City renames park in honour of Emaan Oosthuizen (7), gang cross-fire victim
02 September 2026
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis today oversaw the renaming ceremony of Libra Road Park in Ocean View to ‘Emaan Oosthuizen Park’. This is in honour of the seven-year-old who was gunned down in gang crossfire while playing in her street in February 2020. The Mayor was joined at the renaming ceremony by Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews, Chair of the City’s Renaming Committee, which recently approved the change, and Councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.
The ceremony included tree-planting and unveiling of new park signage and wall artwork. The park offers a range of refurbished play equipment for local families, including a seesaw, roundabout, hopscotch and more.
‘It was so special joining Emaan’s family and the Ocean View community today for this park renaming, as a symbol of our hope and determination for a better future for our children and communities.
‘Little Emaan’s story is a heart-breaking one, but I was always struck by the warmth and humanity of her family. It was my honour to support the family at court during key moments of the five-year-long trial, and as justice was finally done with the court’s conviction of her killers.
‘May this park’s new name, art, trees, and refurbished play equipment be an enduring source of civic pride for this community. The City will keep working for safer streets, and keep pushing to be ever stronger partners to SAPS in the fight against gang and gun crime,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
Emaan Oosthuizen was seven years old at the time she was gunned down in gang crossfire while playing in her street in Ocean View in February 2020. Sentences of 35 years without parole were handed to each of the two killers on 2 May 2025. This followed the High Court’s guilty verdict for Emaan’s tragic murder, the attempted murder of four others, as well as possession of illegal firearms.
‘The City’s Naming Committee was pleased to support the renaming of this park as a symbol of hope for local families. May the tragedy of Emaan’s story in the future be associated with the resilience of local families to keep striving for a better tomorrow,’ said Alderman Andrews.
Councillor Higham said the City looked forward to continued partnerships with the Ocean View community to protect and care for this shared public space.
‘The City’s goal is for our parks to support recreation, environmental conservation, and social well-being. Through continued investment and community partnerships, we can ensure these valued public spaces remain safe, accessible and enjoyable for all residents,’ said Councillor Higham.
CAPTION: Mayor Hill-Lewis joined family of gang cross-fire victim Emaan Oosthuizen (7), for the renaming of Ocean View’s Libra Road Park in her honour, together with Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews, Chair of the City’s Renaming Committee, Councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, and Ward Councillor Simon Liell-Cock.