Athlone | |
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    From top left, Athlone power station prior to the demolition of its cooling towers. The Trojan Horse Memorial (top right). The Athlone stadium (centre). The Robert Waterwitch / Coline Williams Memorial statue (bottom). | |
 Street map of Athlone | |
  Athlone  Athlone  Athlone | |
| Coordinates:33°57′40″S18°30′11″E / 33.96111°S 18.50306°E /-33.96111; 18.50306 | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| Municipality | City of Cape Town |
| Government | |
| • Councillor | Mustapha Murudker (Ward 48)ANC Patrick Hill (Ward 60) (DA) |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.50 km2 (0.58 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 8,893 |
| • Density | 5,930/km2 (15,400/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 8.5% |
| • Coloured | 82.8% |
| • Indian/Asian | 4.1% |
| • White | 1.1% |
| • Other | 3.5% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • English | 81.6% |
| • Afrikaans | 11.7% |
| • Other | 6.7% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 7764 |
| PO box | 7760 |
Athlone is a suburb ofCape Town located to the east of thecity centre on theCape Flats, south of theN2 highway. Two of the suburb's main landmarks areAthlone Stadium and the decommissioned coal-burningAthlone Power Station. Athlone is mainly residential and is served by a railway station of the same name. It however includes industrial (Athlone Industria 1 & 2) and commercial zones (Athlone CBD and Gatesville). There are many "sub-areas" within Athlone, including Gatesville, Rylands, Belgravia Estate, Bridgetown and Hazendal. Colloquially other areas around Athlone are also often included in the greater Athlone area even though the City of Cape Town might classify them as separate neighborhoods such asRondebosch East,Crawford, andManenberg.[2]
Originally known as West London the area was renamed Athlone afterAlexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone who was Governor-General of theUnion of South Africa from 1924 to 1930.[2]
In 1946 the area was designated acoloured residential area. By 1948 more than 6000 black residents had been removed from Athlone and were settled inNyanga. Many of these residents were Xhosa-speaking dock workers in the city's shores. Years later, black residents inDistrict Six were forcibly removed and were relocated toGugulethu between 1959 and 1964.[2]
Athlone is the home of the Trojan Horse Memorial, a reminder of theTrojan Horse Incident which took place in 1985, when threeanti-apartheid protesters were killed and fifteen others wounded in a police ambush.[3] The incident took place near theAlexander Sinton Secondary School where students had demanded to attend school the month before.[4]
The Athlone Magistrate’s court is the home of the Robert Waterwitch / Colleen Williams Memorial established in memory of twoANC activists who died in the struggle against apartheid. Waterwitch and Williams died an explosion outside of the court on 23 July 1989.[5]
As of the census[6] of 2001, there were 11,556 households and 45,056 people residing in the suburb. The racial makeup of the suburb was 3.21%Black African, 69.66%Coloured, 23.45%Indian/Asian, 3.68%White and 0% from other races.
The suburb population age varies with 28.38% under the age of 18, 28.37% from 18 to 34, 26.53% from 35 to 54, 8.04% from 55 to 64, and 8.66% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 women there were 86.53 males.
82.58% of the population speakEnglish, 15.18% speakAfrikaans, 1.13% speakXhosa, 0.52% speak another African language and 0.59% some other language as a first language.[6]
Primary Schools
Athlone North Primary, Regina Cloie Primary, Silverlea Primary, Blossom Primary, Bridgeville Primary, Kewtown Primary, Alicedale Primary, Heatherdale Primary, Turfhall Primary, Cypruss Primary, Garlandale Primary, St Raphaels Primary and Rylands Primary, Sunnyside Primary,
High Schools
Spes Bona High, Ned Doman High, Alexander Sinton High, Athlone High, Peak View High, Bridgetown High, Rylands High and Belgravia High
Higher Education
College of Cape Town Athlone Campus and College of Cape Town Crawford Campus
TheAnti-Eviction Campaign and the Gatesville Hawkers Association have a strong presence with many members in Athlone. There are many neighbourhood watches in the Athlone area, including Rylands Neighbourhood Watch, Surrey Patrol, Greenhaven Crime Watch and Habibia Neighbourhood Watch.
The decommissionedAthlone Power Station is situated alongside the N2. The cooling towers, commonly referred to as the "Athlone Towers", were demolished on 22 August 2010.[7]
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