Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch with Great Drakenstein and Stellenbosch Mountains beyond
Nickname(s): Eikestad ("City of Oaks")
Stellenbosch  Stellenbosch shown within South Africa
Coordinates: 33°55′12″S 18°51′36″E / 33.92000°S 18.86000°E / -33.92000; 18.86000Coordinates: 33°55′12″S 18°51′36″E / 33.92000°S 18.86000°E / -33.92000; 18.86000
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
District	Cape Winelands
Municipality	Stellenbosch
Established	1679
Area[1]
• Total	21.5 km2 (8.3 sq mi)
Elevation	136 m (446 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	77,476
• Density	3,600/km2 (9,300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
• Black African	36.7%
• Coloured	35.4%
• Indian/Asian	0.4%
• White	26.5%
• Other	0.9%
First languages (2011)[1]
• Afrikaans	55.9%
• Xhosa	30.8%
• English	8.6%
• Sotho	1.2%
• Other	3.5%
Postal code (street)	7600
PO box	7599
Area code	021

Stellenbosch (/ˈstɛ.lən.bɒʃ/;^[2] Afrikaans IPA: [ˈstɛ.lən.bɔs])^[3][4] is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, situated about 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of Cape Town, along the banks of the Eerste River. It is the second oldest European settlement in the province, after Cape Town. The town became known as the City of Oaks or Eikestad in Afrikaans and Dutch due to the large number of oak trees that were planted by its founder, Simon van der Stel, to grace the streets and homesteads.^[5]

Stellenbosch has its own municipality (incorporating the neighbouring towns of Pniel and Franschhoek), adjoining the metropolitan area of the City of Cape Town. The town is home to Stellenbosch University. Technopark is a modern science park situated on the southern side of the town near the Stellenbosch Golf Course.

A panorama of Stellenbosch, as seen from Papegaaiberg

Prehistory

Paleolithic biface from Stellenbosch

In 1899 Louis Péringuey discovered Paleolithic stone tools of the Acheulean type at a site named Bosman's Crossing near the Adam Tas Bridge at the western entrance to Stellenbosch.^[6][7]

History

Typical Cape Dutch style house in Stellenbosch

The town was founded in 1679 by the Governor of the Cape Colony, Simon van der Stel, who named it after himself^[8] – Stellenbosch means "(van der) Stel's Bush". It is situated on the banks of the Eerste River ("First River"), so named as it was the first new river he reached and followed when he went on an expedition over the Cape Flats to explore the territory towards what is now known as Stellenbosch. The town grew so quickly that it became an independent local authority in 1682 and the seat of a magistrate with jurisdiction over 25,000 square kilometers (9,700 sq mi) in 1685.

The Dutch were skilled in hydraulic engineering and they devised a system of furrows to direct water from the Eerste River in the vicinity of Thibault Street through the town along van Riebeeck Street to Mill Street where a mill was erected.^[9][10] Early visitors commented on the oak trees and gardens.^[5][11]

During 1690 some Huguenot refugees settled in Stellenbosch,^[12] grapes were planted in the fertile valleys around Stellenbosch and soon it became the centre of the South African wine industry.^[9]

In 1710 a fire destroyed most of the town, including the first church, all the Company property and twelve houses. Only two or three houses were left standing.^[13] When the church was rebuilt in 1723 it was located on what was then the outskirts of the town, to prevent any similar incident from destroying it again. This church was enlarged a number of times since 1723 and is currently known as the "Moederkerk" (Mother Church).

The first school had been opened in 1683 but education in the town began in earnest in 1859 with the opening of a seminary for the Dutch Reformed Church. Rhenish Girls' High School, established in 1860, is the oldest school for girls in South Africa.^[14] A gymnasium which was known as het Stellenbossche Gymnasium was established in 1866. In 1874 some higher classes became Victoria College and then in 1918 University of Stellenbosch. The first men's hostel to be established in Stellenbosch was Wilgenhof, in 1903. In 1905 the first women's hostel to be established in Stellenbosch was Harmonie .^[15] Harmonie and Wilgenhof were part of the Victoria College. In 1909 an old boy of the school, Paul Roos, captain of the first national rugby team to be called the Springboks, was invited to become the sixth rector of the school. He remained rector until 1940. On his retirement the school's name was changed to Paul Roos Gymnasium.

In the early days of the Second Boer War (1899–1902) Stellenbosch was one of the British military bases, and was used as a "remount" camp; and in consequence of officers who had not distinguished themselves at the front being sent back to it, the expression "to be Stellenbosched" came into use; so much so, that in similar cases officers were spoken of as "Stellenbosched" even if they were sent to some other place.

Population

Stellenbosch had a population of around 117,713 in 2001, not counting students. This estimate is based on formally housed residents. As such it is almost certainly understated, as the Stellenbosch region also includes a number of informal settlements. The population of Stellenbosch is primarily Afrikaans speaking (70%), with English (10%) and Xhosa (20%) speaking minorities. The black population mostly speaks Xhosa as their home language, with whites speaking Afrikaans or English, the coloured (mixed-race and Khoisan descent) is primarily Afrikaans speaking and are in the majority (50%). English is universally understood, though.

In 1833 the population for the Stellenbosch District was 16,137.^[16] This comprised 8,555 slaves, 6,066 'Whites', 1,220 'Hottentots', and 296 'Free Blacks'.

Climate and geography

Stellenbosch's eastern suburbs in the winter months. In the background are the snowcapped Jonkershoek Mountains, with the prominent peak "The Twins" (elev. 1,494 m) visible.

Stellenbosch is 53 km (33 mi) east of Cape Town via National Route N1. Stellenbosch is in a hilly region of the Cape Winelands, and is sheltered in a valley at an average elevation of 136 m (446 ft), flanked on the west by Papegaaiberg (Afrikaans: Parrot Mountain), which is actually a hill. To the south is Stellenbosch Mountain; to the east and southeast are the Jonkershoek, Drakenstein, and Simonsberg mountains. Die Tweeling Pieke (Afrikaans: The Twin Peaks) has an elevation of 1,494 m (4,902 ft); the highest point is Victoria Peak 1,590 m (5,220 ft).

Jonkershoek Nature Reserve lies about 9 km (5.6 mi) east of Stellenbosch, and the Helderberg Nature Reserve is about 23 km (14 mi) south via provincial route R44.

Just south of the Helderberg Nature Reserve is Strand, a seaside resort town.

The soils of Stellenbosch range from dark alluvium to clay. This, combined with the well-drained, hilly terrain and Mediterranean climate, prove excellent for viticulture. Summers are dry and warm to hot, with some February and March days rising to over 40 °C (104 °F). Winters are cool, rainy and sometimes quite windy, with daytime temperatures averaging 16 °C (61 °F). Snow is usually seen a couple of times in winter on the surrounding mountains. Spring and autumn are colder seasons, when daytime temperatures hover in the twenties.

Sport

Rugby is arguably the most popular sport, with the local Maties Rugby Club being one of the oldest and biggest clubs in the world. Soccer is also popular. Stellenbosch has two world class Astro hockey fields where local teams train and which have hosted international matches. In cricket, Stellenbosch hosted the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier, which the South African team won. Other popular sports include tennis, swimming, athletics and waterpolo. The Maties sports clubs of Stellenbosch University are among the best in the country and the town also has some of the best sports schools in South Africa, like Paul Roos Gymnasium and Bloemhof Girls' High. It is also a warm weather training venue for the Loughborough University distance running squad led as of 2010 by coach George Gandy.

Viticulture and winemaking

Vineyards on the outskirts of Stellenbosch

The Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek valleys form the Cape Winelands, the larger of the two main wine growing regions in South Africa. The South African wine industry produces about 1,000,000,000 litres of wine annually. Stellenbosch is the primary location for viticulture and viticulture research. Professor Perold was the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University. The Stellenbosch Wine Route established in 1971 by Frans Malan from Simonsig, Spatz Sperling from Delheim and Neil Joubert from Spier, known as Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes since 2002, is a world renowned and popular tourist destination.^[17]

The region has a mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and cool wet winters. Stellenbosch lies at the foot of the Cape Fold mountain range, which provides soil favourable to viticulture. Grapes grown in this area are mainly used for wine production, as opposed to table grapes. The region possesses a wide range of soils in the area, from light, sandy soils to decomposed granite. Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon is beginning to get a good reputation as a fine wine.^[18]

Stellenbosch University

Eerste River in Stellenbosch after heavy rains

View over the "Red Square" of Stellenbosch University with the peak, "The Twins" beyond

Stellenbosch University is one of South Africa's leading universities. This institution has a rich history dating back to 1863 and has 10 faculties, including Engineering, Commerce, Science and Arts. The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering is the only university department in the southern hemisphere which has successfully built a communications satellite Sunsat which was launched in 2000 and orbited the earth for three years.

The University currently has about 25,000 students. Although the official language of the university is Afrikaans, most post-graduate courses are presented in English.

List of suburbs

List of schools

Notable people from Stellenbosch

• Ferdie Bergh – Rugby player
• Kees Bruynzeel – Dutch businessman, timber merchant and yachtsman
• Danie Craven – Rugby administrator
• Giniel de Villiers – Rally driver
• David Earl – Composer and pianist
• Arnu Fourie – Paralympic athlete
• Omar Henry – Cricketer
• Willie Heuer – Entrepreneur
• Daniel Hugo – Radio producer, lecturer and poet
• Charl Langeveldt – Cricketer
• Lee Langeveldt – Football player
• D. F. Malan – Prime Minister of South Africa from 1948 to 1954
• JP Pietersen – Rugby player
• Paul Roos – South African rugby union captain
• Anton Rupert – Entrepreneur, businessman, conservationist
• Johann Rupert – Businessman
• Dana Snyman – Journalist, writer and playwright
• Conrad Stoltz – 2 time Olympian, 3 time Xterra world champion
• Roger Telemachus – Cricketer
• Sampie Terreblanche – Professor in Economics, co-founder of Democratic Party
• Richard Turner – Philosopher
• Frederik van Zyl Slabbert – Anti-apartheid member of parliament and leader of opposition, lecturer in sociology
• Hendrik Verwoerd – Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 to 1966

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stellenbosch.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Stellenbosch.

• Stellenbosch Municipality
• Stellenbosch Tourism Bureau
• Eikestad Nuus

Municipalities and communities of Cape Winelands District Municipality, Western Cape District seat: Stellenbosch Witzenberg Ceres Dwarsrivier Op-die-Berg Prince Alfred Hamlet Tulbagh Wolseley Drakenstein Gouda Paarl Saron Simondium Wellington Stellenbosch Franschhoek Jamestown Kayamandi Klapmuts Kylemore Languedoc Pniel Robertsvlei Rozendal Stellenbosch Wemmershoek Breede Valley De Doorns Rawsonville Touws River Worcester Langeberg Ashton Bonnievale McGregor Montagu Robertson