This document discusses the connection between Bellville, South Africa and Mogadishu, Somalia. It describes how thousands of Somali refugees fled to Bellville due to civil war and formed a community known as "Somali Town". However, Somali shop owners still face threats of xenophobic violence and attacks. In response, innovative partnerships like the Voortrekker Road City Improvement District and Greater Tygerberg Partnership were formed to promote safety and economic prosperity through knowledge sharing. The conclusion advocates for inclusive partnerships between civic authorities, businesses, and community groups to address urban challenges.

1. University for Peace, Den Haag, Urban Peace
and Security: A South African Case Study
Prof Erwin Schwella
SPL and SIGLA
University of Stellenbosch
Leiden Leadership Centre, Leiden University

2. Apartheid to Al-Shabaab and Afrikaans to Arabic: How
Bellville, South Africa and Mogadishu Somalia got
Connected

3. Apartheid to Al-Shabaab and Afrikaans to Arabic: How
Bellville and Mogadishu got Connected
• A Tale of 2 Cities on the same Continent that moved from Worlds Apart to
being Closely Connected
“Behind a main road lie a huge array of retail shops, all in a small area buzzing
with activity as people stream into colourful, jam-packed bargain shops and
browse around pavement stalls. The area is marked with people in distinct,
long Islamic scarves and dresses worn by Somali women with many of them
tagging their children along wearing similar outfits in miniature.
This is “Somali Town” or “Som Town”, and it is in the midst of the Bellville
CBD, at the end of Durban Road. It has been dubbed “Som Town” as it is the
central or safest place for Somalis to live and run a business. Over the past
few years, thousands of Somalis fled the civil war in their country hoping for a
better life in South Africa, but xenophobic attacks have left them fearful
except in this central spot in Bellville.”

4. Between Deep Blue Sees and the Devils in many
Disguises
• Somali shops closed, looted as 2008 trading agreement
enforced in Khayelitsha
West Cape News 4 September 2012
• A South African local business woman who attended
the meeting, but refused to give her name, said the
Somali traders had to “pack up and go” by this
weekend. “We are suffering because of them. Police
are aware of the agreement, but are failing to do their
job of closing the (new) shops.” She alleged the police
were being bribed by the Somali shop owners and the
local business owners would take matters into their
own hands.

5. Between Deep Blue Sees and the
Devils in many Disguises
• A Somali shop owner near the Bellville train station:
• “It is hell-fire in South Africa. It is hell-fire in Somalia.
– We do not feel safe here at all, but we cannot go back
home because of war. This month only, nine Somalis were
killed in Cape Town
– “The criminals break in all the time and we are
defenseless. When we go to the police station to report,
they just open a case. They do not act. If we follow up,
they will just ask for your case number, then they will tell
us they will phone us and it ends like that. I have been
living in South Africa for eleven years. Since the break-out
of xenophobia in 2008, I have struggled economically
because I lost my business when they attacked and looted
my shop in Kraaifontein

6. Between Deep Blue Sees and the
Devils in many Disguises
• From Groundup July 2012
• “They hate us because we care for and support
the community. And we do not double our profits
like them. Our Muslim religion forbids us to
double profits and emphasises helping the
community. We buy our business goods in the
same local market with the South African
businessmen. I am disappointed by the way they
escalate their prices to their community."

7. Bellville a ‘safe haven’ for Somalis
• Newspaper Article 2011
A community of Somalis have made several blocks of downtown Bellville their
refuge from war at home, as well as locally where they have become victims in
neighbouring districts of commercially-motivated violence and killings.

8. Innovative and Inclusive Responses
Knowledge Based Facilitated Change towards Effective and Ethical Service Delivery
DEVELOPMENT
PROACTIVE
Current Reality Ideal Current Reality Ideal
STRATEGIC OPERATIONAL
Lead with vision, purpose Manage implementation, projects, performance
Current Reality Ideal Current Reality Ideal
REACTIVE
REGULATION AND POLICING

9. Institutionalising Innovative and
Inclusive Responses
• Voortrekker Road City Improvement District (VRCID)
• “The vision of the VRCID is to create and maintain a clean
and safe urban environment along the Voortrekker Road
corridor,” he says.
– Its goals include:
• Reducing crime significantly by proactive visible patrolling and
cooperation with existing SAPS, Metro Police and Law Enforcement
efforts in the area.
• Creating a safe and clean public environment by addressing issues of
maintenance and street, pavement and public space cleansing.
• Seeking to provide jobs for homeless people.
• Supporting the promotion of the VRCID as a safe and clean
environment to work and live in.
• The sustained and effective management of the VRCID.

10. Institutionalising Innovative and
Inclusive Responses
• The Greater Tygerberg Partnership
Knowledge for the City: From Ambition to Action:
Turning Potential into Prosperity
Vision:
To inclusively and innovatively facilitate the creation
and sustained existence of a vibrant thriving, desirable
and value adding economically prosperous area for
the benefit of citizens and inhabitants, by introducing
and utilising world class cutting edge knowledge-
based strategies, structures and dynamics.

12. Conclusions
• Innovative and Inclusive Partnerships
“To make their cities attractive places to live in, civic
authorities need to harness the energies of all the individuals
and businesses flocking into their metropolises. They need to
foster the innovative spirit of social entrepreneurs who can
step in with new solutions to meet demands for services and
infrastructure. They must increase their political clout by
forming productive partnerships with the private sector and
civil society groups.”
Quoted from: Liveable Cities: Challenges and opportunities for
policymakers. Economist Intelligence Unit, 2010.