Delft | |
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— Region — | |
Street map of Delft | |
Delft
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Coordinates: | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | Western Cape |
Municipality | City of Cape Town |
Wards | 19, 20 |
Government[1] | |
• Councillor | Frank Martin (Ward 19) (DA) Buyiswa Bala-Mjobo (Ward 20) (ANC) |
Population (2001)[2] | |
• Total | 60,667 |
Ethnic groups | |
• Black African | 25.55% |
• Coloured | 73.29% |
• Indian or Asian | 1.05% |
• White | 0.10% |
Languages | |
• English | 9.92% |
• Afrikaans | 66.92% |
• Xhosa | 22.33% |
Time zone | SAST (UTC+2) |
Postal code |
Delft is a township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated next to the Cape Town International Airport, Belhar, Blue Downs & Site C, Khayelitsha. It is known for its high crime rate, substandard schools, lack of jobs, and numerous government built housing projects such as the N2 Gateway .
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Delft was established in 1989. It is a rapidly expanding community found within the Eastern District of the City of Tygerberg local authority. This community was originally established as an integrated service land project for 'coloureds' and 'blacks'.[3]
Delft is situated approximately 34 km north east of Cape Town, and approximately 7,5 km from Bellville. It was established to be one of Cape Town's first mixed race township including 'coloured' and 'black' residents. In 2000, it had a population between 25 000 and 92 000 inhabitants.[3]
According to the 2001 census,[4] Delft is currently 73% Coloured and 25% Black African with almost no Whites and 1% Indians. The most prominent languages are Afrikaans and Xhosa while English is in wide use as a second language. The majority of residents have not finished their matric. Official unemployment levels are at about 43% (although unofficially, this might be much higher).[5]
Delft is subdivided into six sections namely, The Hague, Rosendal, Voorbrug, Eindhoven, Leiden and Delft South. The first three sections are predominantly 'coloured' while Eindhoven is partially inhabited by 'coloureds' and blacks and Delft South and Leiden are predominantly 'black'.[3]
Much of Delft consists of government housing projects. The newest projects are the Symphony which is the main part of the N2 Gateway Pilot Project as well as Temporary Relocation Areas (TRAs) such as Tsunami and the Symphony Way TRA.[6][7]
Delft is a big Township. It is divided into 7 places(divisions) namely Delft South (Suburban), Voorbrug, Leiden (Delft Central),Eindhoven, Roosendal, The Hague & the new Symphony section. Delft South also known as Suburban which is predominantly populated by Xhosa speaking people, Leiden (Delft Central) is a mixed community of both Xhosa speaking and Afrikaans speaking people. Voorbrug, The Hague, Roosendal & Eindhoven is predominantly populated by Afrikaans speaking Coloured people.
Delft recently became newsworthy because of the controversial N2 Gateway housing project. The shackdwellers of Joe Slovo Informal Settlement in Cape Town have publicly refused to be forcibly removed to Delft. Also, in December 2008, backyard dwellers occupied over 1000 N2 Gateway houses in the new Symphony section of Delft. DA Councillor Frank Martin who was accused of inciting thousands of poor people to occupy these houses.[8][9] Eventually, the families who occupied the houses were violently evicted by police who used rubber bullets to put down the protest.[10] News of the violent repression reached international news with some people saying that it has severely hurt South Africa's reputation. .[11] Evicted residents are now living in makeshift shacks on Symphony Way which has widely become known as "Blikkies Dorp" across from the houses. This was believed to have been temporary housing for the evicted dwellers, however they are still occupying the said "blikkies dorp" for the past five years. [12]
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