Kommetjie is a quiet sea-side village in the South Peninsula of Cape Town. A few kilometres inland from Kommetjie lies Ocean View. This settlement, with minimal view of the ocean, was created in 1968 by the apartheid government for the express purpose of housing  “coloured” people (as classified by apartheid) who had been forcibly removed from their homes in Simonstown, Noordhoek, Sunnydale, Kommetjie and other surrounding areas, which had been declared “white” according to the Group Areas Act of 1950.

The families of Jacob and Louisa Daniels,  Apollis and Rosie Allen, and Pollie Brand and Johanna Francke lived in Kommetjie, and were all forced to move to Ocean View between 1968 and 1972. Many descendants of these three families live in Ocean View today. 

Members of the three families agreed to meet and tell their family stories. Mrs Louisa Layters (of the Daniels family) wrote her own story “My Bitter-Sweet Memories” which she offered to share here, and which complements the story told by her older brother, John Daniels and sister. We are deeply grateful to you all.