of most buildings except for a few churches. Expropriated Coloured and Indian
residents were removed to the newly created residential areas on the Cape Flats. Although
some previous residents of District Six were happy with their accommodation most objected
to the high bond repayments on their new homes, higher transport cost to work and the
breakdown of existing communities.
The biggest opposition to the declaration of District Six as an area for White occupation came
from local groups, namely: The Friends of District Six and the District Six Residents', Rent
and Ratepayers Association (RRR). Opposition political parties and the press used the
physical and mental suffering of the residents to challenge the government.
The redevelopment of District Six was characterised by continous changes to proposed plans.
In 1964 the government appointed the Niemand Committee to investigate the replanning and
redevelopment of District Six. In 1970 a master plan for redevelopment was recommended .
In 1974 the first properties were sold to white people by the government.
In 1975 the neighbouring Walmer Estate was declared a Coloured Group Area and three years
later District Six was renamed as Zonnebloem. In 1979 parts of the neighbouring Woodstock
and Salt River were declared Coloured Group Areas. In 1982 the Presidents Council
recommended that part of District Six be returned to the Coloured community, but the
government rejected this and in October 1982 year the first whites settled in District Six. The
following year a part of District Six was declared Coloured area. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Distrik Ses het in die vyftigerjare van die negentiende eeu op aanliggende wynplase van
Kaapstad ontstaan. Aanvanklik het Blankes van verskillende nasionaliteite daar gevestig en
later het vrygestelde slawe die inwonertal laat toeneem. Teen 1849 was die inwonertal
ongeveer 2943 en in 1867 het die gebied bekend geword as die sesde distrik van Kaapstad .
Distrik Ses het n eiesoortige en unieke kosmopolitiese karakter ontwikkel. Ten spyte van n
stigma van agterlikheid het die gebied n borrelende en veelrassige gemeenskap gehad. In
1966 was daar ongeveer 3700 eiendomme in Distrik Ses waarvan 56% aan Blankes, 26% aan
Kleurlinge en 18% aan Indiers behoort het. Teen 1966 was daar 21 skole en sewentien plekke
van godsdienstige aanbidding in die gebied.
Oorbevolking was een van die grootste oorsake van verval in die gebied. In die vyftigerjare
was die besettingsyfer van geboue ongeveer 2,5 persone per bewoonbare vertrek. Die gevolg
was onderverhuring, gruwelike uitbuiting van huurders, misdaad en sedelike verval wat aan
die gebied n slumstatus besorg het. Jarelange verwaarlosing van munisipale dienste het tot
vervaI van gebouestrukture en Iewenstoestande gelei. Die stadsraad se loodsplan vir
opruiming in 1962 is nooit geimplementeer nie.
Die Groepsgebiederaad het in 1962 aanbeveel dat die gebied as n Kleurling-groepsgebied
verklaar moes word. Ten spyte van die aanbeveling is 94 hektaar van die tradisionele Distrik
Ses op 11 Februarie 1966 volgens Proklamasie 43 van 1966 as n Blanke Groepsgebied
verklaar.
Die regering het vanaf 1965 tot 1975 aile eiendomstransaksies in Distrik Ses gevries om
sodoende die herontwikkeling van die gebied te beplan. Ongeveer 10% van die eienaars het
die staat se aanbod vir hul eiendom aanvaar. Die meeste het egter beswaar gemaak teen die
staat se onbuigsame skattings. Teen 1980 het die staat R25 miljoen bestee aan die verkryging Slopingswerk in Distrik Ses het tussen 1968 en 1982 plaasgevind. Byna aIle geboue is
gesloop en slegs enkele kerke is behou. Inwoners is na verskeie woonbuurte op die Kaapse
Vlakte verskuif Alhoewel sommige vorige inwoners van Distrik Ses tevrede was met hulle
nuwe woonplekke was die meeste ontevrede oor die hoe verbandkoste van nuwe wonings,
hoer reiskoste en die verbrokkeling van gemeenskappe.
Die grootste opposisie teen die Blankverklaring van Distrik Ses was The Friends of District
Six en die District Six Residents', Rent and Ratepayers' Association (RRR). Opposisiepolitieke
partye en die pers het die regering se rassebeleid aangeval deur te konsentreer op die
ontberinge van die inwoners.
Die herontwikkeling van Distrik Ses is gekenmerk deur voortdurende verandering. In 1964 is
die Niemand-komitee aangestel om die herbeplanning en herontwikkeling van Distrik Ses te
ondersoek. In 1970 is n meesterplan vir die ontwikkeling van Distrik Ses aanbeveel. In Julie
1974 het die regering die eerste eiendom in Distrik Ses aan Blankes verkoop.
In 1975 is die aangrensende Walmer Estate tot Kleurlinggroepsgebied verklaar. Distrik Ses is
in 1978 herdoop en R9 rniljoen is bewillig vir die rehabilitasieskema. In 1979 is dele van die
aangrensende Woodstock en Soutrivier tot Kleurlinggroepsgebiede verklaar. In 1980 is ri
gewysigde plan vir die ontwikkeling van Distrik Ses voorgele. In 1981 het die regering die
Presidentsraad se aanbeveling dat n gedeelte van Distrik Ses aan die Kleurlinggemeenskap
teruggegee moes word, verwerp. In Oktober 1982 het die eerste blankes in Distrik Ses
gevestig. In 1983 is n gedeelte van Distrik Ses as Kleurlinggebied verklaar.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/49724 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Laubscher, C. J. (Constant Johannes) |
| Contributors | Grundlingh, A., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of History. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | af_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 278 p. : ill., plans |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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