Khoi and San culture will be recognised at development

FOLLOWING extensive consultative talks, a coalition of Cape Town’s First Nations leaders have signed a social compact with the Liesbeek Leisure Properties Trust (LLPT) at the controversial River Club development site.

On Wednesday, representatives of the Western Cape First Nations Collective Trust (FNCT) signed the unique social compact at a ceremony held at the site.

Mayor Dan Plato with one of the last fluent speakers of the N|uu language, Queen Katrina Esau of the San, were in attendance.

The social compact is a model of co-operation between the Khoi and San collective and the private property owner, which will see heritage features constructed or conserved as part of the redevelopment. This will include a dedicated cultural heritage and media centre, operated and managed by the First Nations.

The centre will also serve as an income generating stream to further promote projects and interests of the First Nations people in the province.

“The inclusion of First Nations history and culture here, in the River Club redevelopment, solidifies First Nations people’s presence in the history of our country,” said Plato.

FNCT representative Chief !Garu Zenzile Khoisan said, “We as the First Nations have fought a battle for almost three decades.

“We have gone everywhere, even to presidents of this country. But what we did here at the River Club was an act of radical reconciliation.”