Delft, Cape Town

Delft
—  Region  —
Street map of Delft
Delft Location of Delft in Cape Town
Coordinates: 33°57′56″S 18°38′40″E / 33.96556°S 18.64444°E / -33.96556; 18.64444Coordinates: 33°57′56″S 18°38′40″E / 33.96556°S 18.64444°E / -33.96556; 18.64444
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^{[citation needed]}.

History

Delft was established in 1989^{[citation needed]}. 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]

Geography and Demographics

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^{[citation needed]}. 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]

Subdivisions

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.

In the news

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 across from the houses. They have vowed a permanent sit-in on the road.^[12]

See also

• Blikkiesdorp
• Symphony Way Pavement Dwellers

References

1. ^ "Cape Town city Councillors by ward". City of Cape Town. http://web1.capetown.gov.za/web1/newcitycouncil/councilsearch.asp. Retrieved 25 July 2010. 
2. ^ "Delft". Census 2001. City of Cape Town. http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/stats/2001census/Documents/Delft.htm. Retrieved 2 July 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Community Situation Analysis". DG Groups. http://www.dgroups.org/groups/worldbank/MENA-CEN/docs/UWC_Community. 
4. ^ http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/stats/2001census/Documents/Delft.htm
5. ^ "City of Cape Town - Census 2001 - Delft". City of Cape Town. http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/stats/2001census/Documents/Delft.htm. 
6. ^ "Delft squatters 'still unhappy'". 24 News. 2008-02-22. http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2275805,00.html. 
7. ^ "Police illegally destroy homes on Symphony Way". 2008-10-04. http://www.abahlali.org/node/4228. 
8. ^ "Western Cape Evictions trial on hold". Labournet. 2008-01-08. http://www.labournet.net/world/0801/cape2.html. 
9. ^ "DA councillor in court over Delft housing incident". Mail & Guardian. 2008-12-21. http://www.mg.co.za/article/2007-12-21-da-councillor-in-court-over-delft-housing-incident. 
10. ^ "Delft residents refuse, resist eviction". Star. 2008-02-19. http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=3268&fArticleId=vn20080219153915605C906883. 
11. ^ "Everyone needs a stake in our society". The Mercury. 2008-03-05. http://abahlali.org/node/3384. 
12. ^ "Press Update: Delft community and Anti-Eviction Campaign sleep on Symphony Rd, vow permanent sit in". Anti-Eviction Campaign. 2008-02-20. http://antieviction.org.za/2008/02/20/press-update-delft-community-and-anti-eviction-campaign-sleep-on-symphony-rd-vow-permanent-sit-in/.