Strand square renamed to honour Muslim community displaced under apartheid

Ben Friedman Square was renamed Strand Muslim Community Square at a ceremony on 28 October attended by Cape Town Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews, faith leaders and residents. The change, sought by Strand’s Muslim community, honours families forcibly removed in the 1970s when the town was classified as a white-only resort, while their mosque remained standing. The square, which has three mosques, holds historical significance for a community that marked its 200th anniversary in 2023. The City Council approved the new name on 30 July 2026 after public consultation that received 193 comments, 54 of them opposing the change.