The Manyanani Peace Park in Khayelitsha is starting to get its pride back thanks to the efforts of entrepreneur Peter Salman.
Mr Salman, who owns a nearby guest house and is a director of Milisa Development Programs, a non-profit company, said he decided to spruce up the park after noticing graffiti on the walls of neighbouring buildings that looked like they also needed a fresh coat of paint.
“The idea of park beautification was emboldened by the fact that I know the history of this place since 1995 when it was launched. It was a pride for this community. A place where people held meetings and family picnics.”
It was, he said, the first community park to be successfully established and maintained in the shanty towns of Cape Town and was the result of a special partnership project called Trees South Africa.
However, over the years with no one taking responsibility for the park, neglect had set in and the park had become an “eyesore”, he said, adding that community leaders in the Khulani and the B Block sections had welcomed his plan to turn things around at the park.
The walls of buildings next to the park are now adorned with murals by artist and designer Lwando Lese.
Mr Lese said he enjoyed working at the park and passers-by had already “started looking curiously at my work”.
Mr Salman said he had established Milisa Development Programs to make a difference in communities using various forms of art.
The park is maintained by the City in cooperation with Abalimi Bezekhaya, an organisation that helps township farmers to grow organic vegetables.
Abalimi’s deputy chairman, Sandi Mongo, said they welcomed Mr Salman’s efforts to beautify the park.
“We sat down and listened to his proposal, and the consensus was he was adding value to the park. We have always said this is a community park and people must take ownership,” said Mr Mongo.
The City’s park manager in Khayelitsha,, Monwabisi Maqhashu, said they were pleased with what Mr Salman was doing and were talking to him to see what role he could play in doing murals at other parks in Khayelitsha.
Mr Salman said he hoped the new murals would be the first of many improvements at the park.
“We wish to continue with the community beautification projects by rejuvenating community spaces in and around Khayelitsha to add another layer aimed at further strengthening Khayelitsha as an investment and tourism destination,” he said.
