Another World Cup for CT

While controversy continues over the multi-billion rand upgrade of Cape Town's Greenpoint Stadium prior to 2010, another soccer world cup is coming to the city that will be held at the city's most historic square, the Grand Parade, which is about to go through a major revitalisation process.

The Homeless World Cup, a world-class street soccer event will blaze the trail for the 2010 World Cup, unites socially marginalised people from around the world. Forty eight teams will battle it out on the Grand Parade.

The Grand Parade, an area long afflicted by crime and grime, has been identified as a prime public open space that is ripe for revitalisation. The Cape Town Partnership recently held a workshop with key stakeholders to hear opinions on 'the current state and future possibilities' for the Grand Parade.

Stephen Boshoff, the executive director of strategy and policy from the City of Cape Town, outlined the City's approach and stressed its commitment to the revitalisation plan adding that it was part of the city's effort to provide 'functioning open spaces, especially in the context of the redevelopment of District Six'.

Stakeholders also stipulated that there should be respect for all the heritage aspects of the Grand Parade from the pre-colonial to the present and that there should be an integration of the Castle, Drill Hall, City Hall and Buitenkant Street.

Cape Town - and other South African cities - have often been described as 'apartheid cities' as the design of urban areas in the past focused on keeping people apart.

Now the challenge is to unite cities, and the effective utilisation of public open spaces is one of doing this. The revitalisation of the Grand Parade is one of the Cape Town Partnership's focus areas.

Also taken into consideration was the fact that people are moving back to the city. The much-vaunted regeneration of the inner city, that started with the Mutual Heights development, means more people are making the city their home.

Also, District Six is being redeveloped and thousands of people are expected to return home once more residential areas in what's become known as the East City Precinct come on line.

The Grand Parade - once the hub of the city - should become so again, stakeholders agreed. They also supported the idea of a 'commemorative centre' and an interactive education centre that would preserve the history and heritage of the Khoisan.

Other ideas mooted were: An open space for celebration with no cars, no transport, full of greenery and water and with permanent structures for traders; a place for everybody. People walking on foot and cycling, with children playing, old people sitting and relaxing and where mothers can rest; a 24-hour space with the activities changing from day-time to evening to night. - Glenda Nevill

* The Homeless World Cup takes place from September 24-30 2006.