An increased effort is being made to make information about Princess Vlei along Prince George Drive in Retreat more accessible to the community and those from around the world.
On Tuesday November 19, a QR plague was unveiled at the heritage site, which links to Heritage Western Cape (HWC), that explains how the Princess Vlei came to be and the rich history and Khoi heritage at the site – now, visitors can simply scan the QR code and be educated about the vlei and its history with the help of new technology.
The fight for Princess Vlei started many years ago when as well as organisations like the Princess Vlei Forum (PVF) came together to stop the development of a shopping mall on the banks of the vlei.
In 2014, the decision was overturned and the vlei was classified a heritage site in 2021 so the rehabilitation to restore the biodiversity and transform the 110 hectares of land into a world-class heritage site could go ahead full steam.
The plague was unveiled at the Prince George Drive entrance by the City of Cape Town, The PVF the HWC as well as Khoi leadership at an event at the Princess Vlei ECO Park on the other bank of the water body and plans to continue uplifting and prioritising the heritage and future of the vlei were made.
Ward 72 councillor Kevin Southgate said the unveiling marked another milestone in the evolution of Princess Vlei.
Us as the older generation spent a lot of time at the vlei and we have lots of fond memories of the vlei but it was in a state of neglect for a long time and Apartheid played a big role in the development or lack of development in our areas, said Mr Southgate.
“We then lined the streets to protest the development of a mall and we celebrated when it was rejected but can you imagine what it would have looked like today if those plans came true. We are proud of the acknowledgement Princess Vlei has received and will continue to uplift the area for next generations to enjoy the site as they were supposed to,” said Mr Southgate.
Ricardo Mackenzie, Western Cape MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport, said the united power of all those involved kept the vlei sacred and that efforts should continue to highlight the vlei, its history and future.
“Let’s celebrate heritage, innovation, and the power of technology to bring our history closer. Through stimulating local tourism and promoting our important sites, we can create more jobs through the tourism industry,” said Mr Mackenzie.
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