A
Dream of Hope
Cato Manor Tourism is a community led initiative to create jobs through
tourism by stimulating the development of tours, arts and crafts and
traditional song and dance in this historically rich and culturally
diverse area. Once the site of forced removals, the multi-million
rand development is a fine example of the rebirth of a community torn
apart by apartheid.
Welcome to Cato Manor
Cato Manor Tourism offers a window to this world, and our Visitor
Centre at Intuthuko Junction is the gateway and starting point to
a fascinating portrayal of this important chapter in South African
history. Here, you will find a museum, internet cafe, curio shop,
conference centre and a tourist info booking office. Accompany one
of the community tour operators as they put you in touch with urban
reality tourism by providing a guided and incisive look into life
in Cato Manor.
Behind the Project
In 1995 the Cato Manor urban renewal project was designated a Presidential
Lead Project of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP),
targeting the renewal of key urban areas that had been neglected
by the apartheid regime. In 1997 significant funding was received
from the European Union to boost support from the RDP and eThekwini
Municipality.

Local artists and crafters will benifit from
this initiative to create jobs through tourism
The Future in the Making
Cato Manor is one of the success stories in the redevelopment of
South Africa. Designed to be an efficient and productive 'city within
a city' to help Durban's poor and marginalized residents, Cato Manor
is well advanced in the making. Secure tenure and infrastructure
and services will provide a safe living and working environment
and economic opportunities for the community. Where not long ago
dust swept across the remnants of razed homes, now schools, libraries,
community halls and business centres buzz with optimism.
A People Divided
Cato Manor epitomises the history of social engineering in South
Africa - racial confrontation and hostility,
the trauma of forced removals under unjust and divisive racist laws,
the adversity of poverty and lack of resources, the development
of resistant and militant forces against oppression.
A People United
However, the flame of hope could not be extinguished and the militancy
of the many political activists who took refuge there re-ignited
the spirit of Umkhumbane. In spite of all the adversity (or perhaps
inspired by it), Cato Manor is the birthplace of a unique and rich
cultural and creative outpouring of art, theatre, literature and
music that Cato Manor Tourism plans to put in the spotlight
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