Stellenbosch Eikestad | |
|---|---|
 Aerial View of Stellenbosch  Vineyards  Dorp Street  Hofmeyr Hall | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: Eikestad ("City of Oaks") | |
| Motto: | |
  Stellenbosch  Stellenbosch  Stellenbosch | |
| Coordinates:33°56′12″S18°51′41″E / 33.93667°S 18.86139°E /-33.93667; 18.86139 | |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Province |  Western Cape |
| District | Cape Winelands |
| Municipality | Stellenbosch |
| Established | 1679; 344 years ago |
| Area | |
• Total | 10.12 km2 (3.91 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 136 m (446 ft) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
• Total | 77,476 |
| • Density | 7,656/km2 (19,830/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • White | 66.6% |
| • Coloured | 15.8% |
| • Black African | 15.0% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.9% |
| • Other | 1.7% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 70.4% |
| • English | 20.8% |
| • Xhosa | 1.8% |
| • Other | 7.0% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 7600 |
| PO box | 7599 |
| Area code | 021 |
| Website | www |
Stellenbosch (/ˈstɛlənbɒs/;[3]Afrikaans:[ˈstælənˌbɔs])[4][5] is a town in theWestern Cape province ofSouth Africa, situated about 50 kilometres (31 miles) east ofCape Town, along the banks of theEerste River at the foot of theStellenbosch Mountain. The town became known as the City of Oaks orEikestad inAfrikaans andDutch due to the large number ofoak trees that were planted by its founder,Simon van der Stel, to grace the streets and homesteads.[6]
Stellenbosch is a popular tourist destination due to its history as the second oldest town in South Africa (dating back to 1679),[7] its many historic buildings that are typical ofCape Dutch architecture, its location in the centre of many famous wine farms, as well as its variety of cafes, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. The town is home toStellenbosch University, one of South Africa's oldest universities, whose campus and buildings occupies large swathes of the town centre.Technopark Stellenbosch, ascience park, is situated on the southern side of the town,[8] and serves as a base for many large companies and startups, includingCapitec Bank (South Africa's second largest retail bank).
Stellenbosch has its ownmunicipality (incorporating the neighbouring towns ofPniel andFranschhoek), adjoining themetropolitan area of theCity of Cape Town.
In 1899Louis Péringuey discoveredPaleolithicstone tools of theAcheuleantype at a site named Bosman's Crossing near the Adam Tas Bridge at the western entrance to Stellenbosch.[9][10] This indicates that human habitation of the area dates as far back as 1 million years. By 10,000 to 20,000 years ago the population, assumed to have been ancestors of theSan people, were established in the area.[11]
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The town was founded in 1679 by the Governor of theCape Colony,Simon van der Stel, who named it after himself[13] – Stellenbosch means "(van der) Stel's Forest". 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 amagistrate with jurisdiction over 25,000 square kilometers (9,700 sq mi) in 1685.[14]
From the beginning, the population living in the town and its surroundings was highly mixed, consisting of European (Dutch, French, German) burghers, enslaved people, 15 individual free-blacks, 16 and indigenous Khoi and San people.[15] A minority of these free-blacks were able to amass significant wealth, even owning farms and enslaved people and employing white servants.[16] The indigenous Khoisan were never officially enslaved, but due to several factors, including colonial encroachment on their hunting and grazing lands, illness, and extermination by European hunting parties, they were gradually forced to submit to colonial rule despite widespread resistance.[17] Many became labourers on farms, domestic workers, or wagon drivers.[17] Life in early Stellenbosch society for the Khoi, San, and enslaved people was extremely cruel and characterised by violence, hard work, and strict discipline[18] Farming was the dominant industry of the town, and due to the massive size of the early land grants, European farmers depended on enslaved and Indigenous labour.[16] The isolated nature of these farms, where most enslaved and Indigenous people lived and worked, meant that unified resistance action was difficult.[18]
TheDutch 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 amill was erected.[19][20] Early visitors commented on the oak trees and gardens.[6][21]
During 1690 someHuguenot refugees settled in Stellenbosch,[22]grapes were planted in the fertile valleys around Stellenbosch and soon it became the centre of the South Africanwine industry.[19]
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.[23] When the church was rebuilt in 1723 it was located on what was then the outskirts of the town, to prevent a similar incident from destroying it again. This church has been 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.[24] Agymnasium, known ashet Stellenbossche Gymnasium, was established in 1866. In 1874 some higher classes became Victoria College and then in 1918University 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[1].[25] 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 theSpringboks, was invited to become the sixth rector of the school. He remained rector until 1940. On his retirement, the school's name was changed toPaul Roos Gymnasium.
With the manumission of enslaved people in 1838, the population of Stellenbosch's town centre increased as formerly enslaved people moved there, away from the isolated farmsteads.[26] This small exodus formed the basis of the District's coloured community, and by 1850, they had established a neighbourhood and community which became known as ‘Die Vlakte’.[15]
In the early days of theSecond 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"[27] 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.[27]
TheGroup Areas Act of 1950 led to ‘Die Vlakte’ in central Stellenbosch being proclaimed a White Group Area in 1964. In the following decade, roughly 3,700 (mainly coloured people) either left or were later forced out of Central Stellenbosch, relocating or being settled to the urban periphery areas of Idas Valley and Cloetesville.[15] Black people were forcibly removed toKayamandi. Several homes, religious and educational buildings, and community centres were bulldozed. One remaining building which stands in what used to be a central street of 'Die Vlakte' is the Goejjatul Islam Mosque.
In post-Apartheid Stellenbosch and its surrounds, residential areas are still notably segregated: although theGroup Areas Act was abolished in 1991, the economic and residential patterns it enforced have proven difficult to overcome.[26][16] This continued residential segregation, soaring wealth inequality,[28] the reputation of Stellenbosch as the ‘cradle of apartheid’,[15] and several racial discrimination scandals related to the university[29][30] all indicate how Stellenbosch continues to reckon with legacies of racism and discrimination in both its institutions and physical, social, and economic landscapes.[31]
At the time of the2011 census, the population of the urban area of Stellenbosch was 77,476, living in 23,730 households, in an area of 20.9 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi). Roughly 63.8% of the residents spokeAfrikaans as theirhome language, 19.6% spokeisiXhosa, and 6.8% spokeEnglish.[32] 28.1% of the population identify asBlack, 52.2% asColoured, and 18.5% asWhite.[2]
TheStellenbosch Municipality extends beyond the town of Stellenbosch itself to include rural areas, villages, and the town ofFranschhoek. At the time of the 2011 census, the municipal population was 155,728, while by 2016 it was estimated to be 173,197.[33] In 2017, the municipality estimated that the population in 2018 would increase to 176,523.[34]
The1936 census recorded a total population of 8,782 residents with 3,558 of them recorded as Coloured and 4,995 recorded as White.[35]
Stellenbosch is 53 km (33 mi) east ofCape Town viaNational RouteN1. Stellenbosch is in a hilly region of theCape 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.[citation needed] To the south isStellenbosch Mountain; to the east and southeast are theJonkershoek,Drakenstein, andSimonsberg mountains.[citation needed] 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 theHelderberg Nature Reserve is about 23 km (14 mi) south viaprovincial routeR44.[citation needed] Just south of the Helderberg Nature Reserve isStrand, aseaside resorttown.[citation needed] The soils of Stellenbosch range from darkalluvium toclay.[citation needed] This, combined with the well-drained, hilly terrain andMediterranean climate, prove excellent forviticulture.[citation needed] Summers are dry and warm to hot, with some February and March days rising to over 40 °C (104 °F).[citation needed] Winters are cool, rainy and sometimes quite windy, with daytime temperatures averaging 16 °C (61 °F).[citation needed] Snow is usually seen a couple of times in winter on the surrounding mountains.[citation needed] Spring and autumn are colder seasons, when daytime temperatures hover in the 20s.[citation needed]
| Climate data for Stellenbosch, Western Cape | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27.8 (82.0) | 28.1 (82.6) | 26.4 (79.5) | 23.2 (73.8) | 19.4 (66.9) | 16.2 (61.2) | 15.8 (60.4) | 16.1 (61.0) | 18.0 (64.4) | 21.0 (69.8) | 23.2 (73.8) | 26.0 (78.8) | 21.8 (71.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 16.0 (60.8) | 16.3 (61.3) | 15.1 (59.2) | 12.6 (54.7) | 10.1 (50.2) | 7.2 (45.0) | 6.5 (43.7) | 6.8 (44.2) | 8.0 (46.4) | 10.4 (50.7) | 12.1 (53.8) | 14.6 (58.3) | 11.3 (52.4) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 33 (1.3) | 35 (1.4) | 36 (1.4) | 60 (2.4) | 95 (3.7) | 141 (5.6) | 127 (5.0) | 107 (4.2) | 86 (3.4) | 68 (2.7) | 53 (2.1) | 37 (1.5) | 878 (34.7) |
| Source:Stellenbosch climate | |||||||||||||
Stellenbosch is home to several corporate headquarters of large and small companies including major South African bank,Capitec Bank, fast-food chain, Hungry Lion, major dairy products groupLactalis South Africa, major private hospital group,Mediclinic International and investment holding company,Remgro.
Stellenbosch is a warm-weather training venue for cyclists, track and field squads, and triathletes. The Stellenbosch Sports Academy opened its doors in 2012 and hosts several rugby teams on a permanent basis, such as the Springbok Sevens and Western Province.[citation needed] It is also the home base of professionalfootball clubStellenbosch FC who compete in theDStv Premiership.[36]
The Stellenbosch,Paarl andFranschhoek valleys form theCape Winelands, the larger of the two main wine growing regions in South Africa. TheSouth African wine industry produces about 1,000,000,000 litres of wine annually. Stellenbosch is the primary location for viticulture and viticulture research. ProfessorPerold 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, Neil Joubert from Spier and David van Velden from Overgaauw, known as Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes since 2002, is a world-renowned and populartourist destination. This route provides visitors the opportunity to experience a wide range of cultivars and includes farms such as Warwick and JC Le Roux.[37]
The region has aMediterranean climate with hot dry summers and cool wet winters. Stellenbosch lies at the foot of the Cape Fold mountain range, which provides soil favourable toviticulture. Grapes grown in this area are mainly used for wine production, as opposed totable grapes. The region possesses a wide range of soils in the area, from light, sandy soils to decomposed granite. StellenboschCabernet Sauvignon is beginning to get a good reputation as a fine wine.[38]
Stellenbosch University is one of South Africa's leadinguniversities.[citation needed] This institution has a history dating back to 1863 and has 10faculties, includingEngineering,Commerce,Science andArts.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
The University currently has about 29,000 students. White students in 2014, namely 18,636, constitute 63.4% of all students enrolled.[39] Although the official language of the university isAfrikaans, most post-graduate courses are presented inEnglish. The university is in the process of introducing moreEnglish centered undergraduate courses following mass protest by the student body. The university council with the concurrence of the senate approved a new language policy on 22 June 2016 for implementation from 1 January 2017. Since the campuses are situated in the Western Cape, the university has committed to introducing multilingualism by using the province's three official languages, namelyAfrikaans,English andisiXhosa.[40]
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Primary Schools
Secondary Schools
Stellenbosch lies on the Muldersvlei rail branch of theNorthern Line operated byMetrorail Western Cape commuter rail system which connects Stellenbosch withCape Town to the west viaEersterivier,Kuilsrivier andBellville. Stellenbosch has two railway stations including its main railway station, Stellenbosch Railway Station to the east of the CBD along theR310 Adam Tas Road and Du Toit Railway Station to the north of the CBD in Plankenbrug.
Stellenbosch is not directly linked to any majorfreeway or highway, however it is connected to theN1 (toCape Town andPaarl) via the R44 and R304, theN2 (to Cape Town andGeorge) via the R44 and R310 and theR300 (toBellville andMitchells Plain) via the M12.
TheR44 (Adam Tas Street; Strand Road) connects Stellenbosch withKlapmuts andWellington to the north andSomerset West to the south. TheR304 (Bird Street; Koelenhof Road) connects Stellenbosch withKlipheuwel andAtlantis to the north-west. TheR310 (Adams Tas Street; Helshoogte Road) connects Stellenbosch withFranschhoek to the east andMuizenberg to the south-west.
Stellenbosch is also served by twometropolitan routes linking it to nearby towns in theCity of Cape Town. TheM12 (Polkadraai Road) which begins at the intersection with the R310 just outside Stellenbosch connects the town withKuilsrivier and theCape Town International Airport to the west. TheM23 (Bottelary Road) which begins at the intersection with the R304 just outside Stellenbosch connects the town with Kuilsrivier,Brackenfell andBellville to the north-west.
Bird Street is the main street through Stellenbosch Central stretching for about 2 kilometres in a north–south direction.
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The municipality currently uses a badge[41] consisting of a fleur de lis and a cross issuing from a stylisedbunch of grapes. In the past, the various local authorities used coats of arms.
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Media related toStellenbosch (category) at Wikimedia Commons
Stellenbosch travel guide from WikivoyageMunicipalities and communities ofCape Winelands District Municipality,Western Cape | ||
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District seat:Stellenbosch | ||
| Witzenberg | .svg) | |
| Drakenstein | ||
| Stellenbosch | ||
| Breede Valley | ||
| Langeberg | ||
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
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