The Graffiti Unit of the City of Cape Town remains actively engaged in addressing the proliferation of unauthorised artworks, gang-related markings, and murals.
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According to Wayne Dyson, the spokesperson for law enforcement, a significant area of 11 519 square meters of graffiti has been eradicated since May of the previous year, with Hanover Park, Mitchells Plain and Atlantis being the areas with the highest concentration of cleared graffiti.
Moreover, a total of 31 murals have received official approval within the same time frame.
JP Smith, the mayoral committee member overseeing safety and security, emphasised that the Graffiti Unit is responsive to public grievances regarding illicit graffiti, tagging and gang symbols throughout the metropolis.
In the span of January to September 2022, the unit eradicated 17 283 square metres of graffiti. In the corresponding period of 2023, this figure rose to 24 076 square metres.
Smith clarified that the Graffiti Unit primarily targets City-owned structures, as per municipal regulations, which mandate that private property owners are responsible for removing graffiti from their premises.
He explained, ‘The City takes proactive measures to eliminate graffiti daily on public property, including roads and housing, in cases where no permission has been granted by the property owner or the arts and culture department.’
According to News24, the City disclosed that it had received 36 applications from residents seeking approval to create general murals. Additionally, three residents had submitted requests to paint Palestine flags on walls in Lavender Hill, Pinelands and Goodwood.
In a notable event earlier this year, Ebrahim Freeman, aged 60 and residing in Lavender Hill, Cape Town, garnered attention when he adorned the exterior wall of Wicht Court with a mural depicting the Palestine flag. However, his four-hour artwork was swiftly removed the following day. A significant presence of law enforcement officers, accompanied by City officials, descended upon the area to erase the mural.
Expressing his motivation, Freeman stated that he was disheartened by the prevalence of offensive language, gang symbols, and stains of violence on the walls of Wicht Court. In response, he opted to replace these with a mural featuring the Palestine flag.
Following the removal of his artwork, Freeman was instructed to obtain a permit for the mural.
Freeman proceeded to furnish the City with the requisite documents, which included a comprehensive email detailing his proposed course of action. Throughout the application procedure, he complied with the City’s requests, providing photographs of the designated area, precise dimensions of the mural, and a draft outlining his artistic vision.
Despite his efforts, five months have elapsed without receiving official approval from the City.
However, Patricia van der Ross, the mayoral committee member overseeing community services and health, said that the human settlements department had granted approval.
She added, ‘We are still awaiting the applicant’s acquisition of consent from an additional neighbouring property for input, following which we will proceed with the application.’
Freeman expressed frustration, alleging that the City was needlessly prolonging his application process. He questioned the discrepancy between the City’s public announcement of approval and his lack of knowledge regarding the status. Freeman also raised concerns about other Palestinian murals in the Bo-Kaap area, speculating on whether they had obtained permission.
Despite the delays, Freeman remained eager to commence his artwork, having already prepared the necessary paint and equipment. He emphasised his passion for painting and the positive reception his murals received from residents, particularly children.
In response, the City stated that they had not sanctioned the Palestine murals in Bo-Kaap. Patricia van der Ross clarified that the City was engaging with relevant stakeholders regarding existing murals but did not provide information on unauthorised murals.
There was no indication from the City regarding the deployment of the Graffiti Unit to the Bo-Kaap area.
Obeidullah Gierdien, the founder of MuralsforGaza and a resident of Bo-Kaap, claimed responsibility for the creation of 73 Palestine murals on private residences in the tourist hub. Gierdien said that their initiative aimed to complete a total of 100 murals to express solidarity with the Palestinian community.
He asserted that they did not deem permission or a permit necessary for their mural project. According to Gierdien, the homeowners whose properties were adorned with murals were supportive of their endeavour, considering the homes to be private spaces where artistic expression could flourish without constraint.
Gierdien emphasised that they undertook the mural project in Bo-Kaap because of its renown for hosting the world’s largest Palestine murals. He explained that they focused on private properties in the neighbourhood, believing that homes serve as extensions of personal expression.
Despite Smith’s assertion that an application is still necessary for installations on private property, Gierdien and his team proceeded without permits. They selected Bo-Kaap due to its popularity among locals and tourists, who appreciate its vibrant homes and rich history.
Initially facing criticism from the City for potentially vandalising property, Gierdien clarified with homeowners, who supported the initiative to adorn their homes with murals for Gaza. This mutual understanding resolved any issues with local authorities.
Gierdien highlighted that, besides raising awareness about the situation in Gaza, the mural project aimed to support struggling graffiti artists through MuralsforGaza, offering them a platform to showcase their work.
He described the meticulous process of painting murals in Bo-Kaap, which typically took six to eight hours per day due to the personalised approach and the use of specific materials for precise and visually appealing results. Conversely, in communities in the Cape Flats where community involvement expedited the process, murals could be completed in about four hours.
The City noted that public art and mural issues had gained prominence recently.
Smith addressed criticism directed at law enforcement, emphasising that the City’s regulations on public art had been misrepresented in some instances.
He emphasised the existence of Cape Town’s graffiti by-law since 2009, highlighting the requirement for individuals seeking to create murals or graffiti to obtain permission from the arts and culture department.
Smith revealed that the department currently had three pending applications for murals featuring the Palestine flag.
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Picture: @sumayahisham / X