Celebrating heritage within our communities

International Museum Day, celebrated annually on 18 May, invites us to reflect on how cultural institutions preserve and share our collective heritage. Established by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 1977, this day highlights the role museums play as “important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.”

While traditional museums house artefacts in dedicated buildings, the concept of preserving history extends beyond these walls. At Communicare, our housing communities themselves serve as living museums — spaces where South Africa’s social history is written daily through the lived experiences of our tenants.

This International Museum Day, we invite you to explore how community housing projects like ours contribute to South Africa’s social fabric and how preserving these histories strengthens our collective identity.

Why preserving community housing histories matters

Housing is more than bricks and mortar — it’s the foundation of community life and a physical record of our social evolution. The history of South African housing specifically tells a powerful story about our journey toward a more equitable society.

Preserving these community histories serves multiple important purposes:

• Historical context: Housing developments reflect broader societal changes, from apartheid-era segregation to post-apartheid integration efforts
• Community identity: Shared histories foster a sense of belonging and pride among residents
• Institutional knowledge: Understanding past housing approaches informs better future developments
• Public education: Community histories provide authentic insights into everyday South African life

Community-based heritage preservation offers perspectives often missing from official historical records, particularly regarding the lived experiences of ordinary citizens.

For housing specifically, these histories take on additional significance. The evolution of affordable housing in South Africa can be considered to represent a tangible timeline of the country’s social transformation.

Communicare’s housing projects over time

Communicare’s housing portfolio spans decades, with each development telling a unique story about its time, the needs it addressed, and the communities it helped form.

Brooklyn, 1929: Our founding project

Our journey began with modest worker housing in Brooklyn, designed to provide stability for families during uncertain economic times. These initial units, though simple by today’s standards, represented a significant step forward in addressing Cape Town’s growing housing needs.

The distinctive row houses with their pitched roofs and uniform facades reflect the practical approach to worker housing in the early 20th century. What makes these structures remarkable is not architectural grandeur but their enduring role in providing generations of families with stable homes.

Ruyterwacht, 1950s: A transitional era

The post-war period brought new approaches to community housing. Our Ruyterwacht development, with its characteristic mid-century design elements, represents this transitional era. The slightly larger units, small garden spaces, and community facilities reflect evolving understanding of what creates thriving communities.

These homes have witnessed South Africa’s transformation firsthand, with many original structures still serving residents today, albeit with modern updates to ensure comfort and efficiency.

Bothasig Gardens, 1990s: Post-apartheid vision

The dawn of democracy brought new imperatives for inclusive housing. Bothasig Gardens exemplifies this period, with its more integrated design approach and emphasis on creating mixed-income communities. The development’s architecture embraces diversity through varied unit sizes and configurations while maintaining cohesion through shared community spaces.

This project marked an important milestone in Communicare’s evolution, demonstrating our commitment to supporting South Africa’s transition to a more equitable society.

Drommedaris, 2015: Modern community design

Our more recent developments, like Drommedaris in Brooklyn, showcase contemporary approaches to affordable housing. These buildings integrate environmental sustainability features, technology infrastructure, and versatile community spaces designed to foster connection among residents.

The architectural language speaks to dignity and modern living while maintaining affordability, proving that quality housing can and should be accessible to working South Africans.

Stories behind the buildings: Voices from our communities

Physical structures tell only part of the story. The true history of our communities lives in the experiences of those who have called them home. These personal narratives provide texture and emotional depth to our understanding of community and social cohesion.

Luthando’s journey of purpose

Back in 2010, a 10-year-old Luthando Mayekiso moved to Communicare’s Zorgvliet complex in Brooklyn with his mom and sister. He never imagined how close he’d be to fulfilling his purpose, a decade later. 

In the middle of 2020, Luthando found himself at a crossroads and met a member of the Vulamathuba team, who helped him enrol on the jobseekers’ programme for unemployed tenants. Participating in the work readiness programme “was a nice journey of self-discovery that involved mind, body, and spirit. It changed my mindset and helped me find myself.”

Communicare tenant scores Vulamathuba Empumelelo bursary

“This bursary opportunity was introduced to me via email from Communicare with the Communicare Connection newsletter, and of course, I was sceptical of my ability to get the bursary,” Melissa Jo-Ann Choffinal recalls. Self-doubt plagued her; “Me, receive a bursary at my age? Impossible!”

Carmel Peters passes Matric with distinction!

In 2023, Bothasig Gardens tenant, Carmel Peters, accomplished a significant milestone by completing matric through the Vulamathuba Empumelelo Matric Programme. However, her story doesn’t end there. Buoyed by her success and fuelled by her ambitions, she set her sights on higher education.

Skills Development funding helps Tanita upskill herself

Communicare tenant, Tanita Koen, has grasped the opportunity to upskill herself through Vulamathuba Empumelelo Bursary Fund (VEBF). “At my complex, it advertised that Vulamathuba is offering a bursary, and at that time, one of our administrators/bookkeepers at work had just resigned. I was given the opportunity to apply for the position if I was willing to do a course in Bookkeeping.”

Mandela Day celebration at Montclair Place

Colonel Rameshwarnath from Lentegeur SAPS motivated the tenants about the importance of exercising their rights and fostering a friendly neighbourhood environment. “It’s crucial that we all play our part in creating a safe and supportive community. Mandela Day is a reminder of the positive impact we can have when we come together with shared values.”

Read more stories from tenants we’ve helped along the way!

Community museums: Preserving memories together

Inspired by the “community museum” concept embraced by the International Council of Museums, Communicare plans to initiate several projects to systematically preserve our shared heritage:

• Digital archive: A growing collection of photographs, oral histories, and documents accessible to residents and researchers
• Community history boards: Installed in common areas of our developments, featuring historical images and milestone timelines
• Intergenerational storytelling programme: Connecting elder residents with younger community members to share experiences
• Annual heritage exhibitions: Temporary displays highlighting different aspects of community history

These initiatives reflect our belief that preservation is a collaborative process requiring active community participation. When communities take ownership of their heritage preservation, the resulting narratives are richer and more authentic.

How communities preserve their own histories

You don’t need a formal museum to preserve important community memories. Here are approaches that might inspire your own preservation efforts:

• Community photography projects: Documenting everyday life and special events
• Oral history recordings: Capturing stories from long-term residents
• Memory collection days: Gathering to share photographs and memorabilia
• Collaborative timelines: Creating visual histories of significant community moments
• Celebration of milestones: Marking anniversaries of communities with commemorative events

These grassroots preservation approaches ensure that community histories reflect the perspectives of those who lived them rather than only official narratives.

The future of community heritage preservation

Looking ahead, Communicare is exploring innovative approaches to heritage preservation that embrace technology while maintaining the human connection at the heart of community stories:

• Virtual reality tours of historical properties for educational purposes
• Interactive digital maps showing community evolution over time
• Collaborative online archives where residents can contribute their own materials
• Partnerships with formal museums to showcase community housing history

These initiatives aim to make community heritage more accessible while engaging younger generations in the preservation process.

Discover our history – see how we’re building a brighter future together

This International Museum Day, we invite you to reflect on the rich histories embedded in your own community. Whether you’re a long-term Communicare tenant with stories to share or simply interested in the evolution of South African housing communities, your perspective contributes to our collective heritage.

Visit our Vulamathuba Empumelelo Community Learning Centre in Brooklyn, Cape Town or explore our social media pages, or contact us about contributing your own memories to our growing collection.

By understanding where we’ve come from, we gain valuable insights into where we’re going — building not just housing, but communities with an enduring legacy and meaning.

Explore our community heritage →