Kraaifontein

Kraaifontein
Kraaifontein  Kraaifontein shown within Western Cape
Location within Cape Town Kraaifontein Show map of Western Cape Kraaifontein Kraaifontein (South Africa) Show map of South Africa Kraaifontein Kraaifontein (Africa) Show map of Africa
Coordinates: 33°50′39″S 18°41′55″E / 33.84417°S 18.69861°E / -33.84417; 18.69861Coordinates: 33°50′39″S 18°41′55″E / 33.84417°S 18.69861°E / -33.84417; 18.69861
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
Municipality	City of Cape Town
Established	1869-Subdividing farms, 1876- Railway station, 1877-Town development
Area[1]
• Total	30.82 km2 (11.90 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	154,615
• Density	5,000/km2 (13,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
• Black African	43.3%
• Coloured	40.2%
• Indian/Asian	0.4%
• White	14.4%
• Other	1.7%
First languages (2011)[1]
• Afrikaans	45.4%
• Xhosa	33.4%
• English	14.0%
• Sotho	2.5%
• Other	4.7%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	7570
PO box	7569
Area code	+27 (0)21

Kraaifontein is a suburb of Cape Town, in the Western Cape of South Africa. It got its name due to the big number of crows (the Afrikaans word for crow is kraai) that nest in the region.^[2]

Beginnings

In 1869 sub-division of farm land started in the area. In 1876 a railway station was formed called "Kraaifontein Junction". In 1877 formal town development started. The first school was established on 20 January 1908. The Dutch reformed church was founded in 1948. In the same year Kraaifontein got its own local authority. In 1954 the "Volkskerk van Afrika (Translated- The nation's church of Africa)" was founded with Appollis,BJE, being the first preacher. On 16 September 1957, it became a municipality under the first Mayor JP Rossouw. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Kraaifontein today

It is located in the city's northern suburbs and flanks the N1 towards Paarl and Worcester to the north. It comprises several residential areas namely Windsor Park, Scottsville, Peerless Park, Eikendal, Belmont Park, Bonny Brook and Uitzicht. Libraries are funded and owned by the City of Cape Town Metropolitan municipality. These libraries are Kraafontein Public Library, Scottsdene Public Library and Eikendal Public Library. High Schools in the area are Monument Park, Eben Dönges, Bloekombos and Masibambane Secondary School.

Areas

Kraaifontein, encompassing the areas of Scottsdene, Wallacedene , Eikendal and Bloekombos, was once a separate municipality before the restructuring of all South African municipalities during the late 90's. These areas, however, are listed as separate suburbs by the City of Cape Town for planning and statistical purposes.^[6] Forming part of the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality, it is located in its Subcouncil 2 Area named Bergdal.^[7]

Coat of arms

The Kraaifontein municipal council assumed a coat of arms, registered it with the Cape Provincial Administration in June 1964,^[8] had it granted by the provincial administrator in March 1967,^[9] and registered it at the Bureau of Heraldry in September 1969.^[10] The arms, designed by Schalk Pienaar, were : Argent, a chevron Gules between in chief two heraldic fountains and in base a bunch of grapes leaved proper (in layman's terms : a silver shield displaying, from top to bottom, two discs divided into wavy white and blue stripes, a red chevron, and a bunch of grapes). The crest was a parson-crow, and the motto Non auro sed virtute. Together the crow (kraai) and the fountains (fonteine) were a pun on the name of the town.

References