Cape Town - For the first time in over 25 years, the Bellville Clock Tower at the Bellville Civic Centre is on time, thanks to a successful crowd-funding campaign that raised more than R97 000 for repairs.
The Greater Tygerberg Partnership(GTP), together with the City of Cape Town, relaunched the clock tower that has been a landmark in Bellville for more than 60 years on Friday.
“For over two decades, the clocks on the Bellville Clock Tower have not been functioning, symbolising time standing still. With the new urban regeneration of Bellville, restarting the Bellville Clock Tower sends a clear message of progress and renewal,” said GTP chief executive Warren Hewitt.
Work on the renovation project finished at the end of April 2022 and included removing, rewiring, repairing, servicing, and re-installing the motors within all four clock faces, as well as giving the tower and its base a coat of paint.
The surrounding pond area had also been cleaned, and four new water fountains with specially manufactured fountain heads installed on each side of the tower. Each has its own underwater colour LED spotlights inserted to create a light installation at night.
Ward councillor Jacoline Visser said: “The historic clock tower in Bellville means so much more than the time it keeps. We find ourselves so busy planning and looking at the future of Bellville, and by doing so, we can overlook important things at ground level. Restarting this clock is the start of many new beginnings for Bellville.
“I want to highlight that it also illustrates much more than the repair of a broken clock. It symbolises an active change in the mindset and emotional investment of the community. I believe the renewed clock will set the tone of discipline and encourage ownership for all invested to repair Bellville together.”
Generous support and contributions came from residents and businesses, including local designer RichBoy Clothing, who donated their time and merchandise, as well as some of Bellville’s music legends who threw their weight behind the campaign.
Cape Times