First stakeholder discussion on Rustenburg Burial Ground

Open floor: Pamela van Reneen (left) and Marilyn Sieborger (Rustenburg Girls' Junior School) were among those at the first stakeholder meeting to discuss commemoration of the Rustenburg Burial Ground on Middle Campus

On Saturday 11 April UCT hosted the first stakeholder meeting to discuss options for memorialising the Rustenburg Burial Ground on Middle Campus.

The stakeholders, or affected communities, include city communities descended from the slaves, residents of the area and a representative of the local ratepayers' association.

The site is the final resting place of hundreds of slaves who worked along the farms along the Liesbeeck River in the 17th and 18th centuries. Announcing plans last year, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Martin Hall said the move is part of UCT's continuing work in transformation.

"We know that the slave burial ground was located on our campus and are working to establish the exact location of the burial site so it can be preserved from inappropriate disturbance."

The meeting afforded stakeholders an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the heritage impact assessment report.