Manenberg’s bus shelters receive V.I.P treatment

By Mandisi Tyulu
23 Aptril 2009

The Bus shelters in Manenberg Avenue are to receive celebrity treatment today when Zolani Mahola, lead singer of the afro pop band, Freshly ground, joins a local and a German artist in painting some shelters along Manenberg Avenue.

The Colourful Bus Shelters Project is a sustainable livelihood partnership that forms part of the Bauwagen Goes South Partnership project between the cities of Aachen, Germany and Cape Town.

According to project manager, Joint Xingashe, the bus shelter project aims to engage people from different backgrounds in different projects to raise awareness for the Edith Stephens Wetlands Park bordering Manenberg.

“Zolani supports the initiative which empowers the children of Manenberg to express themselves through the arts, music and culture,” says Xingashe.

“The murals will depict pictures of nature and scenes from the wetland park,” he says.

Manenberg painter Steven Niekerk and Uta Göbil Grub from Aachen in Germany have already started to paint some of the shelters. The designs were done by six groups of learners who worked together for a week to share ideas.

Freshlyground has been involved with the Aachen-Cape Town Partnership since 2005. They joined the Cape Town delegation to Germany for the fourth anniversary of the partnership. During their stay in Aachen they did workshops with school children and the Aachen jazz band.