Kraaifontein is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Organisationally and administratively it is included in the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality as a Northern Suburb. The name originated from large number of crows (Kraai in Afrikaans) that nest in the region.[2]

Kraaifontein
Kraaifontein Central Business District with its main road, Voortrekker Road
Kraaifontein Show map of Western Cape Kraaifontein Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 33°50′39″S 18°41′55″E
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

Beginnings

In 1869 sub-division of farm land started in the area. A railway station was formed in 1876 called "Kraaifontein Junction", followed by formal town development in 1877. 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 BJE Appollis being the first preacher. On 16 September 1957, it became a municipality under the first mayor, JP Rossouw.[3][4][5]

Today

It is located in the Cape Town'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, Scottsdene, Bloekombos, Wallacedene, Belmont Park, Bonny Brook, and Uitzicht. Libraries are funded and owned by the City of Cape Town Metropolitan municipality. These libraries are Kraaifontein Public Library, Scottsdene Public Library, and Eikendal Public Library. High Schools in the area are Monument Park, Eben Dönges, Bloekombos, Masibambane Secondary School, Simonsberg Primary School [6] Scottsdene High School, Scottsville High School and Bernadino Heights High School.

Geography

Kraaifontein, encompassing the areas of Bernardino Heights, Scottsdene, Scottsville, Wallacedene, Eikendal and Bloekombos, was once a separate municipality before the restructuring of all South African municipalities during the late 90s. These areas, however, are listed as separate suburbs by the City of Cape Town for planning and statistical purposes.[7] Forming part of the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality, it is located in its Subcouncil 2 Area, Bergdal.[8]

Kraaifontein is located on the north-eastern outskirts of the Cape Metropole (Cape Town metropolitan area) and at the gateway to the Cape Winelands. It is also situated more approximately 31 km north-east of Cape Town and 29 km south-west of Paarl along the N1 highway.[9][10]

The town is bordered by Durbanville in the north-east and Brackenfell in the west.

Suburban Areas

• Belmont Park
• Bernadino Heights
• Bloekombos
• Bonnie Brae
• Bonnie Brook
• Buh-Rein Estate
• Eikendal
• Joostenberg Vlakte
• Klein Begin
• Kraaifontein Agricultural Holdings
• Kraaifontein East
• Kraaifontein Industrial
• Langeberg Glen
• Langeberg Heights
• Langeberg Ridge
• Peerless Park East
• Peerless Park North
• Peerless Park West
• Scottsdene
• Scottsville
• Summerville
• Wallacedene
• Windsor Park
• Windsor Park Estate
• Viking Village
• Zoo Park

Coat of arms

The Kraaifontein municipal council assumed a coat of arms, registered it with the Cape Provincial Administration in June 1964,[11] had it granted by the provincial administrator in March 1967,[12] and registered it at the Bureau of Heraldry in September 1969.[13] 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.

Notable residents

• Adrian Jacobs, rugby union player
• Cheslin Kolbe, rugby union player, 2019 Rugby World Cup winner
• Dann-Jacques Mouton, actor
• Carmen Solomons, model
• Wayde Van Niekerk, track and field sprinter, current world and Olympic record holder, and Olympic champion

References