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New
Standpoints , May, 2004CAPE TOWN - A WHOLE WORLD IN ONE CITY
by Monique Le Roux
At the south-western tip of Africa, cradled between the warm Indian Ocean
On the east coast and the cold Atlantic Ocean on the west, lies Cape Town – »Mother City« of South Africa. Cape Town is a cosmopolitan city. It is the capital of the Western Cape Province and legislative capital of the country. As a major seaport, its unique geographical position has, over the centuries, made this city the crossroads for diverse cultures.
Since the 15th century, the Cape has fascinated and intrigued many a visitor and continues to scoop up international accolades as one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. The combination of mountains, sea, Mediterranean climate, exquisite natural beauty, flora and fauna make the Cape Metropole a truly fascinating conglomeration of city
and country life to satisfy almost any pallet. The fine mix of culture and business, industry and leisure, history and innovation, East and West, Africa and Europe create a rare synergy.
The city's historical yet dynamic flair offers connoisseurs a high standard of multi-cultural events and entertainment as found in Cape Town's contemporary art, music or theatre scenes. The Cape Town Festival, is one of the Mother City's platforms for promoting the arts and arts-based cultural tourism. The annual North Sea Jazz Festival showcases some of South Africa’s and Africa’s grandest jazz musicians without forgetting international acts. Cape Town is one of the world's eight new »Cultural Mecca's« according to Newsweek, September 2002. This is topped with café culture, gastronomic delights and bustling flea markets.
Townships, former black and coloured settlements, are suburbs that have become synonymous with the racial inequalities of the apartheid era as well as with vibrant cultural experiences and warm hospitality, sending visitors flocking from all faces of the globe. This trendy, upbeat side to the city is fully complimented by relaxed, spiritually awakening natural environments. Attractions such as Table Mountain, Robben Island and Cape Point have put Cape Town firmly on the map. Established routes - e.g. the Whale Route, Wine Route, Cape Fynbos Trails - are increasingly popular. The Cape, a Mecca for birdwatchers, boasts various venues, such as Boulders Beach, with its breeding colony of jackass penguins. The Peninsula, renowned for its many nature reserves, lends itself to outdoor activities, sports and adventures whilst commanding first-world facilities. Cycling, mountain hiking, snorkelling and diving, surfing, yachting, the list is endless. (Modern developments, such as the V&A Waterfront's shopping and leisure centre, make Cape Town the Geneva of Africa steadily increasing its annual contribution to South Africa's GDP. The International Conference Centre has made the Mother City a popular venue for international leaders.)
Cape Town boasts a rich and diverse cultural heritage; a kaleidoscope of colours, creeds and social backgrounds making up the community.
Historically weathered by colonialism, slave trade and immigration the Cape's cultural identity is at the heart of the »melting pot« so truly referred to as the Rainbow Nation. In the Cape Town of the 'new South Africa', black (majority Xhosa) and other ethnic groups share claim with English and Afrikaans speaking Whites, Coloureds (descendants of the Khoisan, blacks, white and Asian settlers) and Cape Malays (descendants of skilled workers from Java and Indonesia).
Cape Town, gateway to the rest of the continent, has been the arena for many historical events: the 1834 abolition of slavery at Green Market Square; February 1990 Nelson Mandela's public address following his liberation in front of Cape Town's City Hall amongst others.
Today the City looks back on its first decade of democracy. It has come a long way and its triumphs are exemplary to the world. However, it still faces enormous challenges, as does South Africa in general. Amongst these is the daunting HIV/AIDS problem, the struggle for economic empowerment of its historically disadvantaged people, job creation and re-addressing the inequalities of the education system from the past.
The Western Cape region depends on manufacturing, agriculture and tourism. Tourism alone accounts for approximately 9,6% of employment and 9,8% of GRP. The Mediterranean climate of the Cape makes it suitable for crop growing; producing and exporting most of the country's fruit and vegetables. (Unfortunately, recent droughts threaten some of the main agricultural areas of the Cape. The National Reconstruction and Development Program, introduced in 1994, underlines the importance of environmental protection through education and encourages small scale farming in rural areas.)
The Western Cape's fishing industry represents a 72% share of the country's economic activities . In recent years, however, many debates have arisen over the allocation of fishing permits. Traditional fishermen have had to depend on other activities, such as tourism, to earn a minimum income.
It is largely thanks to the French Huguenots that the Cape produces world-quality wines. Although during the economic embargoes of the apartheid era the quality did regress, Cape wines are once again rapidly gaining international acclaim.
Other industries have also gained international recognition. The boat-building industry of Cape Town has grown 120% since 1994. The international film industry has taken Cape Town by storm - not surprising with its breathtaking scenery and more sunshine days than the Caribbean! Through hard work, determination and a push from the African Growth and Opportunities Act, the clothing and textile industry has made a comeback, exporting to foreign markets like the US.
After the »brain drain«, of skilled professionals leaving the country without comparable numbers of skilled immigrants settling here, a recent trend shows skilled South Africans returning and as Trevor Manuel, Minister of Finance, put it: »…if you take a look around, you soon recognise that you'd rather be here than anywhere else.«
Cape Town enjoys a substantial rise in foreign property development. The Atlantic coast stretching from the city centre to Llundudno is the most expensive real estate in Africa.
The incredible thing about Cape Town is that it remains in touch with its grass routes despite major developments - it is all part of that delectable fine balance Capetonians strive for. There is constant focus on our heritage, a current renaissance of traditional methods in arts and crafts for example with the Goldsmith Museum observing the timeless traditions of jewellery-making techniques which it passes down to its future designers.
Captonians are renowned for their warm hospitality and laid-back attitude, so feel welcome to try it for yourself!
Top Attractions
• Table Mountain: 1073 metres high, offering
breathtaking panoramic
• views of the Cape
• Cape Point’s Good Hope Nature Reserve:
home to over 1000 species
• of Fynbos,
animals and legends.
• The Wine Route: world-class Cape wines: triple Gold winners such
• as Allesveloren and Villiera
• V&A Waterfront: historic working harbour, shopping and entertainment
• complex, The Nelson Mandela Gateway
to Robben Island, World
• Heritage Site
• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: 25,000
species of plants
• Bo-Kaap: colourful cobble-stone
Cape Malay Quarter with distinctive
• architectural vernacular
• Company Gardens: created by Jan Van Riebeeck in the 17th century,
• this garden earned Cape Town a reputation
of fine hospitality
• Cape Town’s »Riviera«: pearly white beaches such
as Clifton
• Chapman’s Peak Drive: famous drive carved into the mountain
by
• prisoners of war in 1915 and completed
in 1922
• Boulders Beach Penguin colony
Other Gems and Tips
• The Whale Route:
best land-based watching in the world
• from June to December
• The Flower Route: carpets of flowers after the spring rains
• Cederberg rock art and hot springs
• Footsteps to Freedom Walks: city tour retracing 350 years of cultural
• history, struggles of the apartheid
era and the transition to democracy
• Cape Minstrel’s Festival: December-January
• Kalk Bay’s community tourism initiative: fishing village with
• walking tours, Cape food experience,
stay-over at fishermen’s homes
• Greenmarket Square: trade and social meeting point for farmers,
• free burgers and slaves over 300
hundred years ago, where the
• announcement was made of the liberation
of Cape Town’s slaves
• in 1834. Now a lively cobble-stone
flea market.
• District Six Museum: testament to 66 000 people of colour who
• in the 70s lost their homes to bulldozers
under apartheid’s Group
• Areas Act
• Castle of Good Hope
• The Fruit Route
What people say about Cape Town:
Stephan Wilkinson, Conde Nast Traveler: »Cape
Town is on everyone's shortlist for the world's most beautiful city, and
for good reason. With the Atlantic at its feet and mountains rising at
its back, the place is a stunner ... The air is crystalline, everything
stunningly visible for miles and miles, the mountains so sharp and distinct
in their stratification that you feel you're looking straight into the
earth. Uneroded, they seem to have just arrived at the surface ... South
Africa's outback is a land like no other; I can find no comparison...«
Robert Ellsworth, Genre: »... Cape Town is a cultural melting
pot of diverse and vibrant character that is one of the friendliest, craziest
cities in the world. Bustling and beautiful, this sequestered city appeals
to the nature-lover and the nightcrawler.«
Michael C. McDermott, Patriot Ledger: »The city (Cape Town) on
the southwestern Cape Peninsula is fast becoming one of the premier tourist
destinations in the world, and it is a highlight of any trip to South
Africa. backed against the Atlanta Ocean by the 3,300-foot, flat-topped
peak of Table Mountain, Cape Town and its environs offer superb scenic
walks, scores of beautiful beaches and a culture that is a hybrid of Africa,
European and Asian influences ...«
»Cape Town, the World's Hottest Sun Spot.« - London
Times
»Best Destination in Africa and the Middle East« -
World Travel Awards at the World Travel Market
The World's 8 New »Cultural Meccas« - Newsweek, September
2002
