Khayelitsha

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Khayelitsha
—  Suburb  —
Khayelitsha Township in the Cape Flats
Khayelitsha is located in South Africa
Khayelitsha
Coordinates: 34°02′25″S 18°40′40″E / 34.04028°S 18.67778°E / -34.04028; 18.67778Coordinates: 34°02′25″S 18°40′40″E / 34.04028°S 18.67778°E / -34.04028; 18.67778
Country South Africa
Province Western Cape
Metropolitan municipality City of Cape Town
Time zone South Africa Standard Time (UTC+2)

Khayelitsha (pronounced /ˌkaɪəˈlitʃə/) is a partially informal township in South Africa, on the outskirts of Cape Town in the Cape Flats. The name is Xhosa for New Home.

Contents

[edit] History

Cape Town initially opposed implementing the Group Areas Act passed in 1950 and residential areas in the city remained unsegregated until the first Group Areas were declared in the city in 1957.[1] When Cape Town did start implementing the Group Areas Act, it did so more severely any other major city; by mid 1980s it became one of the most segregated cities in South Africa.[1]

The discrimination and black population control by the apartheid regime did not prevent blacks from settling in the outskirts of Cape Town. After the scrapping of pass laws in 1987 many blacks, mainly Xhosas, moved into areas around Cape Town in search of work. By this time many blacks were already illegally settled in townships like Nyanga and Crossroads. As the black population grew, the apartheid regime sought to solve the "problem" by establishing new black neighbourhoods. Khayelitsha was established in 1985 and large numbers of people were forcefully relocated there[2], mostly peacefully,[3] but occasionally accompanied with violence.[4]

The Western Cape was a preference area for the local coloured population and a system called influx control was in place preventing Xhosas from traveling from the Transkei without the required permit. After the historic 1994 elections hundreds of thousands moved to urban areas in search of work, education, or both. Many of them erected shacks made of tin, wood and cardboard.

[edit] Demographics

Today Khayelitsha is home to 2 million people (although the official City of Cape Town estimate is at 2,100,000), and runs for a number of kilometres along the N2. The ethnic makeup of Khayelitsha is approximately 90.5% Black African and 8.5% Coloured and even 0.5% White, with Xhosa being the predominant language of the residents. [5][6] Khayelitsha has a very young population. Fewer than 7% of its residents are over 50 years old and over 40% of its residents are under 19 years of age. About 75% of residents consider themselves Christian while about 20% are not religious and a negligible amount consider themselves Muslim.[7].

Khayelitsha is today reputed to be the largest township in South Africa depending on one's definition of a 'township' and which figures one is using. The other candidate for largest township is Soweto in Gauteng , South Africa. However, Soweto is a collection of two dozen townships, which makes Khayelitsha the largest single township.[8] Since the ANC came to power in the country in 1994, the ruling party claims that living conditions in the township have improved markedly. There have been many developments such as new brick housing being built, new schools being built, and the creation of a central business district in the Township. However many residents strongly dispute the claim that the quality of life has improved. They claim that crime rates remain very high and that only a small portion of residents see improvements as a result of infrastructure and welfare interventions.

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[edit] Geography

Khayelitsha is located on the Cape Flats, between Table Bay and False Bay.

[edit] Subdivisions

Khayelitsha panorama looking towards Table Mountain

Being so huge, Khayelitsha has been split into many different sub-sections or areas. Two of Khayelitshas most most poor sub-sections which are also known to be extremely dangerous is Site C and Site B. Mandela Park and Kuyasa is made up mostly of government housing. The wealthier areas such as Harare and Mhakaza are home to the more qualified population like doctors and teachers, but these areas do contain a high number of shacks and backyard dwellers. One of Khayelitshas most known informal settlements in Enkanini with almost 7000 households.

[edit] Economy

[edit] International Funding and Partnerships

As Cape Town's largest township, Khayelitsha attracts funding from international aid agencies. A number of partnerships with international companies, governments and NGOs have been set up:

  1. UK partnerships have been brokered through the work of the Specialists Schools and Academies Trust [9]
  2. A successful initiative at Ikhwezi Lesizwe Primary School has brought company support for Technology. UK based Ramesys have donated software and kit to allow good web communications. Smart Technology from Canada have donated an interactive whiteboard
  3. Another such group based in Zion, Illinois, USA is Partners Across the Ocean which has brought Khayelitsha high school learners to the USA and built a computer lab in Khayelitsha [10].
  4. The South Africa Community Fund has been active in the neighbourhood of Harare, Khayelitsha, bringing groups of students from Arizona State University and other volunteers for home stays and community immersions. [11]
  5. German partnerships with the City of Cape Town through an organisation called VPUU (Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading) is responsible for the building of community centers and gardens, and the sponsorship of soccer clubs.

[edit] Education

[edit] Infrastructure

[edit] Transport

Khayelitsha has a good transport infrustructure. Golden Arrow Bus Services, Metrorail trains[12], and many taxis all use routes to and from Khayelitsha. Trains are the cheapest and most used form of transport in Khayelitsha. Khayelitsha has 7 train stations, they are Stock Road, Mandalay, Nolungile, Nonkqubela, Khayelitsha, Kuyasa and Chris Hani. Khayelitsha also has a number of bus stations and taxi ranks although most taxis still just go through the mad roads picking up people. Khayelitshas busiest roads are Mew Way, Spine Road, Lansdowne Road, Walter Sisulu Road, Bonga Drive and Baden Powell drive (although Baden Powell Drive only covers a small section).

[edit] Health care

There are three Provicinal Government clinics in Khayelitsha. Khayelitsha (Site B) CHC (Community Health Clinic) is the principal clinic, and is the only 24 hour trauma and emergency unit in the township. Michael Maphongwana (Harare) CHC and Nolungile (Site C) CHC are the other Provicinal Government clinics. There are also numerous small municipal clinics throughout the township, including Empilisweni Clinic (Harare), Khayelisha Site B Youth Centre (Site B), Khayelitsha (Site B) Clinic, Luvuyo Clinic (Makaza), Matthew Goniwe Clinic (Makaza), Mayenzeke Clinic (Harry Gwala), Nolungile Clinic (Site C)and Zakhele Clinic (Sections A-J). Services offered at these municipal clincs include Child Health, Family planning, TB treatment, HIV testing, Pap Smears and treatment and diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

[edit] Society and culture

External images
Image gallery of the FIFA Football for Hope centre construction in Khayelitsha

[edit] Beaches

Khayelitsha has one beach called Monwabisi. Monwabisi is located on the coast of False Bay. It is known to be one of the most dangerous beaches in the area. It was recorded that one day, 5 people drowned at the beach.[13] This is due to a wall that was built to create a calm cove. Instead it has made many dangerous currents.[13] In the past 15 years over 50 people have drowned at the beach.[13] On warm public holidays, and on Christmas Eve, and New Year's Day the beach is known to become packed.

[edit] Social Movements

Abahlali baseMjondolo, the Treatment Action Campaign, The Social Justice Coalition, and the Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign all have a strong presence in Khayelitsha.

[edit] Sport

As part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup preparations, a Football for Hope centre is being constructed in Khayelitsha.[14]

[edit] Tourism

Recently a tourist centre opened in the township on Look Out Point, or Lookout Hill [1] one of the highest hills in the area on the corner of Mew Way & Spine Road. There are also numerous organisations which offer "township tours", such as Grass Roots Tours [2], who support Khayelitsha through social tourism. There are also opportunities for social tourism as volunteers in numerous projects around Khayelitsha. One example is the Indlovu Centre in Endlovini, Khayelitsha on Mew Road [3].

[edit] Bibliography

Dervla Murphy describes visits to Khayelitsha in June 1993 and December 1994 in her book South from the Limpopo: Travels Through South Africa ISBN 000655105X.

[edit] In popular culture

[edit] Films set in Khayelitsha

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Saff, Grant (1998). Changing Cape Town: urban dynamics, policy, and planning during the political transition in South Africa. University Press of America. pp. 85. ISBN 0761811990. 
  2. ^ "South Africa". Country reports on human rights practices : report submitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives and Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate by the Department of State in accordance with sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. February 1987. pp. 282. http://www.archive.org/stream/countryreportson1987unit#page/282/mode/1up. Retrieved 2009-11-25. 
  3. ^ Field, Sean (2001). Lost communities, living memories: remembering forced removals in Cape Town. New Africa Books. pp. 23. ISBN 086486499X. 
  4. ^ "South Africa". Country reports on human rights practices : report submitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives and Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate by the Department of State in accordance with sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. February 1986. pp. 294. http://www.archive.org/stream/countryreportson1985unit#page/294/mode/1up. Retrieved 2009-11-25. 
  5. ^ "KHAYELITSHA CELEBRATES R 3.6 MILLION WARD ALLOCATION HANDOVER". http://web1.capetown.gov.za/press/Newpress.asp?itemcode=955. 
  6. ^ "Township History & Information". http://www.nomvuyos-tours.co.za/township_info.shtml. 
  7. ^ "Khayelitsha". http://academic.sun.ac.za/tsv/Centres/Egon/trp/Kahyelitsha/Khayelitsha_Report_2004.pdf. 
  8. ^ "Township History & Information". http://www.nomvuyos-tours.co.za/township_info.shtml. 
  9. ^ SSAT
  10. ^ http://partnersacrosstheocean.org
  11. ^ http://www.southafricacommunityfund.org
  12. ^ "WESTERN CAPE TIMETABLES". Metrorail (South Africa). http://www.metrorail.co.za/Timetables.html. Retrieved 25 November 2009. 
  13. ^ a b c Raymond, Leanne (2005-07-12). "Monwabisi beach too dangerous, says NSRI". Independent Online (South Africa). http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=14&art_id=vn20050712072447556C496274. Retrieved 25 November 2009. 
  14. ^ Pollack, Martin (2009-05-29). "Football for Hope Centre launched in Khayelitsha". City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality. http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/FootballforHopeCentrelaunchedinKhayelitsha.aspx. Retrieved 26 November 2009. 

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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Suburbs of Cape Town
City Bowl
Northern Suburbs
Atlantic Seaboard
Southern Suburbs
South Peninsula
Cape Flats
False Bay
West Coast
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