In the narrow cobbled streets of Bo-Kaap, an hour before the call to prayer echoes at sunset, young people begin to set tyres alight.
Traditionally, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is a time of community spirit and peace in the Cape Town suburb. As the time nears for the fast to be broken at dusk, families prepare food to share with their neighbours.
But this year, young people are upholding another tradition which they inherited from their elders: a battle to protect their homes in the inner city from private developers who see the appeal of prime land in Bo-Kaap.
For years residents of Bo-Kaap have met with city officials and heritage experts to have the area zoned off for heritage protection. Brett Herron, a mayoral committee member for urban development and transport, has promised protected heritage sites will not be demolished for big luxury developments.
But, the Bo-Kaap community remains sceptical. The area — Bo-Kaap residents
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