The City has unveiled two murals, in Mitchells Plain and Gugulethu, as part of its climate change response and resilience campaign, Let’s ACT. For a stronger Cape Town. City officials and project partners visited one of the murals at Portland Primary School in Mitchells Plain today, 4 August 2022. The second mural is located at iThemba Walkway in Gugulethu. All Capetonians are encouraged to join the movement and learn how they can take action in their home and communities to combat climate change.
As part of the creation of the artworks, community workshops were held to raise awareness about climate change, resource efficiency and the actions we can take to make our homes and communities more sustainable. The murals are intended to be a communication tool around how climate change is being experienced by communities and what residents think should be done.
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen, and other dignitaries visited the mural and engaged with some of the school’s learners.
‘The murals are a visual representation of Let’s ACT. For a Stronger Cape Town. They show how we can all take small actions that have a big impact. As part of the City’s climate action ambition, we are aiming to be carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2050 with all buildings operating as efficiently as possible. With no and low-investment options, all residents can act to make changes at home and in their communities. Everyone can increase their energy, water and waste efficiency.
‘This is an ideal opportunity for the next generation to learn what is possible and what can be done to tackle climate change. They can be the heroes we need to teach their parents and grandparents that we can act together for a stronger Cape Town. We thank our partners for working with us on this important project,’ said Councillor Van Reenen.
‘Climate change and environmental damage is mostly caused by humans. In the oceans we find the most pollution. Fish are dying, even our birds go through the same suffering. Many years ago there were so many trees where we used to play. Today you don’t see any bush around and factories are taking over all the spaces, and all sorts of different gas is polluting our air. We joined hands with partner Baz-Art supported by the City of Cape Town to make people aware through climate change murals and using recycled materials to make sculptures so that our kids can join in to make their own recycled sculptures,’ said Mr Mark Jeneker, art teacher at Portland Primary and founder of Mark Jeneker Foundation.
Baz-Art Project Manager Ms Roshana Naidoo said, ‘Art speaks louder! Climate change is a real issue that affects all of us. It is a constant challenge to share awareness around the little changes we can make in our daily lives, to preserve our beautiful earth. We therefore thank our partners for the opportunity to create two large scale murals and interactive workshops, sharing knowledge around climate change in the most creative way.’
‘It is with the great honour and strategic importance for iThemba Walkway in Gugulethu township to partner with Baz-Art and the City of Cape Town to address a global matter of climate change and citizen action through mural arts and insightful implementation of workshops and exhibitions within our space. iThemba is a space which seeks to inspire and motivate society in many positive ways from its painful past and bringing hope to the community at large. We value the ongoing partnership with us and we hope we will add more sustainable positive themes to our community, which will give a good outlook to the residents of Cape Town and beyond,’ said iThemba Walkway’s Mr Xolile Ndzoyi.