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Township History & Information.

History of Khayelitsha
During the Apartheid era, the South African government did not want black people to settle permanently in Cape Town. Men were needed for labour in the white city of Cape Town and therefore allowed into the city during working hours. Townships were merely set up as dormitories for the labourers.

Women were banned from seeking employment in the city and wives could not join their husbands. However, Apartheid failed to prevent the influx of job-seekers and families, and when no legal accomodation could be found, shacks were erected in Old Crossroads.

This was the first illegal settlement and during the 1970's and early 1980's, the government attempted to demolish the shacks and destroy the residents property, but as soon as the police disappeared, the shacks re-appeared. They are now a permanent fixture.

In 1983 the government realised that the informal areas were growing and attempted to control urbanization by creating Khayelitsha or "New Home". This was for all illegal black settlers who had been living in the area for ten years or longer.

"Khayelitsha covers an area of about 47km² and is home to about 1.5 million people. It is the fastest growing, and largest single township in South Africa. Soweto covers a larger area and has more residents, but is an acronym for South Western Townships, a collection of two dozen townships south west of Johannesburg." (Township crawling magazine - Soweto Tours - Laura Ndukwana - Editor)

Township info
Khayelitsha is a mix of old and new, formal and informal and affluent and poor. There are housing projects which are continuously on the go, to alleviate the housing problems, but shacks are continuously being erected by the steady stream of people arriving from the Eastern Cape.

There are shopping centres, clinics, fire stations, schools, police stations, recreation centres, churches and post offices. There are also shipping containers which serve as shops, schools and hair salons. Anything goes and it is not strange to see goats or cattle roaming freely.

The roads are in good condition and the government is endeavoring to deliver services to all the areas as soon as possible. Most people have electricity and access to fresh water and toilets.

The residents are warm, friendly and welcoming. The population harbours an untapped wealth of artists and craftsmen, actors and musicians. Tools of the trade are extremely innovative. There is a strong community spirit and once you are welcomed into the community, you become part of an extended family, which is an honour. Come out on a visit, meet the people and share experiences and knowledge with them and perhaps spend a night, to really enjoy their hospitality.