Athlone, Cape Town

History

Originally known as West London the area was renamed Athlone after Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone who was Governor-General of the Union of South Africa from 1924 to 1930.

In 1946 the area was designated a coloured residential area. By 1948 more than 6000 black residents had been removed from Athlone and were settled in Nyanga. Many of these residents were Xhosa-speaking dock workers in the city's shores. Years later, black residents in District Six were forcibly removed and were relocated to Gugulethu between 1959 and 1964.

Athlone is the home of the Trojan Horse Memorial, a reminder of the Trojan Horse Incident which took place in 1985, when three anti-apartheid protesters were killed and fifteen others wounded in a police ambush. The incident took place near the Alexander Sinton Secondary School where students had demanded to attend school the month before.

The Athlone Magistrate’s court is the home of the Robert Waterwitch / Colleen Williams Memorial established in memory of two ANC activists who died in the struggle against apartheid. Waterwitch and Williams died an explosion outside of the court on 23 July 1989.

Demographics

As of the census 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 speak English, 15.18% speak Afrikaans, 1.13% speak Xhosa, 0.52% speak another African language and 0.59% some other language as a first language.

Education

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

Organisations in Athlone

The Anti-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.

Athlone Power Station

Main article: Athlone Power Station

The decommissioned Athlone Power Station is situated alongside the N2. The cooling towers, commonly referred to as the "Athlone Towers", were demolished on 22 August 2010.

References

References

1. "Sub Place Athlone". Census 2011.
2. (2019-04-29). "Origin and History of Athlone in Cape Town, South Africa".
3. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qxwdJoz1v0#t=27 Video of the Trojan Horse Incident], Youtube, Chris Emerson, CBS, retrieved 19 August 2014
4. (18 Sep 1985). "Attempt to Reopen a School is Barred". New York Times.
5. "Robert Anthony Basil Waterwitch {{!}} South African History Online".
6. "Athlone". City of Cape Town.
7. "Towers to Tumble soon".