Grassy Park, a suburb of Cape Town located on the Cape Flats, has a rich and complex history that reflects the resilience and community spirit of its residents. Situated east of the M5 and Princess Vlei, it is close to the suburbs of Ottery and Lotus River.
Vegetation on the Cape Flats.
Early Development and Historical Context
Grassy Park began to develop in the early 1900s on part of the Montagu's Gift estate north of Zeekoevlei. At that time, the area was rural, under the administration of the Divisional Council of the Cape. In the 1960s, the suburb emerged as Grassy Park, a coloured township originally known as Koek se bos (Cook's bush). Grassy Park was proclaimed a local area in 1935, which meant that the residents received municipal services, for which they paid higher rates.
Community spirit and preserving the heritage of Grassy Park is the main objective of the non-profit organisation, Community ThinkTank SA. According to Robin Oakes, founder of the organisation, “As an organisation we have development in our streets, communities and neighbourhoods as our core focus.”
The organisation says Grassy Park still has a sense of community. “The Grassy Park community, is a Cape Flats pioneering community, with integral links to the developing Cape Town of the 1800`s, and has a rich legacy of community building, community pride and the ensuing community spirit which have developed through the years. Our history and heritage speak for itself and since 2015 we have developed the Grassy Park Community Heritage Preservation Council to further uncover, share and house our local heritage,” he says.
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According to Oakes, family stories of organic farming, home crafting, clothes making, furniture making, Cape traditional home foods and preserves, culinary excellence and a rich culture of home grown medicinal herbs and remedies are remembered by young and old. “It is against this backdrop that Grassy Park had built a strong community spirit largely pre-dating the onset and onslaught of family and community destabilising apartheid. In Grassy Park, entrenched families remember how they used to share excess produce and goods with local neighbours, heal families with herbs, fellowship together, grow food in their yards and many other community activities. A culture of sharing, the feeling that ‘your child is my child’ and true community spirit, is what we are trying to revive in Grassy Park,” he says.
The organisation is hosting different outreach programmes and workshops. One of the workshops is the Craft Route where locals are encouraged to adapt some of their craft to reflect the heritage in Grassy Park.
District Six Museum, Cape Town, South Africa.
Apartheid and its Impact
The Nationalist victory brought changes to the area. The Government began a process of ruthlessly forcing coloured and black people from their homes in Cape Town, forcibly resettling them in bleak council tenements on the Cape Flats. White families who lived around Princess Vlei were also removed to make way for the housing estates of Grassy Park, Lavender Hill, Lotus River, Steenberg and Retreat.
The government of the day designated most attractive natural areas as Whites Only. But Princess Vlei posed a curious dilemma for apartheid planners. Its beauty and natural assets proclaimed that, under apartheid logic, it should be retained exclusively for white use. But, as one of the few recreational spaces with borders abutting both “white” and “coloured’ group areas, it was seen as lying too close to the “coloured” Cape Flats to be used safely by whites, and so became one of the very few natural recreational spaces open to people of colour.
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For the families traumatised by forced removal, Princess Vlei provided a welcome respite from the desolate wasteland in which they found themselves. It was a place where they could escape the growing gangsterism and crime, reunite as families, and experience some of the tranquility of nature. During these years, Princess Vlei grew to acquire a significance in the hearts of community members quite disproportionate to its physical size. Deprived of access to most of Cape Town’s recreational beaches and scenic areas, coloured people from miles around adopted Princess Vlei as their own.
Princess Vlei: A Symbol of Hope and Harmony
The story of Princessvlei is a quintessentially South African story, encompassing violence and dispossession as well as hope, healing and harmony. Before the arrival of European settlers, it was a watering ground for early Khoe herders. In the early 20th Century, the Princess seemed to enter into a period of relative harmony, with residents of all races dwelling on or near its banks.
One of the most colourful of these was Edith Mary Woods, who bought 30 acres of land, which comprised the entire vlei and about 10 acres of water. According to Kelvin Cochrane, Woods, who later became the first female journalist at the Cape Argus and the first woman to fly an aeroplane over Kenilworth Race Course, fought for the emancipation of woman and refused to pay taxes.
The threat posed by the mall reminded the residents of the value that the vlei brought to their lives, and galvanised the community to reclaim it and create a new vision for the future of Princess Vlei. The community victory to prevent the mall development marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Vlei' history.
Princess Vlei in Cape Town.
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Grassy Park Hotel: A Hub of Community Life
GRINGOS Cape Town Grassy Park
Victoria Road has long been the heart of Grassy Park, a vibrant stretch where residents could find everything they needed without leaving the neighbourhood. The Grassy Park Hotel was established in 1962 by Ebrahim Osman, a Mr. Frans, and a Mr. Rich, with the vision of offering accommodation, entertainment, and retail services to both Grassy Park and the wider Cape Flats. The hotel’s role as a hub for social, cultural, and charitable activity comes vividly to life.
Over the years, the hotel became more than a business. It actively supported community projects and provided a safe, welcoming place for residents to meet, make memories, and enjoy themselves. The hotel also played a notable role in the local landscape during apartheid.
Memorable events over the years included seniors’ lunches and entertainment, weddings, darts tournaments and clubs, and Klawerjas competitions. The hotel’s night club, Heatwave, welcomed local patrons and visiting entertainers.
Religious Institutions: The History of Grassy Park Parish
The history of Grassy Park Parish goes back to August 1925 when the Redemptorist priest, Fr John Charlton realized a need and asked the Holy Family Sisters in Sea Point for nurses to care for the poor and sick of the area. Three months later their weekly visits started and operated from a shed in Victoria Road opposite where the mosque now stands. A year later they bought a property, including a cottage, between 7th and 8th Avenues in Victoria Road for 375 pounds. They continued their weekly visits and Holy Mass was celebrated once a month in a room of the cottage.
In 1928 a clinic was built on the site and also was used as a chapel. In 1929 there were two residential priests Fr J.Hughes CSsR, serving Retreat and Tokai, and Fr Ord CSsR serving Grassy Park. In 1932 a Sunday school was opened in Retreat under the guidance of the Sisters of the Holy Cross from Heathfield. Holy Mass was celebrated twice weekly in the Victoria Road chapel on Sunday and Tuesday mornings.
In June 1949 the long-awaited moment arrived when Grassy Park Parish was created with Fr John Dempsey appointed as Quasi-Parochus. Funds were raised to build a church, school, and house for priests who could not as yet live in the area. Midnight Mass was celebrated at Christmas for the first time in 1949. In February 1951, Bishop Owen McCann visited Grassy Park Parish to confirm 39 adults and children in an open-air ceremony held behind the chapel.
Later that year Ferreira’s Farm of five and a half acres in Lake Road was bought for 2000 pounds with the Redemptorists’ funds. The property included a four-roomed house and at long last Fr Dempsey was able to take up residence in the parish. In 1953 Fr Dempsey appealed to the St Vincent de Paul Society of Corpus Christi to assist the poor. Eight men volunteered until their retirement, with others following in their footsteps until this day. The first local member to be recruited to the Society was Mr. Andrew Williams. They had also moved to Grassy Park into the new housing project (SERVITAS).
In September 1953 Fr Dempsey left Grassy Park Parish and was replaced by Fr Dominic Campbell CSsR as parish priest. In November 1956 Fr. Justin Feeny CSsR succeeded Fr. Campbell. In July the following year, four plots in First Road were bought for a reasonable price of 350 pounds. This site was more suitable for the building of a church than the one acquired near the Klip.
In September 1959 an architect, Ugo Bergamosco, was appointed to design Our Lady Queen of Peace Church. Two months later, the plans were approved by Archbishop Owen McCann. On 23 October 1961, a contract was signed with Eric Dundee for the construction of the new church. In a ceremony on 10 March 1962, Archbishop Owen McCann laid the foundation stone.
The murals on the outside walls of the church which are such a distinctive feature of the church building were done by Mr. Wren Sargent. They depict the Nativity, The Flight into Egypt, The Baptism of Jesus in Jordan, the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, and the miraculous catch of the fish. The fine marble altar was donated by Monsieur and Madame Van der Stichelen, the Belgian Ambassador, and his wife in South Africa at the time. The paintings of the Stations of the Cross in the church were also donated by Wren Sargent and were put up in March 1963. The statue of the Sacred Heart in the church arrived from Germany in the same year.
In 1963 the parish priest moved into the new presbytery at First Road Grassy Park after having to live for six and a half years in the shack at Lake Road. On Sunday 15 April 1964, the first vernacular Holy Mass was celebrated and was well received by the parishioners. In July of that year, Fr George Christians CSsR arrived from Garsfontein and was appointed parish priest. By January 1965, three Holy Masses were celebrated at Our Lady Queen of Peace church. Fr Anderson CSsR became the assistant priest in the same year. Grassy Park now had two priests.
On 31st May 1971, the St. Gerard Majella Church in Parkwood was blessed and opened for worship by his eminence Owen Cardinal McCann and on 03rd March 1973, St. Clement Hofbauer Church in Lotus River was blessed and opened by Monsignor John Galvin V.G. Grassy Park now has three churches.
On 18th October 1985, Owen Cardinal McCann dedicated the church and its altar to the honour and glory of God under the title of Our Lady Queen of Peace. Relics of St. John the Apostle, St. Alphonsus Ligouri, St. Andrew, and St. James were placed in the altar.
Many other Redemptorist priests worked in Grassy Park Parish, including Fr Kevin Dowling, Fr Peter Wilson, and Fr John Smith. Fr Kevin Dowling was responsible for hosting many successful plays and raised much-needed money at the time and later became the Bishop of Rustenburg Diocese.
On the 28th of June 1996, the parish celebrated one of its own sons from St Clement’s church, Fr. Brandon West who was ordained as a diocesan priest.
During Fr Whyte’s tenure, St. Gerard’s Church was consecrated on the 16th of October 2001 by Archbishop Lawrence Henry. St Clement’s church was also consecrated by Archbishop Lawrence Henry on the 8th of February 2004. The parish was further blessed by the consecration of Sister Daphne Firth from St Gerard’s church who made her final profession in the presence of Archbishop Lawrence Henry on the 17th of January 2004 as a Little Sister of Anawim dedicated to the service of our parish.
To God’s glory, a second priestly vocation arose from the parish. Fr. Cecil Dowling CSsR was ordained on the 29th of September 2007 in service of the Redemptorist Congregation.
Kannemeyer Family and Education
The Kannemeyer family developed the first school on the Cape Flats, namely EC Primary in 1904.
Harmony Society
The Harmony Society, a civic organisation, was founded by a janitor, farmer, insurance agent and a teacher during the 1920’s and they built the first hall, The Harmony Hall, on the Cape Flats. “This society further developed the first burial society on the Cape Flats, the Leliebloom Society, which is still in operation today. Lotus River Primary School is the first ‘board school’ and the Harmony Society helped to establish the school,” Oakes says.
Independent Order of True Templars
Other heritage include the work of the Independent Order of True Templars founded in 1922 to guide the communities against alcohol and drugs. This organisation is still alive in Grassy Park today.
Local Amenities and Landmarks
Grassy Park's main commercial area is an intersection called "Busy Corner" at the intersection of 5th Avenue and Victoria Road. There is a hub of small retail outlets, the local Library, Police Station and a transport interchange which connects Grassy Park to Mitchell's Plain, Retreat and Wynberg. Another commercial area is at the corner of Prince George Drive and 5th Avenue where supermarkets, fast food restaurants and a petrol station can be found.
Also in Grassy Park is the bird sanctuary, Rondevlei Nature Reserve. Over 230 bird species as well as a series of mammals and reptiles make this 2km² their home. Six bird hides lead off a pathway that takes one along the water's edge.
The Rondevlei Nature Reserve is home to a very shy hippopotamus, a few eland and other mostly nocturnal animals including many caracal and porcupine.
Sports and Recreation
The Rooikrans Sports Ground in Grassy Park has playing fields for a variety of sports such as baseball, cricket, rugby and soccer. There are several sports teams based here.
Basil Sedres' Recollections of Grassy Park
Basil Sedres, whose family owned several plots in Grassy Park, recalls a very different lifestyle to mine. Basil, along with his parents and siblings, moved to Grassy Park and stayed in one of several of his late grandfather’s properties. These plots were remunerations for his grandfather, after he was commissioned to build a church nearby. Basil describes the area where he grew up as largely rural, nearly all of the houses then relied on both paraffin-lit-lanterns and candles, as their light source.
To spur the cost of food, his family had their own poultry, which Basil attended. The family also grew their own vegetation. Basil jokes about the compost they used, citing that it was their own feces, but eventually he explains that they would only bury their feces if the disposal vans did not pick it up that week.
Growing up part of a large family (Basil is one of 16 children), money was scarce. He recalls how his dad had forged his birth certificate when he was 12. Legally, Basil was too young to work, but with his dad’s permission, and the help of his forged birth certificate, he worked three jobs to help meet his family’s needs.
Basil says he and his brothers were aware of their choice to bunk school; ultimately dropping out of school permanently to keep their family household running. According to him, the schools they attended, both the facilities and the taught curriculum, wasn’t up to standard.
When asked to compare the Grassy Park community as he perceived it to be as a child, to what he perceives now, Basil points out the disobedience that dominates today’s youth. According to him, back in his day, children had more respect; mostly because a child’s parents weren’t the only guardian figures handing out physical discipline.
Basil also recollects a time when South Africa was steadily approaching what became the apartheid regime. “I still remember, quite well, the government helicopters and airplanes would fly down very low over our properties. According to him, it was dictated by government that colored citizens weren’t allowed to roam the streets after a certain time. If caught, the offender was arrested and could be bailed out of jail at 2 Rand.
Fast forward to present day, Basil has retired from his position in Physiology at the University of Cape Town, a faculty he had contributed towards for 35 years. Basil modestly asserts he stumbled upon his job at UCT, through his knowledge of birds. He briefly discusses a time when he had nursed a pigeons wing, and restored the bird’s ability to fly. The SPCA were so impressed with Basil’s remarkable work, that they awarded him a diploma in Physiology.
“People say, if you listen to your parents, you will live a long life. That might be true, but life is not just going to reward you.
Grassy Park Today
A lot has changed in Grassy Park over the last few decades. The Taxi Association in Grassy Park is a collective that has long since made it possible to transport people across the wide outskirts of the Southern Suburbs, with relative safety. Occasionally, there is an influx of foreign commuters.
Despite the challenges, Grassy Park continues to be a vibrant community with a rich history and a strong sense of identity. From its early beginnings as a rural area to its development as a diverse suburb, Grassy Park has overcome many obstacles and continues to thrive.
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