- The Gugulethu 7 Monument, honouring seven anti-apartheid activists killed in 1986, is undergoing renovations, including lighting, landscaping, and general repairs.
- Vincent Domingo, GDF secretary, though he continues to urge the City to install fencing to prevent vandalism and misuse of the site.
- Declared a provincial heritage site in 2021, the monument serves as a reminder of apartheid-era struggles.
A Gugulethu Development Forum leader is pleased with the renovation of the Gugulethu 7 Monument site, citing that he wishes that the City can fence it for security reasons.
GDF secretary Vincent Domingo described the monument as a heritage site. “The monument is historical as all seven people were killed by the apartheid regime during the riot in Gugulethu in March 1986. We’ve been calling for the City to repair and fence it for a long time. Since 2020, we have been calling for the monument to be renovated, but we are glad that at last the City listened to our plea,” said Domingo. He said the renovation is long overdue. Once the monument is fenced people will stop sitting and drinking on it. The fence will also prohibit vandalism.
Domingo stated that the monument was declared a provincial heritage site in 2021 by the Council of Heritage Western Cape.
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Domingo said he would love to see the history that led to the Gugulethu 7 Monument included in the curriculum so learners can learn more about it,” he said.
Ward 40 councillor Bongani Ngcombolo said the project is under the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.
He said it started Monday 4 November and is expected to be completed later this week.
“They renovate it, install lights, plant grass and trees. But it is not going to be fenced,”said Ngcombolo, adding that he is not aware how much the project costs.
