Die Grond Onthou: Forced Removals & The Protea Village Reparations

For thousands of families across the Cape Flats, the legacy of Apartheid’s forced removals is measured not only in lost homes, but also in fractured communities and generations separated from the places where they belonged. The documentary short film Die Grond Onthou tells one such story as it makes its debut at the 2026 Silwerskerm Film Festival.

The film follows the remarkable journey of the Coloured former residents of Protea Village, who were removed between 1959 and 1970 under the Group Areas Act from the community adjacent to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. Families were dispersed across the barren Cape Flats, where many spent decades fighting to reclaim not only valuable land but also a sense of belonging that could never be fully restored.

A Story Six Decades Long

What began with forced removals more than 60 years ago continued through land claims lodged in the 1990s and lengthy legal battles. Today, construction of the new Protea Village is underway, with the first families expected to return by early 2028.

Director Mia Cilliers says the film’s title reflects the lasting impact of that history. Referring to the idea that “the body remembers” trauma, she explains that “one can never erase their humanity, their experiences, and their memories.” Although 86 families will finally reclaim their land, she notes that “they will never return to the same place they once knew.”

That emotional thread runs throughout the documentary, recognising that while homes can be rebuilt, the trauma of displacement continues to shape generations. As Cilliers suggests, the scars of forced removals remain embedded in both memory and the landscape itself.

A Landmark Land Claim

Protea Village has become one of South Africa’s most significant land restitution success stories. Unlike many successful claims that resulted only in financial compensation or alternative land, the original community is returning to part of the land from which it was removed.

Cilliers describes the outcome as “one of the most successful – if not the most successful – land claim in South Africa.” She points to an innovative development model where market-related sales of Bishopscourt Estate plots help finance the construction of 86 homes for returning families, while another section of land will remain a public green space.

Yet the victory comes with new realities. The community must prepare for future municipal rates once a 10-year exemption expires, while the Protea Village Communal Property Association is developing mechanisms to help residents avoid being forced to sell their homes.

WATCH: Die Grond Onthou Amptelike Lokprent

Read more about the new Protea Village development

Challenges Beyond Restitution

The documentary also highlights a less visible challenge facing many restitution projects. After decades of delays, many original claimants have passed away, leaving their property rights to children and grandchildren.

As a result, a single successful land claim may now have several heirs who must collectively decide how a property will be used. For some families, renting out the home or eventually selling it may prove more practical than occupation, although sales are restricted during the initial years. The association hopes these arrangements will prevent the community from once again becoming fragmented.

While Die Grond Onthou documents an important milestone in South Africa’s restitution journey, it also reminds audiences that justice is rarely complete. Returning to ancestral land is about more than bricks and mortar. It is about restoring dignity, rebuilding community, and acknowledging that even after decades of separation, the ground remembers.

The 14th kykNET Silwerskerm Festival takes place from 19 to 22 August in Camps Bay, Cape Town. Tickets for the films, as well as the prestigious awards ceremony on Saturday, 22 August, are available at Quicket.

See Silwerskermfees Full Programme