Nyanga is a township in the Western Cape, South Africa. Its name in Xhosa means "moon" and it is one of the oldest black townships in Cape Town. It was established as a result of the migrant labour system. In 1948[2] black migrants were forced to settle in Nyanga as Langa had become too small. Nyanga was one of the poorest places in Cape Town and is still one of the most peaceful parts of Cape Town. In 2001 its unemployment rate was estimated at being approximately 56% [3] and HIV/AIDS is a huge community issue.
Nyanga | |
|---|---|
 Top: Zolani Recreational Centre. Middle: Nyanga taxi rank. Bottom left: Nyanga Community Health Centre. Bottom right: government built RDP houses that are common in the area. | |
  Nyanga  Nyanga  Nyanga | |
| Coordinates: 33°59′S 18°35′E / 33.983°S 18.583°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| Municipality | City of Cape Town |
| Main Place | Cape Town |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.09 km2 (1.19 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 57,996 |
| • Density | 19,000/km2 (49,000/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 98.8% |
| • Coloured | 0.3% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.1% |
| • White | 0.2% |
| • Other | 0.7% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Xhosa | 90.2% |
| • English | 3.0% |
| • Sotho | 1.6% |
| • Other | 5.1% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 7755 |
| PO box | 7750 |
Nyanga is situated 20 km (12 mi) from Cape Town along the N2 highway, close to the Cape Town International Airport and next to the townships of Gugulethu and Crossroads.
History
editThe neighbourhood was established in 1946 and, in the same year, was proclaimed a township for migrant labour predominantly from the Eastern Cape. It was initially established as a spillover once the neighbourhood of Langa was fully occupied.[4]
Residents of Nyanga were active in joining a national call to protest against the apartheid laws passed in 1960. Later they were active in the 1976 student uprisings, which had begun on the other side of the country on 16 June 1976 in Soweto against the use of Afrikaans as the primary medium of instruction in schools.[5] Nyanga became notorious for its black-on-black faction fighting that was allegedly perpetrated by police in the early eighties. The local authorities (izibonda) grouped themselves according to their background and used that as their criteria when allocating land.
These cultural differences were allegedly used by the police to stir up violence, and elements of the community were infiltrated by the apartheid regime. This led to emergence of the notoriously violent group called "the witdoeke" (the white scarfs). As a result of these fights Tambo square was formed.[clarification needed][6]
Nyanga comprises nine township subdivisions: Lusaka, KTC, Old Location, Maumau, Zwelitsha, Maholweni "Hostels", White City, Barcelona, Kanana, and Europe.
Crime
edit
The high rate of violent crime in Nyanga had earned the area the moniker "murder capital of South Africa" with 289 recorded homicides in 2018/19,[7] until it was overtaken by another precinct area in 2022.[8] In the five year period before 2018 a total of 1,473 homicides were recorded in the precinct area.[9] The South African Police Service (SAPS) Nyanga precinct area includes half of the Nyanga neighborhood as well as the adjoining communities of New Crossroads and Brown's Farm. Prior to December 2018 the precinct area also included Samora Machel.[10]
By 2021/22 the number of recorded homicides had declined to 203.[11] In November 2023 Google Maps announced that it would no longer recommend routes through the area following a number of violent incidents targeting motorists that included the death of motorists during the 2023 taxi strike.[12][13][14]
Government institutions and public services
editSeveral government institutions maintain a presence in Nyanga in order to provide various vital services to the community:
- Nyanga Home Affairs Office[15]
- The South African Department of Labour has a satellite office in Nyanga.[16]
- The Nyanga Community Health Clinic[17]
- Masincedane Clinic[18]
- Nyanga Police Station[19]
- Nyanga Public Library loans books to the community and provides several useful informational services.[20]
Churches
editSome of the churches that are located in Nyanga are:
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Main Place Nyanga". Census 2011.
- ^ Catherine Besteman (2008). Transforming Cape Town. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-94264-6.
- ^ "City of Cape Town by Ward". capetown.gov.za. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
- ^ Leander (2013-11-08). "Nyanga Township". South African History Online. Retrieved 2019-02-16.
- ^ sahoboss (2011-03-31). "Cape Schools Join the Revolt". South African History Online. Retrieved 2019-02-16.
- ^ "Goldstone Commission : Report on Violence at Crossroads Camp March-June 1993". Archived from the original on 2013-09-03. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
- ^ Isaacs, Lauren. "Nyanga remains SA's murder capital, but CPF vows to make area safer". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ Mlamla, Sisonke (22 February 2022). "Nyanga no longer murder capital of SA after police and City of Cape Town interventions". Cape Argus.
- ^ "Fear Stalks Township Streets of South Africa Murder Capital". Bloomberg.com. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ Masson, Eunice (2022-05-17). "Police resources might further drop in Nyanga, former 'murder capital' of SA". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "4th quarter crime stats shows Nyanga murder rate continues to decrease". Western Cape Government. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ Marks, Samane Jnr (2023-11-13). "Google Maps to avoid Cape Town township route after attacks on motorists". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ Solomons, Lisalee. "Google Maps will no longer suggest routes through Cape Town crime hotspot Nyanga". News24. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "Family of Essex surgeon claims South Africa police chatted as he lay dying". BBC News. 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "Nyanga Home Affairs Office". Western Cape Government. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Satelite Offices". The South African Department of Employment and Labour. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Nyanga Community Health Clinic". Western Cape Government. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Masincedane Clinic". Western Cape Government. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Services SAPS (South African Police Service)". South African Police Service. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Nyanga Public Library". City of Cape Town. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Tribute For a Gifted Man of the Lord". IOL. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Holy Cross Nyanga". World Anglican. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Region 3 - Central Cape Flats". Western Province Baptist Association. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Nyanga - Archdiocese of Cape Town". Archdiocese of Cape Town. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Gallery: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Visit Cape Town". Eyewitness News. Retrieved 20 September 2021.