Statement by the City’s Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille
Title deed handover to Aziz family underlines City’s commitment to
redress
Note to editors: the following is an extract from a speech delivered by Mayor
De Lille today at the handover of the title deed for erf 604 in Simon’s Town to
the Aziz family.
It is a great honour for me to be with the Aziz family today.
This is an occasion that is very close to my heart.
The City of Cape Town is committed to redress and reconciliation and doing
all we can to correct the wrongs of the past.
Among the many injustices of apartheid, the Group Areas Act has left a
lasting legacy of pain and turmoil for many families.
With the dawn of our democracy, we resolved to take on the massive task of
not only restoring people’s dignity and rights, but also what was wrongfully
taken from them.
While land claims are done through the national and regional land claims
commissioner, the City is making its contribution to redress and reversing the
legacy of apartheid by facilitating land restitution in any way we can
We cannot fully address everything that has happened but we can make
some amends.
I am always honoured to witness the joy and relief when we are able to
facilitate restitution and finalise a land claim.
As such, the City has facilitated the transfer of various parcels of land to
families in areas such as Somerset West, Crawford, Claremont and Richmond
Park.
Today marks a very special day for the Aziz family, whose land here in Simon’s
Town was taken from their father in the late 1960s, at a time when his father
had already started building a foundation for a new family home.
Last year, the Council of the City of Cape Town approved the transfer of
prime land on the slopes of the mountain, overlooking the sea and harbour
and valued at R1,1 million, to the Aziz family at no cost.
It is therefore an honour for me to hand over the title deed for this land to the
family today.
Indeed, days like these prove that our drive for redress and reconciliation is
achieving results.
Through the years, the Aziz family persevered in claiming back their rights,
and today it gives me great pleasure to finally restore this land to them.
Mr Abduragman Aziz’s birthday is in less than a month’s time. As the City of
Cape Town, we hope that this momentous day will add to the celebrations.
This is surely a proud moment for him, knowing that he fought for his father’s
rightful claim, and that his perseverance has paid off after all these years.
Today, this family closes the chapter on a very long and painful story. While
they, and we, should never forget the injustices of the past, we can commit
to working together to build the future we want.
In this future, all the residents of Cape Town work together to build a caring
and inclusive city – a city in which everyone has a stake.
In conclusion, we will continue to do all we can to facilitate restitution and
fulfil our commitment to redress through reconciliation.
To the Aziz family, I know your father would be very proud of you and your
unflagging resolve to claim back your family’s land. I wish you the very best.
Thank you, baie dankie, enkosi.