The Cape - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

the Cape ( Cape Town in English, Kaapstad in Afrikaans, iKapa in Xhosa) is a Ville of South Africa and provincial capital of the Cape-Westerner.

Since 1910, the Cape is also the parliamentary Capitale country at the side of Pretoria (capital administrative) and of Bloemfontein (capital legal).

The city of the Cape, founded in 1652, is regarded as the city-mother of South Africa.

Geography and demography

The Cape is built with the foot of the Montagne of the Table to the south-western point of Africa.

The climate is there of Mediterranean type.

The agglomeration has a population estimated at 2,9 million inhabitants (2001) including 48% of mongrel, 31% of blacks and 19% of white.

Nearly 47% of the population is old of less than 24 years against 5% old of more than 65 years. The Middle Age of the residents is 26 years what in fact a young city.

Unemployment rate is of 19,4%. nearly 59% of these unemployed are blacks against 3% which are white.

The dominant native tongue of the residents is the Afrikaans (41.4%) followed by English (27.9%) and Xhosa (28.7%), in very clear increase since the last migratory waves.

The Christians account for 77% of the inhabitants compared with 10% of Moslems (the Malayan ones of the Cape).

In 2006, the municipality of the Cape admits a shortage of 260.000 residences whereas the area accommodates each year approximately 48.000 immigrants, come from poorer provinces. This immigration which gallops which upsets old demographic balances pokes the anger of the local populations, as a majority of the Métis, which suspect the provincial and national authorities of supporting the immigration of blacks, which constitute the electorate of the African National congress, whereas themselves and the White hitherto a41dernier $c-b1, e,10 $c-b26 ce $c-b16 $c-b43, bn,84 majority are regarded as closer to the opposition.

History

The currents around the Cape being very strong, it was formerly indicated under the name of “Cape of the Storms” and today of “Cape of Good Hope”.

The city of the Cape was founded by Jan van Riebeeck the April 6th 1652 on behalf of the Dutch Compagnie of the Eastern Indies. Tavern of the Ocean, the city was to be used to restock the boats sailing on the commercial route towards the Indonesia. The situation was selected for its sheltered bay which forms a natural Port and which protected the boats against the wind prevailing from South-east.

At that time, in 1652, the Péninsule was populated only small tribes of the type Aborigène S Khoi and San. No Black of the type Bantou resided at less than 1000 km towards the east what will cause the always irresolute Polémique on the anteriority of presence between Noirs and White in South Africa during all the 20th century.

To settle in the Cape, the Dutch quickly made move the local populations Khoi and San, decimated in addition by the Maladie S imported by Europeans.

Labor lack, the Dutchmen are then obliged to off-set towards the colony of the Esclave S since the Asia or the Angola. The descendants of these slaves (known under the name of Malayan of the Cape), mixed with the European colonists and formed the ethno-cultural group of the “Mongrels”.

In 1679, Simon van der Stel is named commander of the Cape. It will develop all the area economically and in 1688 will concede with 200 Huguenot S French a ground valley green, rich in alluvium, renamed Franschhoek, to develop to with it the culture of the Vigne.

The city of the Cape will extend during all the 18th century whereas its 1st inhabitants cross its borders to establish new cities even more remote (Swellendam, Graaff-Reinet).

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Cape passes under the control of the Britanniques which make of the city-mother of South Africa the capital of the Colonie of the Cape. It is in the Cape that the first Parliament is installed thereafter. From 1910 and the installation of the Union of South Africa, the Cape, capital legislative, is forsaken with the profit of Pretoria, the administrative capital and its port is exceeded by that of Durban.

Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on an island close to the Cape, Robben Island, before being transferred in a prison close to Paarl.

The city is politically liberal during the years of Apartheid. Frank van der Velde, which was its mayor of September 1991 at September 1993 under the colors of the democratic party, joined the ANC as of the June 4th 1994, that is to say hardly more than one month after the first multiracial elections of the April 27th 1994. Populated mainly anglophone white and mongrel of language Afrikaans, the city became nevertheless a Bastion of the opposition since these elections.

The municipality of the Cape

With the municipal elections of December 2000, it is the mongrel Peter Marais, candidate of the any news democratic Alliance (DA) which is elected. Implied in a political scandal, it is indirectly responsible for the crisis end 2001 which leads to the scission of the DA and the bringing together of the Nouveau national Party with ANC. Marsh is then replaced by Gerald Morkel (DA) which must a little later leave the place to Nomaindia Mfeketo, one elected of the ANC following the redistribution of the seats within the municipal assembly.

With the municipal elections of March 1st, 2006, with 37,91% of the votes and 81 seats, the ANC is beaten by democratic Alliance (41,85% and 90 seats). It is the only defeat of importance of the ANC to elections which saw its national score increasing by ten points.

Nevertheless, with the relative majority of 90 seats out of 210, democratic Alliance is dependant on the small parts in particular Démocrates independent (10,5% and 23 seats) carried out by Patricia of Lille and of the Parti Christian democrat African (3,22% and 7 seats). The remainder of the assembly is distributed between the African Moslem party (3 seats), the plain Democratic movement (2 seats), the Front of freedom (1 seat), the Congrès African Side (1 seat), the plain independent Face (1 seat) and the universal bet (1 seat).

The March 15th 2006, Helen Zille (DA) was elected Maire of the Cape by 106 votes against 103 in Nomaindia Mfeketo (ANC). She became the only white woman then to direct one of the six larger metropolises of South Africa. She accepted the support of the elected officials of the African democratic Christian Party (ACDP), of the Face of freedom (FF+), of the UDM, the party of the Moslems, the plain democratic Face and the universal party. Andrew Arnolds (ACDP) is elected first assistant whereas Derrick Smith (FF+) is elected carries word of the municipality.

One year later, the independent democrats joined in their turn the municipal majority.

Composition of the municipality of the Cape

In 2000, the new municipality of the Cape territorialement and made up from six old was politically entitées administrative:

City of the Cape (of which townships of Langa and Mitchell' S Lime pit)
south of the peninsula : Hout Bay, Wynberg, Constantia, Fish Hoek, Kommetjie, Noordhoek and Simon' S Town.
Blaauwberg : Milnerton, Tableview and Bloubergstrand.
Tygerberg : Tygerberg, Durbanville, Bellvile and the township of Khayelitsha.
Oostenberg : Kraaifontein, Brackenfell, Kuilsrivier, Blue Downs and Eerste To rivet.
Helderberg : balneal cities of Somerset West, Strand and Gordon' S Bay.

Tourism

Today, the Cape is a major tourist pole, offering to the visitor a large variety of activities like the water sports (including the Plongée underwater, the Surf and the water sport), the angling, the tasting of wines, the purchases (shopping), the roads panoramic, the Alpinisme, the Rappel, the Cerf-volant, the Deltaplane and the Parapente and the observation of the Oiseau X or the Baleine S.

The most pleasant time is the summer, of October to that of March, although some visitors do not support too the heat of February and January. At the end of the year, the cities become over-populated then because the local holiday makers go down downtown during their summer holidays. The city of the Cape is famous sound Architecture Colonial E known as Wraps-Dutch (colonial architecture of the Cape) and victorienne. The most typical districts on the matter are those of Constantia and the downtown area and on Length street.

The tourist attractions most popular of the metropolis of the Cape are the sea front of Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the Montagne of the Table, Camps Bay, Sea Point, the downtown area, Hout Bay, Constantia, Rondebosch, Newlands, Somerset West, the Cape of Good Hope and Hermanus.

The visit of the downtown area of the Cape generally begins Heerengracht place with the site of the first camp of the Company of the Indies Orientales where are drawn up the statues of Jan van Riebeeck since 1899 and of its Maria wife of Queillerie (since 1952). The principal interesting points then accessible to foot are:

Civic Center which shelters the Municipalité,
Artscape (in the past Nico Malan) Opera House and Theater,
the castle of Good-Hope (1666), residence of the first governors of the Cape, built in one year according to a plan out of star. The room of pageantry and other parts of the forterress contain the collection William Fehr, made up of furniture, paintings and porcelains, as well as a military museum. The Flag X of the old colonial administrations and South Africa float on the rampart at the entry of the fort.
the town hall of the Cape (1905) close to the fort is of Renaissance style.
Adderley Street, the principal commercial street of the Cape,
Groote Kerk (1836), reformed church Dutchwoman,
the Museum of history and the culture (1679). built to place the slaves of the Company of the Eastern Indies then seat of the Supreme court starting from 1809, it is, after the castle, the oldest building of South Africa.
the statue of Jan Smuts,
Government Avenue, pedestrian alley broadside of oaks of 17th and 18th centuries, which skirts the gardens of the Company where was the Potager and the Verger that Jan van Riebeeck had made arrange in 1652. A statue in feet of Cecil Rhodos is located at the center of the garden whereas alleys lead to the greenhouses and the roseries.
the cathedral St George (1901), church Anglican.
South African Public Library, regarded as one of the largest libraries of the southern hemisphere.
the buildings of the Parliament (1885) before which tronent a statue of the Victoria Queen and an equestrian statue of the general Louis Botha,
South African Museum (1825), is devoted to the Ethnologie and the natural history of the country.
South African National Gallery presents mainly works of South-African artists and collections European. Another statue of Jan Smuts, more figurative, is held in front of the building.
Jewish Museum (1862), installed in oldest Synagog of South Africa,
Rust-in-Vreugd (1777), an old typical middle-class residence of the Cape and which contains part of the collection William Fehr as well as a collection of paintings and South-African engravings old.
Old Town House (1755), old guardroom, then town hall of 1761 with 1905. It presents today a collection of Dutch and Flemish paintings of the 17th century.
Koopmans de Wet House (1701) on Length Street and Corner Street, typical middle-class houses of the Cape of the 18th century presenting a collection of furniture of style afrikaner.

The Malayan district is offset and extends on Signal Hill. The district of Bo-Kaap (17th century) is a classified, recognizable historic site by houses colors pastels and its minarets. The Bo-Kaap-Malay-Museum is in Wale Street.

The port of the Cape is the second wearing of passengers and goods of South Africa. A district of entertainments was arranged there with beginning of the year 90 along the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. The site proposes an imposing shopping mall, luxurious hotels, souvenir shops, restaurants and a Aquarium (the Two Oceans Aquarium. Of this Waterfront, the visitors can go in boat for an excursion to Robben Island, go to see the colony of otaries of Duiker Island or take a ferry for Hout Bay or Simon' S Town. To appreciate a beautiful panoramic sight on the Cape, the plate of the Montagne of the Table (1 087 m of altitude) is accessible by a Téléphérique or pedestrian paths (approximately 3 hours). The operating condition (opened or closed) of the cable car is announced on a panel of warning to the locality Kloof Nek.

In the residential suburbs of the Cape, the field of Groot Constantia, formerly residence of the governor Simon van der Stel, constitutes one of the more good examples of architecture afrikaner. More in north is the field of Groote Schuur (large barn) and with mountainside are the national Botanical garden Kirstenbosch, the buildings of the Université of the Cape, a zoo and a windmill. The " Rhodos Memorial" , granite monument of Greek inspiration traditional dedicated to Cecil Rhodos and located on the slope of Devil' S Peak, offers a beautiful panorama on the city.

The beaches of Sea Not, Clifton, Bay Camps and Llandudno on the Atlantic Ocean are located in the residential agglomeration of the Cape. They are dominated in the east by " the mountainous chain of the 12 apôtres". A panoramic road " Chapman' S Peak Drive" skirt the peninsula of the Cape and leads to the Cape of Good Hope located in a natural reserve, while skirting the small port of Hout Bay where the cliffs reach by place 150 m height overhang the sea with peak.

Another road carries out of the Cape or the peninsula to the seaside resorts located on the southern part at False Bay. The road of the littoral passes by holidays and tourist villages of Millers Point, of Simonstown (a colony of Manchot of the Cape lives on its beach of the rocks with Boulders Beach), of Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay and St James, until Muizenberg where Cecil Rhodos had a cottage and where he died in 1902. To 170 km, beyond the seaside resorts of Strand and Gordon' S Bay, is the old port of fishing restored of Hermanus.

The trunk road N1 carries out towards the wine back-country. With Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, it is thus possible to visit wine fields and to taste the Vin S of the area.

September and August is the best period to visit the Western coast because the rains of winter return the desert living and support the flowering of the wild flowers.

The annual carnival of the Cape, " Kaapse Klopse" or " Tweede nuwejaar" , the January 2nd takes place.

General information

The area is also famous for its single Flore. One can admire Fynbos in particular there ( fine bush , in Afrikaans), a family of semi-desert plants to which the Protea S belongs and which does not push nowhere elsewhere in the country. These plants thus adapted to their arid environment and they evolved/moved in a dry flora.

The airport of the Cape was formerly known under the name of DF Malan Airport. Since 1995, it is called International airport of the Cape and its code is CPT.

Local toponymy

In 2007, a panel of historians and sociologists, consisted the municipality, proposed, starting from a list of 200 proposals, that 39 street names and avenues of the municipality are renamed:

JB Hertzog Drive : Nelson Mandela Boulevard
JG Strijdom Which occurred : Albert Luthuli Which occurred
Coen Steytler Avenue : Walter Sisulu Which occurred
De Waal Drive : Phillip Kgosana Drive
Kromboom Road : Taliep Petersen Road
Bluegum Road : Ashley Kriel Avenue
Hendrik Verwoerd Drive (Panorama) : Beyers Naude Drive
Oswald Pirow Street : Christiaan Barnard Drive
Vanguard Drive : Govan Mbeki Drive
Milner Road (Woodstock) : Adam Small Street
Milner Road (Sea Not) : Ingrid Jonker Street
Milner Road (Observatory) : SV Petersen Street
Milner Road (Tamboerskloof) : Uys Krige Road
DF Malan street : David Poole Street.
Andries Pretorius street (Somerset West) : Orange Street (name of origin)
Castle street : Krotoa Street

See too

Twinnings

Archbishop's palace

Archdiocese of the Cape
Sainte-Marie Cathedral of the Cape

External bonds

Official site of the city
Tourism in the Cape
the Alliance Fran1caise of the Cape
Infos on the Cape

Simple: Cape Town Zh-yue: 開普敦

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