Download PDFOn Saturday, 19 July 2025, Khanya College met with 61 activists, youth and cultural workers from 17 other organisations and community groups to discuss opposition to an impending eviction by the City of Johannesburg. The City is threatening to remove Khanya College from the Workers Museum Cottages—a space with deep significance to Khanya, whose history with the building stretches back nearly three decades. Khanya began using the Cottage in 1993 and voluntarily vacated in 2006 to enable its use as a cultural venue.
Representatives from a range of organisations attended the meeting, including the Casual Workers Advice Office, Mintirho Ya Vulavula, Community Health Workers from Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West, PUSH, Rena le Lona, Right 2 Know, ILRIG, Abahlali base Freedom Park, Simunye Workers Forum, Uzima SA, Benchmarks Foundation, Imbumba Young Solutions, African Reclaimers Organisation, South African Jews for Palestine, Learnmore Institute School, Sakha Kids, and others, along with individual activists.
The City’s Directorate of Arts and Culture intends to repurpose the Cottages as office space. After thanking those present, Dr Maria Van Driel, director of Khanya College, informed the meeting that the City has issued an eviction notice.
She emphasised that Khanya cannot defend the space alone, stating that both the Cottages and the Workers Museum have long welcomed working-class organisations and must be protected. Dr Van Driel highlighted their role as essential “third spaces”—communal environments where people can gather, interact and build community outside of their homes and workplaces.
She also pointed out that the City has failed to maintain some of its own facilities and is now targeting better-kept properties. Notably, the Directorate of Arts, Culture & Heritage workers were based in the civic centre, which was forced to close because of non-compliance.
“We offered them space at Khanya College’s House of Movement,” said Dr Van Driel, noting that Khanya had proposed the use of its building for City offices, a suggestion that has not been taken up.
Since being offered a User Agreement in 2021, Khanya has hosted exhibitions and meetings at the Cottage aligned with its cultural mission. The space has allowed youth to engage with the City and access the nearby Workers Museum, where video testimonies show many have benefited greatly.
Activists resolved to petition the City to reverse its decision. Though 18 groups are already involved, they aim to enlist wider support, including from the South African Federation of Trade Unions. Those present will also co-sign a formal letter from Khanya in support of the campaign, which is only beginning and expected to grow stronger over time.
This article was submitted on 20 July 2025. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
