Mitchell's Plain

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Housing in the Rocklands suburb of Mitchell's Plain

School children at Mitchell's Plain school. They draw learners from Khayelitsha and Philippi as well.

Taxis from Cape Town station to Mitchell's Plain

Mitchell's Plain is a largely coloured township about 20 km from the city of Cape Town. It is located on the Cape Flats on the False Bay coast between Strandfontein and Khayelitsha. Conceived of as a "model township" by the apartheid government, it was built during the 1970s to provide housing for coloured victims of forced removal due to the implementation of the Group Areas Act. Though Mitchell's Plain is no longer officially a "coloured township," the residents remain overwhelmingly coloured.

Housing about 350,000 residents, it comprises a number of sub-sections which reflect the diverse class backgrounds of the population. Roughly speaking, the western half of the mega-township (Westridge, Rocklands, Portlands) is wealthier than the eastern half (Tafelsig, Beacon Valley, Eastridge). Once a major stronghold of the United Democratic Front, the broad-based ANC-sponsored anti-apartheid body, it is now known more for gangsterism and tik addiction among the youth.

[edit] See also

• District Six

[edit] Sources

http://www.dplg.gov.za/html/progs/urpNodes/MitchellsProfile.htm Mitchell's Plain Profile

This South Africa location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.