Our Vision
A Constantia where individual and community relationships are restored through the preservation and teaching of the history of the Constantia Valley. To this end, we envision the creation of a living archive that is witness to the heritage of the area, with a view to enable progressive reconciliation through skills development and training of our youth.
Constantia Heritage & Education Project
(CHEP) Ad-Hoc Commitee
Terry Lester
Terrence Lester is the son of Albin and Joyce Lester. His grandmother, Christine,owned the property on 29 Strawberry Lane and Albin taught at Constantia Primary. The family was evicted in 1965, and moved to Grassy Park. Terrence started the Constantia Heritage and Education project with other former residents in 2016.
Claire-Anne Lester
Claire-Anne just completed her MPhil in Justice and Transformation at the University of Cape Town. She is the Daughter of Terrence Lester whom, along with her grandparents, aunt and uncle were forcuibly removed from Strawberry Lane under the Group Areas Act and moved to Grassy park. She currently works in the Parlimentary Development in Southern Africa.
Moses Jaftha
Moses “Moos” Jaftha was born in Strawberry lane, Cloete’s cottages. He went to D.R.C School in Strawberry Lane, and was mariied to Helen in 1966 on 16th April. He was forcibly removed in 1969. He used to farm in Strawberry Lane and now farms behind Knoppie se Winkel (Pedlars on the Bend).
Helen Jafta
Helen Jaftha is married to Moses jaftha. She used to live in Strawberry Lane until 1969 until she was forcibly removed to Parkwood Estate.
Cornelia Jaftha
Cornelia Jaftha is married to Malcom Jaftha, whose family lived in Strawberry Lane prior to the removals. She now lives and works on the Buitenverwachting wine farm in Constantia, where she has been living since 1983.
Lisle Adams
Lisle Adams is the daughter of Moses “Moos” and Helen Jaftha, who lived on Strawberry Lane. She is a computer science graduate working as a consultant.
Virginia Appollis
Virginia lived in Ivy Road before her family was evicted. She taught at Constantia Primary before moving to Grassy Park.
Ellen Deane
Ellen Deane (maiden name, Pietersen) used to live on Pagasvlei road, Constantia. She now lives in Plumstead and is married to Ernest Deane.
Ernestine Deane
Ernestine Deane is an urban African voice sharing ancient African stories, based in Cape Town South Africa and known for her distinctive emotive vocals, laid over chilled, uplifting grooves. As a solo artist in music, film and theatre performance, Ernestine has a career spanning more than two decades.
Zaid Rowe
Is the elder brother of Rezah Rowe and is a graphic and web designer. His mother was a Strawberry Lane resident before she and her family were forcibly removed and relocated in Lotus River on the Cape Flats.
Rezah Rowe
Rezah Rowe is currently a university undergraduate. He is the younger brother of Zaid Rowe. Their mother was four years old when she, along with their family was forcibly removed from Strawberry Lane Constantia and relocated to Lotus River, Cape Flats./p>
Julia Grey
Julia is a mixed media artist with special interest in spatial justice in Cape Town. She grew up in Constantia and believes it is essential that current residents are educated on the history of the area so that they may understand what others had to give up for their gain.