Gugulethu Memorial Monument: A step towards preserving community heritage

The Gugulethu Memorial Monument is nearing completion after three years of work by the Gugulethu Memorial Monument Steering Committee.

The committee confirmed that a public participation process held in December received strong support from local residents.

Committee chairman, Dr Mzwandile Plaatjie, said the monument would uplift the community and inspire hope for a brighter future and expressed gratitude for the support received from the City of Cape Town's mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis.

“We are incredibly grateful that the monument will finally be constructed, contributing to the beautification, promotion, and preservation of Gugulethu's history and heritage. This will help residents connect with their past and improve educational outcomes,” he said.

The committee submitted an application to the City of Cape Town for the monument's construction at the beginning of 2024.

“The results were tabled in a City of Cape Town council meeting in March 2025, and permission was granted to proceed with construction. We will begin construction in August this year and hope to unveil the monument in September, inviting all stakeholders to join us,” he said.

Dr Plaatjie acknowledged the challenges faced by similar projects, such as safety and vandalism issues experienced with the Gugulethu Seven Monument.

He assured the community that the team has developed a plan to address these concerns.

“We will continue with public education initiatives to highlight the importance of these structures in our community and how they can benefit families through tourism. We encourage the community to take ownership by caring for the monument and reporting any signs of vandalism to the appropriate authorities. We have established partnerships with the South African Police Services, Community Policing Forums, and neighbourhood watches to protect our assets, he said, and urged the community to unite and take full responsibility for building and crafting their own future.

Mayor Hill-Lewis said: “The City is proud to support this initiative to memorialise key moments in Gugulethu’s proud history when residents bravely stood up for justice against the apartheid regime. The steering committee has done a tremendous job on this project, and I look forward to seeing the memorial come to life as an important community monument and tourist attraction.”