A historical investigation into the Sea Point beachfront as a public open space throughout the 20th century with special reference to memories of growing up along the Sea Point Promenade by Leila Emdon.
Chapter One continued
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Why should we remember Sea Point?
This is the entry point of my historical research. Clearly, the issue of public space is an important issue in contemporary South Africa. During the Apartheid era, most public spaces in South Africa were segregated according to race, including the Sea Point promenade. For decades, the promenade was exclusively for whites; only since Apartheid ended have all citizens been allowed to mix freely.
It is no wonder the public are fighting for the preservation of this right. This project is concerned with the historical significance of this area. It is arguable that the history and heritage of the beachfront and Sea Point need to be recorded so that the heritage of the area is maintained. This is a place of great historical and cultural significance. In tracing the history of the area from the 1930s until the present day, it has become evident that public spaces such as the promenade, as well as the sea front in general are reflections of the social, economic and political changes that exist in the broader society. This area is a social public space, so how people interpret and remember it is of great significance to me.
It is memory that creates its meaning. In my search for the history of the promenade, I discovered that while the area has always been public it has been treated differently over time. Sea Point was a bustling, vibrant family suburb, which was both affluent and middle class. The promenade was a place full of activity. In the 1960s, the area was developed and blocks of flats were built.
The promenade continued to be a safe area for people to enjoy and many events took place both in the day and night. However, the Group Areas Act kept this exclusively for whites and therefore the promenade was a protected area for a privileged minority. This followed a similar trend to other public areas in South Africa.
I argue that this had many implications for the future of the Sea Point promenade. From the late 1980s the fabric of Apartheid became unwoven, the Group Areas Act was abolished and Sea Point started to change. By the mid 1990s, the buildings by the pavilion became derelict. Crime increased and the promenade lost its former glory. In recent times, the area has been restored. Business is thriving in Sea Point, crime has improved, and so have many other social problems.
This project looks at how Sea Point has reflected these changes. By learning about the past and hearing people’s stories, one can learn about the good things that the promenade once offered and how it was to grow up along the promenade for a different generation. It is also interesting to learn about the activities that were on offer for young children and teens. Although the area was once reserved for whites only, this public space might still be used as a recreational space but this time includes everyone. Is the council really acknowledging the need for an accessible recreational space? The stories told about the promenade reveal to me that this area, with its rich social history, needs to be always remembered.
Beach Road after a Storm 1899 Photo: Beneath the Lion Bold©
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