The Centre for Conservation celebrates Heritage Day with a focus on the 28 Heath Region schools.

This year the Centre for Conservation designed their Heritage celebrations around the twenty eight "Heath" schools. The Heath region covers schools in the Diep River, Plumstead, Southfield, Heathfield and Retreat area. The youngest school is the Cafda School of Skills in Retreat while the oldest school is St. Anne's Primary School in Plumstead.

The term "Heath Schools" was chosen as a tribute to the erica verticillata, commonly known as heath. That is where Heathfield got its name. The erica verticillata, a beautiful plant that belongs to the Fynbos family is now extinct in the wild. The Heathfield and Retreat schools are situated in areas that were once covered with vleis and wetlands where these ericas with their tubular flowers grew prolifically.

Lourier Primary School. Daniel Jansen, a veteran teacher at Lourier, read an extract from Adam Small's poem. Adam Small's father was a former principal at Lourier Primary School.

Sigi Howes, the Head of the Education museum, told a beautiful, poignant story of the eco-political heritage of the schools. The schools on this part of the Cape Flats are linked to the "shame" part of our history. When the Group Areas Act was enforced, schools sprung up on the Cape Flats areas to accommodate all the coloured children who were forced out of schools in areas that were declared "white".

One of the school communities that rebelled against the forced removals was the Wynberg community. Wittebome High School used to be John Graham Primary School. The  community refused to comply with the segregation laws.  In response, the Apartheid government moved John Graham Primary School to Plumstead in 1957, zoned for whites at the time.

The school that my own Dad attended, Diep River Central school, was also a victim of Apartheid.  This was the only primary school with Grade 8, but the school was forced to leave their building in Diep River that was also declared a White area. I remembered this account that my Dad shared with us and when Sigi mentioned this bit of history, I silently acknowledged my hero!

While our heritage has its dark side where both our biodiversity and human rights were violated, our heritage story is slowly following a different path. The Heath Schools, regardless of their age, are helping to shape our new story.

From Left: Sigi Howes, Granville Stander and Annette Fella. The backdrop is the Princess Vlei Forum Exhibition.

"Sigi Howes said, " Schools are major shapers of community and heritage."

Thomas Wildschutt Primary School with its African rainbow learner demographics, is a good example of inclusivity. This school has many Zimbabweans, Congolese, Malawians and Tanzanians learning side by side with their South African counterparts.


Then, in partnership with the City of Cape Town, the Princess Vlei Forum will be presented with fifteen erica verticillata plants. These plants will be re-introduced at the Princess Vlei wetlands area that has been aggressively protected against development.  Flamingoes have started returning to the area as well.

The Honouring Ceremony highlight. Cafda SOS gave the handover speech and  presented the certificate to the oldest school in the Heath group, St Anne's Primary School in Plumstead.

The Honouring Ceremony was a fitting finale. Each school received a certificate for the role they are playing in education. The youngest school, Cafda School of Skills, delivered the Handover speech to St. Anne's Primary School, the oldest school in the Heath group of schools.

These young musicians are learners at Plumstead Prep. The pink school dress is symbolic of the flamingo, waterbirds that used to roam on the Cape Flats.

Kudus to all the schools that were acknowledged at the Centre for Conservation's Heritage celebration. And, an Erica verticillata in full bloom to Sigi and her team for a brilliant heritage programme. Heritage is indeed everybody's business.

As we strive to build our nation, we too, need to recognize that the conservation of our environment is an integral part of our prosperity.