People from all over the city braved the hot sun on Saturday to team up with Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson and staff at the Castle Control Board to plant trees at the entrance of the Castle of Good Hope ahead of the tourist season.

There is also a fence being erected around the property.

Just a few weeks ago, the ground was occupied by squatters, who had been evicted on On Friday November 1.

City trucks and tractors moved in to clear dozens of crude dwellings and tons of debris left behind by the squatters, who have been occupying the land since 2020.

Castle Control Board events manager Derek Williams helps little Aria Williams, 5, from Kuilsriver, water the soil.

The City of Cape Town and the Castle Control Board have been hard at work revitalising, sanitising and landscaping the vacant space, as well as the moat.

At the event, Mr Macpherson, said he was excited to see what else the space can become. “That’s exactly what we are all about, making public spaces work for the public.”

Mr Hill-Lewis said it was great to see the community rolling up their sleeves to take ownership of the city centre, and to say, “We are not going to allow urban decay to take route in Cape Town”.

Matthew Langman from Table View with his daughter Sofia, 5.

“We want Cape Town to move forward and be an example of excellence and hopefulness in South Africa.”

Castle Control Board chairperson Calvyn Gilfellan said the tree planting was a community effort to reclaim the space.

He said they decided to include the public so that everyone can feel part of reclaiming the area.

Donna and Zeah Davids, 8, from Lotus River, getting their hands dirty.

Kayla Nicholson, 5 , Liam Voster,10, and Kayla Voster, 5, help close up the soil.

He said after the tree planting, they will gather with all tiers of government and communities to redesign the space.

He said in 2014, the space was redesigned into a heritage garden with roses. However, the Covid-19 pandemic had shifted their perspective.

“If people are hungry, they cannot smell the roses. So we decided to plant the fruit trees and the olive trees so that we have a mixed use here.

“There is recreation, parks and also fruit from the soil that used to be compromised in the past.”

Eliz, Wayne and Amy Willenburg, from Goodwood

He said he was also glad to see birds, fish and fauna return to the now clean moat, which will be their water source for the newly planted trees.

Candice George with Kiaan, 6, from Sunningdale

Castle Control Board chairperson Calvyn Gilfellan

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Tree planting marks start of reclaiming the castle