Heritage group rethinks Salt River murals

• Author: Sukaina Ishmail sukaina.ishmail@inl.co.za
• Published date: 30 September 2021
• Publication title: Southern Suburbs Tatler

A heritage walking tour on Saturday took in the new murals that were commissioned by the Salt River Heritage Society (SRHS) under their new street art initiative, called the Community Arts Festival.

The SHRS says it wants murals to better reflect the history, culture and heritage of the area.

The mural on Suhail Wing-King’s house, on the corner of Pope and Kingsley streets, depicts Judge Siraj Desai, businessman and community activist Anwah Nagia, former government minister Dullah Omar and political theorist and activist Ben Kies. Painted by Natheer Hoosain and Nazeem Jardine, in August, it replaces a mural commissioned by the Baz-Art non-profit organisation, in 2018, under the theme “we need nature, nature doesn't need us”.

Mr Wing-King said the new mural better reflected the history of the area.

“The previous work done was reflective of the artist rather than the community, and the new mural depicts the true history of the Salt River community.”

It is important to note that when we have people coming into the community, the art murals on the wall should be associated with the community itself rather than unrelated to who we are.”

A second mural, by Robyn Pretorius and Nazeem Jardine, includes the image of former Banyana Banyana captain Desiree Ellis, and, according to Anwar Omar, the vice chairman of the SRHS, it represents the history of sport in the area and its role in social engagement and youth development.

“The third mural,” said Mr Omar, referring to a work depicting the Palestinian struggle from 1897 till now, “reflects our history of international solidarity with communities in the rest of the world that are subjected to racist and discriminatory policies, colonialism and social injustice and the denial of their basic human rights.”

It was painted by Nawawie Matthews with assistance from Tasneem Chilwan and Nazeer Jappie.

Mr Omar said very few of the approximately 140 murals throughout Salt River reflected the history, heritage and culture of the community and did not resonate with the historical experience of the residents.

“The SRHS is trying to change this narrative with the images we place on the walls, so that the community can relate to it,” he said.

Murals were a very effective way of reminding communities of historical events and history and heritage should not be distorted and commercialised in the area, he said.

The founder of Baz-Art, Alexandre Tilmans, said: “Once a mural has been painted, the wall belongs to the community. The main...