Hout Bay
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2020) |
Hout Bay | |
|---|---|
    From top, a view of Hout Bay from Chapman's Peak. Hout Bay beach. Bronze Leopard located in the south access to Hout Bay (left), East Fort Battery, Hout Bay (right). Hout Bay 2014 06.jpg | |
  Hout Bay  Hout Bay | |
| Coordinates: 34°2′S 18°21′E / 34.033°S 18.350°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| Municipality | City of Cape Town |
| Government | |
| • Type | Ward 74 |
| • Councillor | Roberto Quintas (DA) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 28.38 km2 (10.96 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 17,900 |
| • Density | 630/km2 (1,600/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 6.8% |
| • Coloured | 32.3% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.8% |
| • White | 57.4% |
| • Other | 2.8% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • English | 59.7% |
| • Afrikaans | 32.9% |
| • Xhosa | 1.3% |
| • Other | 6.1% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 7806 |
| PO box | 7872 |
| Area code | 21 |
Hout Bay (Afrikaans: Houtbaai, meaning "Wood Bay") is a seaside town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The town is situated in a valley on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, twenty kilometres south of the Central Business District of Cape Town. The name "Hout Bay" can refer to the town, the bay on which it is situated, or the entire valley.
The area was originally made up of two farms, which were slowly subdivided to make way for urban expansion. While still maintaining its rural atmosphere, the area of Hout Bay has more than 5,960 residences inhabited by a population of at least 17,900 people (as of 2011).[1]
Pronunciation
The pronunciation of "Hout Bay" varies:
- Afrikaans Pronunciation: həʊ-'t bʌɪ / hoe-'t (contracted "t") bye.[citation needed]
- English Pronunciation: həʊ-'t beɪ / hoe-'t (contracted "t") bay.[citation needed]
- Adapted English Pronunciation: haʊ-'t beɪ / how-'t (contracted "t") bay.[citation needed]
History
Pre-colonisation
From remains found in a cave we know that people lived in this cave between 100 AD and 500 AD. These people were known as the late Stone Age people. They had no metal tools or weapons and used stone to make whatever implements they needed. They were gathers of wild plants, shellfish and the seabirds and animals that were washed ashore. They also hunted and fished using Hooks fashioned from Bones and nets made from fibrous plants and the skins of animals.
The Khoi-Khoi and Bushmen were descendants of the late Stone Age people. They were called Khoi-Khoi because of the strange clicking sound of their language. The Khoi-Khoi were also called Strandlopers because they gathered food from the beaches and some people called them Kaapmans, Men from the Cape. Harry could speak a little English and was a great help to Van Riebeeck as an interpreter. The Khoikhoi were gatherers, hunters and Herders this means that apart from gathering and hunting their food they also possessed large herds of cattle and sheep. They lived in huts made of restio mats tied to a Beehive shape frame made of pliable poles. The Khoi often set up camp in Hout Bay. The names Hotnotshuisie and Oudekraal originated from the days when the Khoi camped in these places. The Khoi traded with the early voyagers from Europe who were on their way to the East and had stopped at the Cape in order to get fresh food and water. The Khoi bartered with these early sailors exchanging cattle and sheep for small pieces of copper, brass and tin.
The first written account of Hout Bay dates to 1607 when John Chapman, masters mate on the English boat, the "Consent" which was becalmed at the entrance to the Bay, was sent in the ship's pinnace at dusk on a chancy venture because Hout Bay was unknown wild country and the time was late afternoon which would make it difficult for him to find the Consent in the darkness.
Recorded in the Rutter (Logbook) by the pilot, John Davis: "Chapman’s Chaunce hath in latitude 34-10 and is a harbour which Leith within the south west point under a little hill like charring cross (a sculptured memorial of a cross on a ornamental mounting in London) close hanging by the sea- side of the S.S.W side of the land " Chapmans Chaunce was the first name given to Hout Bay and it was also the first English name to appear on the maps of Southern Africa.
In 1614 an English sailor records having taken wood from the forest of Hout Bay in order to mend his ship.
Dutch colony
When the Dutch established a colony in Table Bay in 1652, a great quantity of good timber was required for construction, shipbuilding and other purposes. There was no large forest in the immediate vicinity of the settlement, mainly because the rainfall was not high enough. It was soon apparent that the colonists would be able to fell wood they needed in the wetter valley that lay on the other side of a low pass (now called Constantia Nek) between the southern end of Table Mountain and Constantiaberg.[2] Van Riebeeck described the forest of Hout Bay as being the finest in the world. It was Van Riebeeck who gave Hout Bay its present name. In 1652 on 22 November Van Riebeeck wrote in his journal about T’ Houtbaaitjen. Since then it has been known as Hout Bay.[citation needed]
In 1662, the year when Jan Van Riebeeck left the Cape, the Boscheuwel road was extended from Kirstenbosch in a rough track over Constantia Nek to Hout Bay.
In 1668 the first permit to cut and saw wood in the Hout Bay forest was granted. In 1677 the first agreement to rent land for farming purposes was signed. In 1681 two farms were established Ruyteplatts and Kronendal.
Forts
In 1781 the French built three forts at Hout Bay. These were part of a line of forts known as the French lines that were built in order to protect the Cape from falling into the hands of the English. The west fort at the harbour dates from this time. In the latter half of the 19th Century the farms Moddergat, Nooitgedacht, Oakhurst and Uitkyk were established.
-
Fort Klein Gibraltar -
East Fort of today -
East Fort of old
Manganese mine
In 1873, manganese was discovered in the Constantiaberg. In 1909 to 1911 manganese was mined in Hout Bay. Reminders of these activities are the ruins of the manganese ore jetty and the old mine workings up the mountain. In 1880, Crisp Arnold set up fishing sheds and started curing snoek for export to Mauritius.
St. Peter's the Fisherman church
In 1895 Walter Gurney built the first church in Hout Bay. It still stands today and is known as St Peter's the Fisherman. The first school in Hout Bay was started in this church.
Morrow - Factory Boat
In 1904 Hout Bay's first crawfish canning factory was established in the wreck of an old sailing ship, The R Morrow that stood where the present South African Sea Products factory is today. For almost 10 years the factory operated successfully exporting canned crawfish overseas and providing work for the local inhabitants. On 31 July 1914 a leak in the acetylene gas supply caused an explosion which blew up the canning factory, killing 7 people including the owner Mr. Lucien Plessis.
Chapman's Peak
In 1922 Chapman's Peak Drive was opened to the public. It had been built by the provincial administration using convict labour. It had taken 7 years to build and had cost (R40 000).
Fishing industry
The fishing industry expanded substantially in the 1930s when fish became a popular item on menus and improved facilities for transporting fish inland were created. The Trautman family improved their fishing boats and built more sheds on the beach for processing the fish. They owned Trans Africa Fisheries. The Trautman brothers introduced the valuable frozen rock lobster tail export business and the Dorman family, who like the Trautmans, had originally bought land in the 19th century for farming purposes became more involved in the fishing industry. Duikersklip and Chapman's Peak Fisheries were two companies owned by the Dormans.
Today Chapman's Peak fisheries have expanded to incorporate a fish importing business as well as retailing local catches. Mariners Wharf, South Africa's fish emporium, was opened 1984.
Harbour facilities have improved steadily over the years. In 1937 the South Breakwater was built and in 1968 the North Breakwater was added. The post-war fishing factories spreaded everywhere and at Hout Bay the South African Sea Products Company was established.
Hotels
Holiday accommodation in the form of the Hout Bay Hotel was built sometime between 1871 and 1889 by Jacob Trautman. Originally known as the Royal Hotel it was a popular honeymoon hotel at the turn of the 19th century.
Chapman's Peak Hotel was originally called the Beach Hotel and was built in 1903 after the original hotel was gutted by fire. It was a beautiful example of an Edwardian seaside hotel until 1981 when extensive alterations were embarked upon.
Flora Bay
Flora Bay bungalows had been a favourite camping site for many years before Flora Bay was developed. A large sandy beach, which linked up with the main beach, covered the rocks below this area. The sand slowly disappeared when the breakwater quays were built on the west side of the bay in 1937. A small beach was still there in the 1960s.
University of Cape Town students camped here in the 1920s. The girls were accompanied by a chaperone and camped under the milkwoods on the one side of the bay whilst the boys' camp was set up on the other side. Campers increased to such an extent, especially over Christmas and Easter that Ernest Trautman employed a small measure of control by charging a small camp fee in the 1940s. Later he built rondawels with thatched roofs and today the little bay has accommodation for 130.
Neighbourhoods
Hout Bay is divided into several neighbourhoods. The Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch describes 28 distinct areas. Suburbs include Scott Estate, Hanging Meadows, Baviaanskloof, Hillcrest, Bergendal, Penzance, Imizamo Yethu, Meadows, Tarragona, Oakwood, Bokkemanskloof, Overkloof, Silvermist, Longkloof, Valley, Victorskloof, Nooitgedacht, Beach Estate, Northshore, Mount Rhodes, Klein Leeukoppie Estate, Ruyteplaats, Tierboskloof, Kronenzicht, Hangberg, Hout Bay Heights and Hughenden Estate. Llandudno an entirely separate village of about 200 houses lies over the "Suikerbossie" pass from Hout Bay.[3]
Hangberg
The Hangberg settlement is situated on the mountain slopes between Hout Bay Harbour and The Sentinel peak, and many of the residents are employed in fishing and other industries related to the harbour.
Imizamo Yethu
.jpg)
The main informal settlement in the Hout Bay area, Imizamo Yethu, is situated within a community consisting of both affluent and middle income citizens. Relations between the residents of Hout Bay and those of Imizamo Yethu have been strained for several years following the national elections in 1994 and 1999. The initial response to Imizamo Yethu was not favourable, and residents of Hout Bay, represented by the Hout Bay Ratepayers' Association and the Hout Bay Residents' Association, strongly objected to the location and management of the informal settlement and also the suggestion of an increase in the land used for the settlement in 2001.
Both associations feared that the land invasions at the time were racially motivated, whereas the African National Congress feared that the Residents Association of Hout Bay was creating a racially charged environment and refusing to develop land for housing.[4] Current issues between residents of Hout Bay and Imizamo Yethu are focused on service delivery for the informal settlement. The 18 hectares (44 acres) area supports 20,000 people,[5] with many of these living in cramped and squalid conditions with no plumbing, roads or any discernible infrastructure for sustainable living. This is in sharp contrast to the affluence of residences in much of Hout Bay. In addition to much middle income housing for local South Africans, there are also a number of multi-million rand mansions, luxurious holiday homes and some small wine estates. As of 2007, political differences between the Democratic Alliance and African National Congress have hampered the building of houses for the residents of Imizamo Yethu.[6]
Because of its location and the overcrowding, Imizamo Yethu is vulnerable to hazards like floods and fires. A particularly devastating fire broke out on March 11, 2017, fanned by dry weather and high winds.[7] Hundreds of families were left homeless and there was an outpouring of support from across Cape Town to help the victims. [8]
Geography
Hout Bay is surrounded by mountains to the north, east and west and the southern Atlantic Ocean to the south. In the north, it is bordered by Table Mountain National Park comprising the Orangekloof Nature reserve and the bottom slopes of Table Mountain beyond that. To the north-west, it is bordered by the backside of the Twelve Apostles, known as the Oranjekloof. To the west, it is bordered by Little Lion's Head, Karbonkelberg, Kaptein's Peak and The Sentinel. To the east it is bordered by the Vlakkenberg, Skoorsteenskopberg and Constantiaberg. Chapman's Peak Drive is carved out of the mountainside and leads towards Noordhoek and onwards to Cape Point.
The sheltered bay of Hout Bay has a white sand beach, an attraction for tourists and locals alike. Hout Bay has one of the busiest fishing harbours in the Western Cape with an established tuna, snoek and crayfish industry.[9] The harbour is home to the Hout Bay Yacht Club and several restaurants.
There are three roads leading to and from Hout Bay, all over mountain passes. One goes to Llandudno and Camps Bay through the pass between Judas Peak (part of the Twelve Apostles) and Little Lion's Head. This pass is known as "Suikerbossie" (known as the toughest hill on the Cape Argus Cycle Race). Between Hout Bay and Noordhoek there is Chapman's Peak Drive, which was closed for many years and finally reopened in early 2004 with a controversial toll booth. Lastly a road leads to Constantia over the Constantia Nek pass between Vlakkenberg and the back slopes of Table Mountain.
Surfing
Off the coast of Hout Bay, is a Big Wave known as "Dungeons". The annual Red Bull Big Wave Africa competition was held here but has been suspended. Swells of up to 47 feet (14.3 m) have been recorded here as well as numerous deaths as a result of boating, diving and surfing-related incidents in the area. The spot itself consists of various reefs. The most popular is called "2.5" since it is 2.5 metres (8.20 ft) deep. Behind it is "3.5", which is 3.5 metres (11.48 ft) deep. There is also a reef that is reputed to be able to hold a 100-foot-high (30 m) wave, should one ever come. Before the use of jet-skis to enter and leave the area, the surfers who braved these waters had to paddle through a dark and deep channel, through to where the waves break.[10]
Fishing
Hout Bay is the base port to rich marine life and offers some of the finest yellowfin tuna (Thunnus Albacares), longfin tuna (Thunnus Alalunga), and yellowtail (Seriola Lalandi) fishing in the world along with a huge variety of pelagic sea birds with many different species been sighted at different times of the year.[11]
Leisure and tourism
As a historic and still-working fishing village, Hout Bay's local colour and scenery make it a tourist attraction among both local and international visitors. There are a variety of restaurants in the village as well as two hotels (the Hout Bay Manor and the Chapman's Peak Hotel), a number of bed and breakfasts and self-catering accommodation options. The harbour has restaurants, fresh fish outlets and craft stores, with views of the bay and boat rides to Duiker Island and around The Sentinel. Chapman's Peak Drive is a scenic mountain drive and underwent renovations to ensure the safety of travellers using the route.[citation needed] The East and West forts built by the Dutch in the 18th century can also be visited, with the original cannons and barracks still standing on the slopes of Chapman's Peak. The East Fort is the oldest operating gun battery in the world.[citation needed] The mountains surrounding Hout Bay also have hiking trails. In the same area is a bronze statue of a leopard on a rock at the water's edge, looking out over the ocean.
The Red Bull Big Wave Africa surfing contest was held at the infamous surf spot affectionately known as Dungeons, about 1 kilometre offshore off Duiker Island. Unfortunately this contest no longer takes place. Some of the biggest waves in the world are found here and these attract surfers from all over the world during the winter months (June - August). Local boat operators provide the opportunity to watch and take photographs of the surfers challenging these monster waves.
The Hout Bay Yacht Club is situated in the working harbour and provides moorings for both recreational, fishing and sailing boats.
Tourist sites
Since Hout Bay has a number of attractions, during the Christmas holidays (which is also summer in South Africa), Hout Bay is buzzing with people.[tone] Traffic builds up quickly and the small village can be congested by midday.[citation needed] The Hout Bay Harbour market is one of the places which gets filled quickly during this busy time.[citation needed] The market is used by both tourists and locals alike. Here handmade arts and crafts can be bought and a range of foods is available.[citation needed] The World of Birds is a bird sanctuary and zoo found along Valley road which is commonly visited by families with young children.[citation needed] Hout Bay Museum has a small information centre located in its premises.
Pollution
The chemicals released by the Oceana fishmeal factory in Hout Bay harbour has elicited a number of complaints and has a negative impact not only on tourism, but on the lives of the people living in the whole area.[citation needed] People have taken to social media to vent their frustrations about the City of Cape Town's apparent inaction.[12][13][14]
People
Prominent people from Hout Bay
- Denis Goldberg, anti-apartheid activist
- Sydney Skaife, entomologist and naturalist.
- Paul du Toit, artist
- Pieter Jansz van der Westhuizen, founding ancestor of the van der Westhuizen family.
- Michaela Strachan, English-born television presenter
- Frank Solomon, big wave surfer
- Roelof Botha, U.S.-based technology entrepreneur and former CFO of PayPal
Neighbourhood watch
Crime within Hout Bay increased markedly up to 2003, particularly in property crime such as housebreaking and vehicle theft.[citation needed] In response, the Hout Bay community formed a neighbourhood watch group which has been effective in greatly reducing crime in the valley.[citation needed] Initiatives of this group include further policing, roadblocks, CCTV monitoring, radio network, day and night patrols and the establishment of a 24-hour emergency call centre.[15]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Main Place Hout Bay". Census 2011.
- ^ tinashe (16 March 2011). "Hout Bay".
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 May 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Racial tensions rise over Hout Bay land issue - Independent Online
- ^ Mariette le Roux: "Hout Bay inequality a microcosm of S Africa Archived 2012-02-27 at the Wayback Machine". The Brunei Times, May 27, 2007 (via AFP)
- ^ Blame ANC for neglect of Imizamo Yethu Archived 2012-06-03 at the Wayback Machine - Helen Zille, Mail & Guardian
- ^ "TimesLIVE". www.timeslive.co.za.
- ^ Daniella Potter (13 March 2017). "Donations pour in for Hout Bay residents as fires continue to rage – The Citizen". Citizen.co.za. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
- ^ "Eish!". www.southafrica.net.
- ^ "The Big Wave Blog". www.thebigwaveblog.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ Preen, Denham. "Xtreme Fishing Charters". www.xtremecharters.co.za. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Home".
- ^ "Hout Bay Organised". www.facebook.com.
- ^ "Hout Bay Complete". www.facebook.com.
- ^ Bl@ck_T3@mX. "moroccankingdom212". www.houtbaywatch.com.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Further reading
- Tony Westby-Nunn: Hout Bay - An illustrated profile
- Stanley Dorman: Embracing Hout Bay (edited by Gwynne Schrire)
- Carey-Ann van der Bijl and Sue Maude: The life of Llandudno
External links
Hout Bay travel guide from Wikivoyage
Communities of City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality, Western Cape | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seat: Cape Town | |||||
| Atlantic Seaboard | .svg) | ||||
| Blaauwberg | |||||
| Cape Flats |
| ||||
| City Centre | |||||
| Helderberg | |||||
| Islands | |||||
| Northern Suburbs | |||||
| Southern Suburbs | |||||
| South Peninsula | |||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
