Cape Town honours Taliep Petersen with Freedom of the City

Cape Town has honoured one of its favourite sons with the Freedom of the City.

Composer and producer Taliep Petersen was awarded the prize posthumously for his contribution to Cape Town’s musical theatre scene.

His work documented the lives, humour and resilience of displaced communities, most notably through District Six: The Musical.

Nearly two decades after his death, Taliep’s work continues to shape Cape Town’s cultural memory.

At City Hall on Tuesday night, his daughter, Jawaahier Petersen, accepted the honour on his behalf, reflecting on a legacy rooted in meaning rather than accolades.

“Legacy is what remains when the curtain falls. It’s what continues to live in people, in memory, culture and courage.”

She told the City Council her father's work still resonates with younger generations, not as nostalgia, but as truth that continues to speak.

“Young people today are drawn to his work because it still speaks truth, because it still resonates, and because it reminds us that our stories matter.”

The city said the honour recognises the enduring role of culture in shaping identity and belonging.