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[FILE IMAGE]: Two benches seen at a park.
Countless South African families are still reeling from the trauma of apartheid that robbed them not only of dignity and freedom, but in extreme cases their loved ones too – untold stories of suffering like that of the Cupido family from Bellville in Cape Town.
Their teenage son and brother was killed by security police 40 years ago, tearing the family apart with no hope for justice or closure. Now, a community-initiated project led by the Bellville South Library, is hoped to honour Cupido, but also inspire others to tell their painful stories.
An application will this week be finalized for the City of Cape Town to name a local park in Bellville in honour of Clive Cupido who was killed by security police 40 years ago.
In August 1985, a few days after turning 19, Clive Cupido was shot and killed. In her testimony before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Maureen, Cupido’s mother, claimed to have heard three gunfire.
Even though her son did not participate in the demonstrations that day, the Cupido family would be devastated by the awful reality.
In the Bellville South a community in Cape Town is petitioning to rename a park in the area where he grew up to Clive Cupido Memorial Park.
Cupido’s sister, Michelle Hansby says this initiative honours both his life and the life he lost during the struggle for freedom.
She says this project will bring her family closer to closure.
“This initiative took me to a higher level knowing that there is going to be closure, that something is going to be named after him and it is going to be something that is physical and people and children who are still going to come will know where Clive comes from and why he died. So, there is something in place for me, which gives me a little bit of ease in my heart knowing that he’s not forgotten and he will stay and people will talk about him,” she says.
An application has been made to the City of Cape Town to name a local park in Bellville in honour of Clive Cupido.
The Bellville Historical Society researcher, Jason Patrick Hanslo, says stories of the community must come to the fore.
The local library is facilitating an exhibition of Cupido’s life and, though not necessary for the name change, a petition for the public to sign.
“The form didn’t really have a section for community participation. It only wanted us to get permission from a family member so that Clive’s name could be used. But we thought it’s better if we can get community participation because it speaks volumes. It’s not me that is filling in the form for the park to be renamed, and it’s not me that wants the park renamed; it’s the community,” says Hanslo.
Reminiscent of her brother’s past and the life he would have led, Hansby expresses her desire for young people to learn from her brother’s experiences and pursue their own goals.
“But I want also the youth to be inspired that they’ve got a healthy life. Do something with your life, do something and excel; read, get yourself knowledge with things so that you can get wisdom and know, which direction you want. Clive had a vision for his life. He applied in matric for the navy and after his death they phoned to say he’s accepted and that was very sore for me knowing because he was practicing on my dad’s trumpet because he knew he was going to be accepted. He always wanted to go to the navy and I knew he would have been a good gentleman if he had live,” adds Hanslo.
They say this exhibition and petition boils down to why history must be recorded and celebrated to always remember the positives and negatives that come with the history of someone.
Signing of the petition is still opened at the Bellville South Library until the end of next week.
