The City has unveiled a memorial wall for enforcement staff who have died in the line of duty. Erected on the entrance level of the Civic Centre in the central business district, the wall contains the names of 24 staff members who have given their lives in service of the City of Cape Town and its residents since 1907.
Five silhouettes against a dark wall represent the departments within the Safety and Security Directorate: Metro Police, Traffic Services, Law Enforcement, the Fire and Rescue Service, and Disaster Risk Management – along with the list of the names of those in whose memory it has been erected.
The use of ‘light’ on the wall, embodies the memory of those who have given their lives in the line of duty. The viewer is encouraged to focus on the illumination of the halo effect around the silhouettes, rather than a fixed object i.e. on their life rather than their passing.
The dark background creates a ‘quiet space’ for reflection and memory. The memorial creates a sense of solemnity in respect of the families who have been affected by their loss.
‘There are many brave men and women who put their lives on the line for us on a daily basis, helping us make Cape Town a safer city for all – sacrifices that often go unnoticed amid the negativity that surrounds enforcement in this country. I tip my hat to those who don the uniform on behalf of the City, day in and day out, to make a difference and I also hold those for whom the journey was so abruptly halted dear to my heart for their contributions. This memorial wall is but a small token of my and the City’s appreciation for their service,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith.
Photography City of Cape Town