Kayamandi: Victor Myataza
Title
Kayamandi: Victor Myataza
Subject
Community history
Description
Victor Myataza is one of the oldest residents of Kayamandi and its former mayor. He was instrumental in the urban planning of the Kayamandi township, in canvassing for the retention of its land as well as development of its housing programme.
Victor was born in Masitandane Street and grew up in Kayamandi, although he attended high school in Langa with his friend Popo Setona (pictured below, left), as there was no high school in Kayamandi. Forced to leave school to work for an income for his family, Victor worked as an interpreter in the local magistrate’s court.
In the 1980s, Victor was approached by the Hani family to join a local community board, which was to promote the interests of the Kayamandi community in municipal government. In 1983, the government wanted to move the Kayamandi township to Khayelitsha, and Victor played an influential role in convincing several stakeholders to prevent these forced removals.
In 1988, he started a housing campaign to promote a stronger middle-class presence in Kayamandi, and the neighbourhoods around Makupula Street and Smarties developed from this effort. He led negotiations with companies in possession of hostels to convert these spaces into houses for their workers.
From 1992, Victor stepped away from politics and became more involved with his church, although hopes to see a new generation continue to build on his legacy – he would like to see more public spaces for communal gathering and better spatial integration between residential and commercial zones.
Victor was born in Masitandane Street and grew up in Kayamandi, although he attended high school in Langa with his friend Popo Setona (pictured below, left), as there was no high school in Kayamandi. Forced to leave school to work for an income for his family, Victor worked as an interpreter in the local magistrate’s court.
In the 1980s, Victor was approached by the Hani family to join a local community board, which was to promote the interests of the Kayamandi community in municipal government. In 1983, the government wanted to move the Kayamandi township to Khayelitsha, and Victor played an influential role in convincing several stakeholders to prevent these forced removals.
In 1988, he started a housing campaign to promote a stronger middle-class presence in Kayamandi, and the neighbourhoods around Makupula Street and Smarties developed from this effort. He led negotiations with companies in possession of hostels to convert these spaces into houses for their workers.
From 1992, Victor stepped away from politics and became more involved with his church, although hopes to see a new generation continue to build on his legacy – he would like to see more public spaces for communal gathering and better spatial integration between residential and commercial zones.
Creator
[no text]
Files
Collection
Citation
“Kayamandi: Victor Myataza,” RADA , accessed November 21, 2024, https://collections.sun.ac.za/rada/items/show/184.