Cape Town: AfricUpdate – News Desk
Cape Town’s Castle of Good Hope is hopefully about to step into a brighter chapter. Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company, the Castle is South Africa’s oldest surviving colonial building and one of the city’s most important historical landmarks.
Once guarding the original shoreline of Table Bay, it has stood for centuries as a symbol of the Cape’s layered past. But time has not been kind. A recent visit revealed a structure that has lost much of its lustre, peeling paint, overgrown gardens, and outdated facilities reminding visitors that even national treasures need care.
The art gallery shows signs of neglect, the restaurant has a damp, mouldy smell despite serving decent meals, and the public toilets are in urgent need of upgrading. Now, with a restoration programme under way, the Castle is set to reclaim its place as a cultural and heritage jewel.
Gilfellen acknowledged the complexities of working on a national monument: “Most of the work can only proceed when the wet weather is completely behind us, and being a 369-year-old building; so normal, modern building techniques and protocols do not apply here often, leading to time-lags and delays.”
Despite the challenges, he is optimistic: “However, I am happy that given the massive development priorities and limited budgets, the state is serious about the preservation and conservation of this building.” The Castle isn’t just bricks and stone; it’s a living museum of South Africa’s history.
From soldiers and slaves who built it, to the ceremonies and stories preserved within its walls, every corner tells part of Cape Town’s journey. The Khoi once called it “Kui keip” (Stone Kraal), and Dutch settlers referred to it as the “Citadel”.
Today, it’s both a tourist attraction and a reminder of the country’s complex past. With the restoration underway, visitors can look forward to seeing the Castle in a fresher light. Hopefully its iconic yellow walls, originally chosen to help reflect the harsh African sun, will soon gleam again.
