A heritage walk was held in the Constantia suburb on Wednesday to honor families who were forcibly removed from the area during the 1960s and 1970s. The event was organized by the Jaftha family, who have been growing flowers in the Constantia Valley since the 1800s and currently run Jaftha’s Flower Farm.

The Jaftha family was among those displaced during apartheid, but they were able to lease land from the municipality in 1985 with the help of a white business owner. They have operated their flower farm on the site ever since. The walk, led by Charles Jaftha, began at the farm and passed by notable landmarks such as Peddlars restaurant, which was previously a farm stall where Charles’ father worked, and Keysers River. It ended along Strawberry Lane, from which many families were forcibly removed.

Participants in the walk included Claire-Anne Lester, whose father’s family was among those forced to leave Strawberry Lane when he was just five years old. Lester emphasized the importance of remembering and sharing these stories to prevent them from being lost to history. She also noted that a new generation is taking an interest in the past and is concerned about the ongoing impacts of apartheid, including the housing crisis and persistent inequality.

According to Charles Jaftha, the community that once lived in the area was close-knit, with many families working as flower growers and living in close proximity to one another. The Jaftha family plans to establish a heritage museum on their farm to preserve the history of the area and the families who were displaced. The museum will be funded through fundraising efforts, which are currently underway.

The heritage walk and planned museum serve as a reminder of the significant impact of apartheid on communities in South Africa and the importance of preserving their histories. By honoring the families who were forcibly removed from the area, the Jaftha family and other participants in the walk aim to promote greater understanding and awareness of this period in South African history.