The Purple House

12/11/2025

03/11/2025

What a strong start to a promising series of conversations about the intersection of health and heritage.

Saturday’s outdoor film screening 📽️ of 'Taking HAART' at The Purple House 🫟 arts café in Bonteheuwel, brought together people from six different neighbouring communities and reminded us how vital grassroots organising is — “it’s where all impactful movements have started.”

For many living with chronic illness, a broken health system is an isolating reality. The daily struggle to access lifesaving medical treatment is deepened by inequality and erodes hope for social mobility or opportunities. Saturday’s intimate, outdoor evening held those realities in the open air and turned them into energy for change and purpose.

We concluded inspired to take the Film & Dialogue event into more neighbouring communities, to help reignite a grassroots movement that centres health for people, not profit.

Thank you to everyone who attended and shared their voices. A special thanks to Cape Flats Arts Festival and Dean Jates of DLJ Media for your support.

04/09/2025

Bonteheuwel-based Talent Wanted 💜

The Purple House is looking for a young woman to moderate and/or MC dialogue event.

Ideally between the ages of 23 and 30, she needs to have a genuine passion for grassroots activism and social justice. While bringing energy and insight to the conversation, she also has a distinctive creative appearance and style.

If you have someone in mind, please reachout via inbox or WhatsApp 084 857 2372.

👋🏾 If you are the one interested in stepping into the role of moderator and have a flair for creative dialogue, The Purple House invites you!
Drop your details in our inbox along with a profile photo.

15/11/2023

To take a bunch of English language students from Germany visiting UCT at the moment is great..teaching them about first Indegioness culture is great…To make them aware that Africa is responsible for most of the world’s inventions, learning systems and civilisation is great..But I would love this learning excursions for our own ghetto youth . Empowering them with the wisdom & Knowledge of cultural identity and therestory , music & arts, knowledge of self..

You cant tell me that our education departments is not aware of that missing element , that gap…

14/11/2023

Moët se onse coloured taxi guardtjies het net nie n manier van praat met die mense nie. En vat hulle tyd voor hulle jou change gee. Die arme vrou vra net haar change na al amper tien munites. “Ja man susta relax , ek ganie weghol met jou change nie, jirre relax??!!”.. Sal die sliding door operateur af!!,punt Is dai is nie die punt nie.

Wat nog meer concerning is.. is ons nie eens kan opstaan vi onse sisters , vrouens en ons pensioners nie…ons is bang om bek te rek teen die onreg..

Ja al is ek Collin die boesman be skryf ek sulke manier as plain “coloured “!!

11/11/2023

Today I was out with some members of BLAC to go and relax and support the Cape Cultural Collective with their concert in Wynberg. It was a Saturday afternoon well spend. It’s so nice to see an audience equally balance between children and adults, white and black, pleasure with purpose.

Thank you Mansoor , June, Elizabeth and all members who helped make this happen.
The community thank you for the work you guys are doing and has been doing over the years.
RESPECT!!

10/11/2023

Tuff Update!!
Die ancientness !!
Royalty !!

26/07/2023

*D'Lore In Concert*

Frances Delores Charles, my grandmother is affectionately known as D'Lore or auntie Lore, perhaps because she layed down the law as at 11b Pampas Street, Bonteheuwel where The Purple House is not simply an to ode to my mother Aloma's generation but has become a symbol of deep mourning since her passing.

Almost everyone knows that Mamma didn't support a grand-narrative of any kind, especially the one that it was 'all-bad before 1994'. Although a freedom fighter in her own right, a patron of the arts, child rights activist and avid marathon walker - Mamma was not a Facebook activist and niether a typical progressive, she appreciated the complexities of life. Nothing was ever simply black or white, right or wrong. She cared for the grey areas and wanted the whole story told, in its correct context.

Context was important, always! Multiple times I've been cautioned and even scolded on my way to work to do an interview, whether as interviewee or interviewer... "En jy vertel die mensa die waarheid!"
She particularly didn't like the grand-narratives of forced removals perpetuated by some who recall District Six. - Syt gse, "daai plek was vuil en baie mensa was t bly om t trek... En wat is die van Mandela? Die kinnus hettie eers gewiet hoe lyk die man nie ma hulle skree _free Mandela_."

And so it was, that I actually thought while growing up Mamma supported the enemy. It was only in my later years that I learned, no-one is simply an enemy or friend, doesn't matter what government rules. "Hulle isi racist nie, hulle is net plain ombeskof" - Mamma had a way of simplifying things, in its context. She didn't intellectualise but make no mistake, she could comprehend political rhetoric.

With the gift of the gab she was in-concert, harmonising every moment like a violet rose. Like divine inspiration bringing together the _progressive red-left_ and the _conservative blue-right_; D'Lore personify's the colour purple, a reminder of our crown and forever a symbol of home because she is

She was a real lady... With your bright and coloured necklaces; your comical banter and your singing! With you in-the-house, we always knew we were in-concert.
Even now, I know in peace you rest in purple-power. Watching over us as you promised; "ek sal julle spook as julle nie maak soos ek se nie"
To the crown of our family, the home in our hearts, we love and miss you Mamma, until we meet again. 💜

© Irma Titus

18/07/2023

We bid farewell to
- Mrs Charles, may you Rest In Power!

‼️FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR FRANCES DELORES CHARLES
⌚08:30 - 09:30
The viewing of Frances will be at 11b Pampas Street, Bonteheuwel.
All friends and family are invited to attend.

⌚10:00 – 11:00
Frances’ funeral service will be held at the New Apostolic Church in Plakkie Street, Kalksteenfontein. After the service her remains will be transported to the funeral parlour for a private cremation. The funeral attendees are invited to share a meal with the family at 11b Pampas Street.

Thanks for your support and comforting messages in this time of bereavement.💜

30/05/2023

Check out Irma Aloven Titus
latest blog where this 'child of Bonteheuwel' celebrates its people living here !

Bonteheuwel is located in the Cape Peninsula or what is traditionally known as the Cape Flats. S ituated North of Cape Town, Bonteheuwel w...