| Athlone | |
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| — Suburb — | |
| Street map of Athlone | |
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Athlone
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| Municipality | City of Cape Town |
| Wards | 48, 60 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Councillor | Musthapha Murudker (Ward 48) ANC Patrick Hill (Ward 60) (DA) |
| Population (2001)[2] | |
| • Total | 45,056 |
| Ethnic groups | |
| • Black African | 3.21% |
| • Coloured | 69.66% |
| • Indian or Asian | 23.45% |
| • White | 3.69% |
| Languages | |
| • English | 82.58% |
| • Afrikaans | 15.18% |
| • Xhosa | 1.13% |
| Time zone | SAST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 7764 |
Athlone is a suburb of Cape Town located to the east of the city centre on the Cape Flats to the south of the N2 highway. It is named after Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone who was Governor-General of the Union of South Africa from 1924 to 1930. Two of the suburb's main landmarks are Athlone Stadium and the decommissioned coal burning Athlone Power Station, though, the distinctive cooling towers were dismantled in winter 2010. Athlone is mainly residential and is served by a railway station of the same name. It however includes Industrial (Athlone Industria 1 & 2) as well as strong commercial zones (Athlone CBD and Gatesville) as well. There are actually many "sub-areas" within Athlone, including: Manenberg, Gatesville, Belgravia Estate, Bridgetown, Crawford, Hazendal to name a few.
It is also the home of the Trojan Horse Memorial, a reminder of the Trojan Horse Massacre which took place in 1985, when three anti-apartheid protesters were killed and fifteen others wounded in a police ambush. Athlone is also the home of the Robert Waterwitch / Colleen Williams Memorial, established in memory of two ANC activists who perished in the struggle against apartheid.[3]
There are over 100 schools in the greater Athlone area, including Alexander Sinton Secondary School.
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As of the census[2]of 2001, there were 11,556 households and 45,056 people residing in the suburb. The racial makeup of the suburb was 3.21% Black African, 69.66% Coloured, 23.45% Indian/Asian, 3.69% White and 0% from other races.
In the suburb the population was spread out with 28.38% under the age of 18, 28.37% from 18 to 34, 26.53% from 35 to 54, 8.04% from 55 to 64, and 8.66% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 86.53 males.
82.58% of the population speak English, 15.18% speak Afrikaans, 1.13% speak Xhosa, 0.52% speak another African language and 0.59% some other language as a first language.[2]
The Anti-Eviction Campaign and the Gatesville Hawkers Association have a strong presence with many members in Athlone.
Secondary education is provided by Bridgetown Secondary School, located on Brushwood Road, Bridgetown.
The decommissioned Athlone Power Station is situated alongside the N2. The cooling towers, commonly referred to as the "Athlone Towers", were demolished on 22 August 2010.[4]
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