With the rand at an all time low, now is the time to visit. Cape town history and heritage cape town, south africa. Activities 4 ardernegardens visitthesebeautifulgardenspatrolledbysecurityandenjoytheirbeauty. Cape town 2020 touring the africa adventure company. About 10,000 dutch families, for various reasons, left for the north in search of new land, thereby opening up the interior of the country. Prehistory of the cape town area south african history online. The castle is to this day, one of the best examples of 17thcentury dutch east india company architecture in the world. Cape towns history and heritage city of cape town link. A historical record commemorating the centenary of the city of cape town electricity undertaking 1895 to 1995, by dennis. South african tourism brand south africa perched between the ocean and the mountain, with a national park as its heart, there is nowhere like cape town.
The castle of good hope, cape town one of the oldest buildings in south africa, castle of good hope, completed in 1666, was the hub of political and military activity in the country. It is probable that the bell tower is a 20 th century copy of the 18 th century tower at elsenburg wine estate in stellenbosch. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the cape town book. This article will examine new data from household inventories. A plan to enjoy the mother city could pursue any of the following. From about 50,000bc groups of san people migrate out southern africa eventually giving rise apparently to. Uptodate international research is woven into a readable narrative history that makes the past. If theres one museum to visit when in cape town, this is it considered one of the most important historical sites in south africa, the small building vividly recounts the story of the mixed community of freed slaves, merchants, artisans, labourers and immigrants who lived on the edge of the city centre before the process of enforced removals, under. The idp for the city of cape town reflects clearly on the strong focus placed on creating a more inclusive society by working towards greater economic freedom for all people of the city.
Robben island is a small landmass located just seven kilometres four miles off the coast of cape town, in table bay. Since the last illustrated history of south africa was published, farreaching changes have affected not only the country, but the writing of history itself. The mandate of the dmo was to market the western cape province as a premier tourism destination both domestic and abroad. It is hard to imagine a time when cape town didnt exist at all. After saldanhas visit, european ships continued to put in at table bay to take on fresh water, meat, and other. Because of its diversity and its history, cape town is a complex organism. The city of cape towns integrated development plan idp introduction by the city manager, achmat ebrahim. Residents at joe slovo informal settlement estimated population 20,000at langa township resisted forceable relocation to delft township 34km north east of cape town in 2007. In the new history of south africa, 31 of south africas foremost share fresh insights and new approaches to the story of this country. The history of cape town harbour maritime economics sa grade 10. Daily 9a4p closed on christmas and new years metres high. The residents of bokaap are mostly descended from slaves who were imported to the cape by the dutch during the the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The growth and development of cape town university of cape town. It is at the cape of good hope on the southwest coast.
Urban mobility transport in cape town 20 modes of transport in cape town 20 travel time to work in cape town 21 5. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Ministers and country representatives from angola, burkina faso, cape verde, cote divoire, lesotho, guinea, madagascar, malawi, mozambique, nigeria, south africa, south sudan and swaziland met to discuss the status of libraries and implementation of access to information agenda at a meeting on 14 august 2015 in cape town, south africajust. The first europeans to discover the cape were the portuguese. Browse our large gallery of historic buildings pictures in cape town, south africa. Dutch rule lasted nearly 200 years before the british took over in 1814, prompting many afrikaners boers to trek inland only to come back to power with a vengeance during the apartheid years. In 1990 nelson mandela became a free man 75km from cape town. The 10 best tourist spots in cape town central 2020.
Human communities had lived in the cape peninsula and western cape by hunting, fishing and collecting edible plants for many thousands of years. It is also home to the south african parliament where the countrys representatives assemble. Our guide to cape town history by our cape town local expert cape town is in many ways a city defined by its fascinating history, and discovering this during your stay is one of its many charms. During the early 1730s thatchroofed dwellings, in town, began to disappear and in their place flatroofed houses of one, two and three stories were erected. It houses cultural artefacts from south africa, colonial period artefacts as well as an impressive collection of san rock art and khoisan clothing. The results also show that image plays an important role in the destinations consumerbased destination brand equity. Cape town declaration on antidoping in sport government ministers and other authorised government officials responsible for antidoping in sport within their national jurisdictions came together at the 3rd meeting of the international inter governmental consultative group on antidoping in sport in cape town, south africa on may. It is interesting however to note that prior to the portuguese explorer bartholomew dias mention of cape town in the year 1488, there was no written history at all. Prehistoric people first left their mark here more than 600,000 years ago and traces of the tools of these early stone age huntergatherers have been found in a windscoured depression near the cape of good hope. Audio downloads, city guide, photos, history, links, accommodation guide, day tours, city and tourist information.
Prehistory of the cape town area south african history. In 1990 nelson mandela became a free man 75km from cape town, hailing the start of a democratic south africa. This requires an increase in opportunities by creating an economically enabling environment in which investment could grow and jobs could be created. Only 48 hours in cape town what to see and where to go in cape town we give you the lowdown. The struggles over housing there is a 400,000 unit shortage of housing in cape town alone according to jeanne hromnik below continue.
Stellenbosch stellies as locals call it is definitely an option when looking for day trips from cape town. Media in category history of cape town the following 32 files are in this category, out of 32 total. Take a look at our detailed itineraries, guides and maps to help you plan your trip to cape town. Indian ocean slaves in cape town, 16951807 nigel worden university of cape town the most immediate and visible connection of early colonial cape town to the indian ocean world lay in its sizeable slave population. The dutch east india company voc established cape town as a refuelling station in 1652 for their ships sailing between europe and india. The island is a unesco world heritage site and has served as a whaling station, a leper colony and most notably as a prison, where south africas nelson mandela spent 18 years of his 27 years of incarceration before being elected as the countrys first democratic president. The cape peninsula has a long and eventful history. The wars were fought between the european colonists and the native xhosa who, having acquired firearms, rebelled against continuing european rule. Houses of parliament, national gallery, south africa museum and cape towns jewish campus. City of cape town candid cape town by g g michaelides, c struik publishers 1977 cape town in the twentieth century by vivian bickfordsmith, elizabeth van heyningen and nigel worden, david phillip publishers pty ltd. Cape town simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The history of the cape colony from 1806 to 1870 spans the period of the history of the cape colony during the cape frontier wars, which lasted from 1779 to 1879.
When i first taught at the university of cape town uct in the late 1970s, the. Uitvlugt ndabeni 1902 the first segregated township to be developed by the white authorities was ndabeni in 1902. History of the cape colony from 1806 to 1870 wikipedia. History today, praise be the lord, wine was pressed for the first time from cape grapes. Bartholomeu dias arrived in 1488 after journeying south along the west coast of africa. It was built by the dutch indian company and was the centre of civilian, political and military life in the cape since 1679 and is now a symbol of the colonial past of the country. Cape town is the home of the iconic table mountain. If youre interested in a bit of history, here we go. A history of south africa, third edition south african history online. The first of the new buildings was the lovely old burger watch house and council chamber old town house whose history is inextricably interwoven with that of greenmarket square. As a result, the mother city is the centre for historical archaeology in southern africa. You can browse pictures by various categories and destinations. In the current froth about budgets, rates hikes and capital expenditure, it helps enormously to understand some real basics of cape towns economy, writes mike wills.
Cape town stadium zandvlei bird sanctuary rondevlei bird sanctuary chapmans peak kogelberg nature reserve helderberg nature reserve waterfront koeberg cape town international airport table mountain national park cape of good hope cape of good hope seal island false bay atlantic ocean table bay steenbras dam platboom bay maclear beach dias. They reigned from africa, indonesia, java malaysia, and elsewhere in asia. He encountered a few hundred indigenous inhabitants, a khoe people whose economy was based on herding, hunting, and gathering. Media in category historical images of cape town the following 140 files are in this category, out of 140 total. One of the most momentous events in south african history, the great trek afrikaans. Manuscripts and archives collection, sterling memorial li brary, yale university.
The gentleman who showed us around the museum, acting as a docent, was very knowledgeable as he has lived here forever. The cape town legislative council was also established in the same year. Natal society library legal deposit cape town must be one of the most deceptive cities in the world. History of cape town lonely planet travel information. With commentary by paul duncan and striking fullpage photographs by alain proust, the book reveals the fascinating histories, artwork and architecture of some wellknown and some. Indian ocean slaves in cape town 391 asia, cities were allegedly the most greedy consumers of human slaves, and his study of voc batavia and colombo show that it was these european trading ports that were true slave societies, drawing on a range of trading. Robert semple 1805, cape town, walks and sketches at the cape of good hope to which is subjoined a journey from cape town to blettenbergs bay 2nd ed. A guide to the citys history, people and places kindle edition by nechama brodie.
The most readable and comprehensive guide to the history of cape town available on the web. The citys dominant natural feature is table mountain, a mountain with a flat top. Known as the mother city, cape town is the oldest city in south africa. The castle open day is a great opportunity to revel in the fascinating history of cape town, with entertainment including tours of the castle, a tempting variety of cuisine, musical performances and childrens activities. Stellenbosch stellies as locals call it is definitely an option when looking for. Cape town is the second biggest city of south africa. The history of cape town harbour maritime economics sa.
They were known as cape malays, which is an incorrect term as most of bokaaps residents are not entirely continue reading history. Aug 15, 2017 known as the mother city, cape town is the oldest city in south africa. About 10,000 dutch families, for various reasons, left for the north in search of. Urban governance 22 staff and budget 23 structures and systems 23 tools for improving the citys effectiveness and responsiveness 24 conclusion 26 acknowledgements this state of cape town report 2016 and overview. Izikos social history centre, situated in spin street, cape town is a world class museum facility. They are the ancestors of the khoisan peoples of modern times the bushmen san and the hottentot khoikhoi.
Hidden cape town offers a unique overview of the citys rich architectural heritage by exploring 30 of the citys most wellknown historical buildings, which are so often passed by or overlooked every day. These extracts are not however intended to form a skeleton history of the colony, but rather to confirm or. Bubonic plague had broken out which was soon blamed on these uncontrolled kafir hordes and many whites demanded segregation. A celebration of cape town, south africa, by leading guide and trip planner, roddy bray. Lucy campbells mythbusting, grassroots, wartsandall account of the little recognised pre1652 founding of cape town, and the trauma of slavery, is a meaningful educational experience that few visitors can afford to overlook. For those of us who live or have lived in tamborskloef or newlands or even observatory, it i s a place. An ecological view of the history of the city of cape town. Cape town, says lucy, her grey dreadlocks loosely held by an orange floral scarf, her hands painting the air in front of her as she passionately engages her. Historical sites in the western cape cape town activities.
By 100,000bc the san people had settle in southern africa. The south african jewish museum, opened by nelson mandela in 2000 is situated on the heritage site of the gardens synagogue, founded in 1841, and houses the cape town holocaust center and gitlin library. The extension to the harbour gave more berthing space for ships, but two factors meant that further extension was necessary. The following is a timeline of the history of cape town, in the western cape province of south africa prior to 19th century. Cape town is in many ways a city defined by its fascinating history, and discovering this during your stay is one of its many charms. Cape town stadium zandvlei bird sanctuary rondevlei bird sanctuary chapmans peak kogelberg nature reserve helderberg nature reserve waterfront koeberg cape town international airport table mountain national park cape of good hope cape of good hope seal island false bay atlantic ocean table bay steenbras dam platboom bay maclear beach. Also known as the mother city, cape town is the largest city in the western cape province, and was founded as a resupply stop for the dutch east india company.