In the second installment of this photo essay, Zubeida Lowton investigates what the city of Cape Town has done to spatially transform the city following the fall of apartheid. Zubeida is a PhD candidate in the Department of Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow. Her doctoral research investigates the everyday experiences of people using public spaces in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The views in this article are those of the author and not attributable to SHLC.
Walking the city centre streets of Cape Town
Cape Town, a popular destination for European travellers, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652 as a trade route. Similar to Johannesburg, Cape Town suffered under the apartheid policy and saw a decline of its manufacturing sector, specifically clothing and textiles. Multiple attempts were made to revitalise the city centre, but it was the City Centre Improvement District that transformed the city and brought people and businesses back into the centre. A large part of the success has been marketing the city as a top tourist destination that is safe to visit by all.
Greenmarket Square, The Company’s Garden and St George’s Mall are public spaces in the middle of the city, which benefited from the revitalisation of surrounding areas. The re-development of these areas can be traced back to the early development of the city, which was very much influenced by the early Dutch and English settlers.
Make way for the arts
Actively used public space with police presence, Greenmarket Square, Cape Town. Credit: Zubeida Lowton, University of Glasgow
Before slavery was abolished, Greenmarket Square was used to trade slaves and during apartheid, it later became the location for many freedom protests. Walking around Greenmarket Square today it is now a popular arts and crafts market attracting street performers and visitors from all over the world. This is a complete transformation of the social use of the space that now is the space that provides a livelihood for people that were once oppressed. Not only is this a better use of the space but it also encourages cultural and social mixing of socio-economic groups that may otherwise not interact. The square is surrounded by eateries, businesses, a banking institution and is the starting point for City Sightseeing walking tours. While walking through the square, I noticed many police and security patrolling the area.
Tending to the garden
A 10-minute walk from Greenmarket Square is The Company’s Garden, which was established by the Dutch East India Company as a public park and a public vegetable garden and today the café still maintains and uses food from the vegetable garden. Walking around the park it is clear that the park is monitored and has strict controlled access which limits unauthorised use like informal trading. A statue of Cecil Rhodes, a controversial figure because of his role in implementing segregation policies, remains in the Garden. The park is a space used every day for people to relax take a step back from the busy city. This public space has been transformed in such a way so that reminders of segregation and the embrace of democracy can coexist. The park is more about the accessibility and use of green space rather than protesting controversial figures.
Shopping galore!
Clear signs of activities not permitted in the Square which conforms to the neat organisation of formal and informal trade, St George’s Mall, Cape Town. Credit: Zubeida Lowton, University of Glasgow
St George’s Mall is within walking distance from the other two public spaces and is another arts and crafts market where you will find lots of street vendors up and down a long pedestrianised street and companies offering free Cape Town walking tours. Squares for street vendors are clearly marked and is a clear indication that the space is very much still controlled to allow informal traders to fit within a neat and planned public space. Along this strip are hotels, businesses, shops and eateries. St George’s Mall is a popular destination for shoppers looking for jewellery and sees lots of visitors because it is close to St George’s Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in Cape Town.
Encouraging mixed-space use to overcome apartheid’s socio-spatial legacy
A country with such a divided history should aim to be more inclusive. Instead, Johannesburg and Cape Town city centres target middle and higher-income groups, excluding a large proportion of their population. While the aim to bring people into the city centre has been achieved to some extent, from my perspective, there are limited free attractions such as festivals or parades encouraging people to socialise in the city centre on public holidays and weekdays. Less focus should be on commercialising cities through improved imaging, and more on developing inclusive spaces that encourage genuine social mixing to overcome the segregated legacy of public spaces.