Site of Trojan Horse massacre now protected as a Provincial Heritage Site  

On Friday, 19 August 2022, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport Anroux Marais unveiled the plaque to declare a portion of Thornton road in Athlone as a Provincial Heritage Site (PHS).
 
The declaration of a PHS is done through Heritage Western Cape and follows a process of site identification and then assessing if the proposed site meets the set criteria. This particular road in Athlone was an important site of struggle during the 1980s and was also where the horrific Trojan Horse massacre took place. This area borders a few schools in the area, and many students were involved in clashes with security police at the time. 
 
As a declared PHS, the site will now be protected under the National Heritage Resources Management Act, 1999.  
 
Minister Marais said: “The declaration of this site as a Provincial Heritage Site demonstrates the understanding of the historical and heritage importance of this site and that it must be preserved and protected for many years to come. It is sites such as this one that preserve the narratives of the past and that will continue to be a source of learning and appreciation for the local communities. In preserving our heritage, we can also preserve the history and stories of the communities where they are situated.”
 
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, together with Heritage Western Cape, continues to preserve the histories of all our communities, so that they can be shared with future generations.