The Old Port Captain’s Office at the V&A Waterfront is one of the world landmarks in a global lighting display to create awareness of polio.

After more than 100 years the historic old port captain’s office at the V&A Waterfront is again a source of communication.

In 1904, telephone lines ran from the port captain’s office to the post office in Darling Street and linked Cape Town’s community to the rest of the world. Now, it is once again a communication link between South Africa and the rest of the world through its participation in the Landmark Lighting event: an international collaboration among prominent landmarks in cities across the world to create awareness about the prevalence of polio in Africa, driven by the Rotary organisation.

The Wrigley building in Chicago, the Galacia Cathedral in Spain, the Egyptian Pyramids, the Obelisk in Buenos Aires, the Taipei Arena in Taiwan and the Old Port Captain’s Office are sending out a simultaneous lighting display on their facades with the message End Polio Now.

The Old Port Captain’s Office was chosen by Rotary International to be part of the campaign because of its prominent position at the V&A Waterfront.