Grassy Park is a suburb of the City of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa .
53-626: Wynberg ( / ˈ w aɪ n b ɜːr ɡ / WYNE -burg ) is a southern suburb of the City of Cape Town in Western Cape , South Africa. It is situated between Plumstead and Kenilworth , and is a main transport hub for the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town. In the 1650s, Jan van Riebeeck 's farm Boscheuvel, where he planted the Cape's first vineyards and was the first to produce wine in
106-518: A complete overhaul. The existing local authorities, political parties, ratepayers' organisations, and community organisations were brought together into a negotiating forum. This forum agreed on the creation of a two-level local government system consisting of multiple transitional metropolitan substructures (TMSs), brought together in a transitional metropolitan council named the Cape Metropolitan Council (CMC). The CMC would replace
159-600: A firm council majority, several of the smaller coalition partners were dropped from the city government by the time of the 2009 general elections, including the ACDP and FF+. The DA's Ian Neilson became deputy mayor, while Dirk Smit, who had defected to the DA, retained the position of speaker. Helen Zille left the mayorship the same year to take up the position of premier of the Western Cape, and Dan Plato became mayor. In 2010,
212-460: A great number of gentlemen's seats, and neat cottages, the avenues leading to them having well-trimmed hedges of myrtle and oak..." The famous astronomer John Herschel lived at Wynberg between 1834 and 1838, where he set up a telescope to study the southern hemisphere skies, and also did some botanical work on South African flowers together with his wife Margaret. In addition, it was in Wynberg that
265-613: A management committee was established for the area where they lived. In 1982 the Black Local Authorities Act created elected town councils for black communities. Five such councils were established in the Cape metropolitan areas. They were generally regarded as under-resourced and unsustainable, and were opposed by the United Democratic Front and other civic organisations. Turnout in BLA elections
318-533: A red background (the arms of Jan van Riebeeck ). In the second quarter was a black anchor on a golden background, representing the Cape Colony. The third quarter was black, showing a white tent with a pennant flying (to represent the military garrison). The fourth quarter depicted a golden vine and three fleurs de lis against a green background. The motto was Vivit crescat floreat vitis . Variants of these arms were later adopted by Wynberg Boys' High School ,
371-531: Is a chess club based in Grassy Park. Grassy Park's main commercial area is an intersection called "Busy Corner" at the intersection of 5th Avenue and Victoria Road. There is a hub of small retail outlets, the local Library, Police Station and a transport interchange which connects Grassy Park to Mitchell's Plain , Retreat and Wynberg . Another commercial area is at the corner of Prince George Drive and 5th Avenue where supermarkets, fast food restaurants and
424-669: Is bordered by Kenilworth to the north and Plumstead to the south east, Constantia is situated to its west. Wynberg railway station is on the main line from Cape Town to Simon's Town . Main Road (which runs from Central Cape Town through to Simon's Town) runs through Wynberg, and the suburb can also be accessed from the M3 freeway which skirts the west of the Neighborhood close to the Wynberg Military Base. According to
477-467: Is chaired by one of the councillors and appoints a manager to run its day-to-day business. A subcouncil does not have any inherent responsibilities in law, but it is entitled to make recommendations to the City Council about anything that affects its area. The City Council may also delegate responsibilities to the subcouncils. The executive authority for the city is vested in an Executive Mayor who
530-537: Is elected by the council. The mayor appoints a mayoral committee whose members oversee various portfolios. A City Manager is appointed as the non-political head of the city's administration. With the Democratic Alliance (DA) having won an absolute majority of council seats in the election of 1 November 2021 , its mayoral candidate Geordin Hill-Lewis , who had been a Member of Parliament since 2011,
583-407: Is governed by a 231-member city council elected in a system of mixed-member proportional representation . The city is divided into 116 wards , each of which elects a councillor by first-past-the-post voting . The remaining 115 councillors are elected from party lists so that the total number of councillors for each party is proportional to the number of votes received by that party. The makeup of
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#1732791868977636-688: The Democratic Party (DP). Fearing further losses, the NNP agreed to contest the upcoming local election in December 2000 together with the DP by forming the Democratic Alliance (DA), with DP and NNP members running as DA candidates. The DA won Cape Town with an outright majority, and Peter Marais , also a senior member of the provincial NNP, became mayor of the unicity. However, DA leader Tony Leon 's attempt to remove Marais from his position in 2001 caused
689-403: The "Unicity". At the time of the 2000 election the northern boundary of the metropolitan area was also extended to include Philadelphia , Klipheuwel , and the surrounding farmland. The current municipality covers Cape Point in the south-west, Gordon's Bay in the south-east, and Atlantis in the north, and includes Robben Island . The remote Prince Edward Islands are deemed to be part of
742-412: The 2011 census the neighborhood had a total of 14,472 residents with 69.6% speaking English as their first language. The 2001 the census recorded 4,417 households and 12,821 people residing in the suburb. The racial makeup of the suburb was 8.42% Black African , 49.82% Coloured , 11.93% Indian/Asian , 29.83% White and 0% from other races. In the suburb the population was spread out, with 24.67% under
795-411: The 20th century. Durbanville achieved municipal status in 1901, Goodwood in 1938, Parow in 1939, Bellville and Fish Hoek in 1940, Pinelands in 1948, Kuils River in 1950, Milnerton in 1955, Kraaifontein in 1957, Gordon's Bay in 1961, Brackenfell in 1970. In 1979 Bellville was upgraded to city status. The areas not included in a municipality were governed by divisional councils. Most of
848-702: The ACDP was elected executive deputy mayor and Jacob "Dirk" Smit of the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) was elected speaker. The initially fragile position of this new DA-led coalition, also known as the Multi-Party Government, was improved in January 2007 with the introduction of the ID following the expulsion of the small Africa Muslim Party for conspiring with the ANC. As a result of the ID's support,
901-647: The British. Wynberg was a convenient halfway point between Table Bay and False Bay and this led to a hub of commercial activity. The authorities had allotted places where large teams of oxen could be unyoked and graze which made this possible. The village provided farmers with an alternative to the market in Cape Town. As more farms were subdivided commercial and residential properties began to increase. Diplomat Edmund Roberts passed through Wynberg in 1833. He described it as being "beautiful," and being "adorned with
954-518: The Cape , was located in the greater Wynberg area close to the slopes of Table Mountain. In 1683 land along the Liesbeek River was granted to Herman Weeckens by Simon van der Stel. The farm was named De Oude Wijnbergh (Old Wine Mountain). The Cape's rough seas in the winter months led to a formal winter anchorage in 1743 where ships would dock at Simons' Baai (present day Simon's Town ). A wagon route linking Cape Town to Simon's Town went over
1007-554: The Cape metropolitan area fell under the Divisional Council of the Cape, while the eastern parts around Brackenfell, Kuils River and the Helderberg area formed part of the Divisional Council of Stellenbosch, and an area in the northeast around Kraaifontein formed part of the Divisional Council of Paarl. In earlier years the right to vote in local elections was not restricted by race (see Cape Qualified Franchise ), but
1060-904: The City of Cape Town, specifically of ward 115. The Hon Alan Winde MMP The Seventh Provincial Parliament Speaker Daylin Mitchell MMP Deputy Speaker Reagan Allen MMP Chief Whip of the Majority Party Gillon Bosman MMP Leader of the Opposition Khalid Sayed MMP Chief Whip of the Official Opposition Ayanda Bans MMP Municipal: Cape Town
1113-458: The DA and ID formalized an agreement in which the ID would merge into the DA by 2014. This was prompted in part by the ID's disappointing result in the 2009 general election. As per the agreement, ID ceased to exist at the local level after the 2011 municipal elections with ID members running as DA candidates. DA won a large outright majority in the election, and ID leader Patricia de Lille, who had defeated Plato in an earlier internal election, became
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#17327918689771166-405: The NNP prepared for dissolution and merger with the ANC, and most of its councillors joined the governing party. This gave the ANC an outright majority on the council, which lasted until the next election. In the 2006 local government election , the DA was the largest single party, ahead of the ANC, but with no party holding a majority. The new Independent Democrats (ID) led by Patricia de Lille
1219-511: The Regional Services Council and take over its responsibilities; it would also be responsible for metro-level planning and co-ordination, improving service delivery in disadvantaged areas, and cross-subsidization of poorer areas with revenue from affluent areas. Initially, in a period called the "pre-interim phase", the existing local authorities would become TMSs but their councils would be replaced by councillors nominated by
1272-506: The Wynberg Bowling Club, Wynberg Sports Club, Wynberg Club and South Peninsula Rugby Football Club. City of Cape Town The City of Cape Town ( Afrikaans : Stad Kaapstad ; Xhosa : IsiXeko saseKapa ) is a metropolitan municipality that forms the local government of Cape Town and surrounding areas. As of 2022 it has a population of 4,772,846. Cape Town first received local self-government in 1839, with
1325-510: The age of 18, 29.94% from 18 to 34, 25.65% from 35 to 54, 8.74% from 55 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 85.44 males. 77.69% of the population spoke English, 15.34% Afrikaans , 4.45% isiXhosa , 1.59% another African language and 0.92% some other language as a first language. The 1904 census recorded a total population for the greater Wynberg municipal area at 20,404 residents. The Maynardville Community Chest Carnival takes place annually, during
1378-615: The area: Wynberg Girls' High School is located near the village, whilst the Springfield Convent School is a Catholic school situated close to Wynberg Boys' High School . The Royal Cape Golf Club, South Africa's oldest club, had its beginning on 14 November 1885 when Lt Gen Sir Henry Torrens , Governor of the Cape Colony chaired a meeting at the Cape Town Castle "for the purpose of introducing
1431-410: The coalition significantly increased its majority, resulting in a much more stable city government. The ID's Charlotte Williams became executive deputy mayor. However, she resigned just a few months later, and the post then went to Grant Haskin of the ACDP in late 2007. The DA would also bolster its position through by-election victories and floor crossing defections. With the ID and DA together holding
1484-483: The council after the 2021 election is shown in the following table. The speaker of the council is Felicity Purchase of the Democratic Alliance. The council is divided into 24 subcouncils which deal with local functions for between three and six wards. A subcouncil consists of the ward councillors and a similar number of proportionally-elected councillors assigned to the subcouncil. A subcouncil
1537-418: The dates when the 59th Regiment (2nd East Lancashire) formed part of the Cape garrison: 1806, 1859–61, 1911–14. The Officers ' Mess was declared a Provincial Heritage Site. Wynberg was a municipality in its own right from 1886 to 1927. The town council adopted a coat of arms, designed by councillor Stanley Ponder, on 17 June 1895. The shield was quartered. In the first quarter were three golden rings on
1590-472: The disintegration of the alliance, and NNP came to ally with the ANC. Marais was replaced as mayor by Gerald Morkel , but Morkel was himself soon ousted during the October 2002 local floor crossing period after a large number of DA councillors had defected to the NNP. Nomaindia Mfeketo of the ANC became mayor supported by an ANC-NNP coalition. In 2004, after a dismal showing in the general elections that year,
1643-613: The district. Grassy Park began to develop in the early 1900s on part of the Montagu's Gift estate north of Zeekoevlei . At that time, the area was rural, under the administration of the Divisional Council of the Cape. By 1920, the estate had 2000 residents. From 1923, it was represented on the Southern Civic Association. Grassy Park was proclaimed a local area in 1935, which meant that the residents received municipal services, for which they paid higher rates. It
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1696-420: The final form of local government in post-apartheid South Africa. This legislation determined that metropolitan areas would be governed by unified metropolitan municipalities . Local elections were held on 5 December 2000 ; the Cape Metropolitan Council and the six interim TMSs were dissolved and replaced by the unified City of Cape Town. It is for this reason that the City of Cape Town is sometimes referred to as
1749-543: The first half of the year. Wynberg Boys' High School , on the hillside above the main village, is the second oldest school in South Africa, having been established in 1841. It is located on Hawthornden Estate alongside the former stately home of Prince Labia. The Junior School is housed in Victorian buildings in Cape Town designed by acclaimed architect Sir Herbert Baker . There are two prominent all-girls schools in
1802-441: The first major unification took place when the municipalities of Cape Town, Green Point and Sea Point , Woodstock , Mowbray , Rondebosch , Claremont , Maitland , and Kalk Bay were unified to create the first City of Cape Town. In 1927 the municipality of Wynberg was also merged with Cape Town, with the result that all of the Southern Suburbs were incorporated into the City. Many new municipalities were established during
1855-532: The game of golf and starting a club for the same". It was on Waterloo Green at the Wynberg Military Camp that the club established its first home. The layout of the course is not known and it is certain that playing conditions at their best were rough and ready. The military base was established in 1804 following the report of a commission appointed to find a suitable base for the 'Hottentot Corps'. The farm of Alexander Tennant , De Oude Wynberg ,
1908-503: The hill adjacent to De Oude Wjinbergh estate. When the British took control of the Cape settlement on 16 Sept 1795 the small farming area of Wynberg developed rapidly into a garrison town, as the British settled a large number of troops in the area. A notable settler was Alexander Tennant who built a house still standing, named Sonnebloem. At Wynberg the Dutch had earlier made a show of resistance, but they were soon driven from their post by
1961-749: The members of the negotiating forum. This agreement came into effect, and the pre-interim phase began, on 1 February 1995. The second phase of the transformation, known as the "interim phase" began on 29 May 1996 when local elections were held . The pre-interim TMSs were dissolved, and six new TMSs were established covering the whole metropolitan area: City of Cape Town (Central), City of Tygerberg, South Peninsula Municipality, Blaauwberg Municipality, Oostenberg Municipality, and Helderberg Municipality. The Cape Metropolitan Council continued with its coordinating functions. In 1998 Parliament enacted legislation (the Municipal Structures Act) determining
2014-491: The municipality into the following main places : The planning districts are: The City of Cape Town is also bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. Two city managers were accused of corruption relating to a R186m urban waste management tender. In October 2024, the city announced it was investigating the allegations. Grassy Park It is bordered to the east by the suburb of Lotus River , to
2067-434: The new mayor. The party extended its lead even further to win a two-thirds majority of the seats on the City of Cape Town council in the 2016 municipal elections, and De Lille was thus sworn in to serve a second term. It was however cut short following her resignation on 31 October 2018 after an extended battle with her party over accusations of covering up corruption, accusations she strongly denied. The previous mayor Dan Plato
2120-405: The north by the suburb of Parkwood and to the west by a small lake called Princess Vlei. To the south lies Rondevlei and Zeekoevlei . The Rondevlei Nature Reserve is home to a very shy hippopotamus , a few eland and other mostly nocturnal animals including many caracal and porcupine . Rondevlei is also home to a healthy pelican community. Zeekoevlei is one of the many freshwater lakes in
2173-585: The policies of the apartheid government aimed for complete segregation of local government. A 1962 amendment to the Group Areas Act introduced management committees for the areas designated for coloured and Indian residents. These management committees were subordinate to the existing local authority—either a municipality or the divisional council. From 1972 no new non-white voters could be registered as voters for municipal or divisional councils, and existing non-white voters lost their voting rights when
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2226-558: The promulgation of a municipal ordinance by the government of the Cape Colony . When it was created, the Cape Town municipality governed only the central part of the city known as the City Bowl , and as the city expanded, new suburbs became new municipalities, until by 1902 there were 10 separate municipalities in the Cape Peninsula . During the 20th century, many of the inner suburban municipalities became unsustainable; in 1913
2279-595: The provision of electricity were not being met. Additionally the municipality had accrued a large debts amounting to £650,000 (equivalent to £318,400,000 in 2020). At the time Wynberg was the largest municipality boarding Cape Town in terms of the number of registered voters in the area (4,250) with only Claremont (3,226) and Sea Point (3,601) being comparable; the municipality included the modern day Cape Town neighborhoods of Plumstead, Diep River, Retreat , Heathfield , Tokai , Constantia , Princess Vlei, Grassy Park , Southfield, Wynberg, and parts of Kenilworth . Wynberg
2332-517: The rural areas of the RSC that were not included in any local authority. Also in 1987, an act of the House of Assembly allowed the creation of local councils for white communities in peri-urban areas. Thus at the end of apartheid in 1994, there were over 50 different local authorities in existence in the metropolitan area, listed below. As part of the post-1994 reforms, municipal government experienced
2385-635: The young Charles Darwin met Herschel in 1836, a meeting which considerably influenced Darwin's later work. Battswood School was established in 1891 by Martha Grey . Martha was a local coloured woman, born at the time of the emancipation of slavery in 1838. The school was closed and the property sold by the Dutch Mission Church in 1997, it was officially re-opened in Ottery, Cape Town , a few kilometres from Wynberg by ex-President Mandela in 2001. One of South Africa's first electric power plants
2438-534: Was built in Wynberg on Electric Road in 1893. Opened by the mayor of Wynberg, James Bisset, to provide power to a local tram system and public streetlights . The municipality of Wynberg was merged into the City of Cape Town following a local referendum on the issue on 11 June 1927. The merger that was prompted by complaints from community members in outlying areas of the municipality, such as Diep River and Plumstead , that their areas were being neglected and that much needed urban upgrades to roads, sanitation, and
2491-560: Was chosen as her successor. The DA's Geordin Hill-Lewis was voted in as mayor after the 2021 local government elections. The following table shows the results of the 2021 election. The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period since the election in November 2021. The municipality has a total area of 2455 km . Subdivision varies according to purpose. Main places for census purposes may differ from planning districts. The 2001 census divided
2544-580: Was elected. The Mayoral Committee consists of 10 members who are appointed by the Executive Mayor. Each member manages a different area of the local government. The current city manager is Lungelo Mbandazayo. He had been the acting city manager since the former city manager Achmat Ebrahim, who was appointed in April 2006, resigned in January 2018 amid misconduct allegations. He was formally appointed city manager in April 2018. The local municipality
2597-496: Was in third place. The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) initiated negotiations with five other smaller parties who together formed a kingmaker block of fifteen councillors, collectively known as the Multi-Party Forum parties. Despite the ID voting with the ANC, Helen Zille of the DA was elected executive mayor on 15 March 2006 by a very narrow margin with the support of the Multi-Party Forum. Andrew Arnolds of
2650-670: Was later incorporated into the South Peninsula Municipality in 1996, and into the City of Cape Town in 2000. Grassy park is home to four Primary schools and two Secondary schools: There are several places of worship in Grassy Park. These include: The Rooikrans Sports Ground in Grassy Park has playing fields for a variety of sports such as baseball , cricket , rugby and soccer . There are several sports teams based here. These include Grassy Park Crusaders Baseball Club, Grassy Park United Football Club, Titans RFC (Rugby-Football Club). The Grassy Park Chess Academy
2703-633: Was one of the four to have passed the 2009-10 audit by the Auditor-General of South Africa , who deemed it to have a clean administration. The City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality in its present form took shape after the 2000 municipal elections. The old Central Cape Town MLC council had been governed by the New National Party (NNP), but they were losing support to the African National Congress (ANC) and
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#17327918689772756-696: Was selected. From 1804 the military took increasing interest in this strategic location. Tennant sold 78 morgen to the Cape government in March 1809; while the British Secretary at War acquired a further 54 morgen in June 1886. December 1921 saw the transfer of all the land, property and buildings to the government of the Union of South Africa . A rock behind 2 Military Hospital bears an inscription recording
2809-505: Was very low. In 1987 the divisional councils of the Cape, Paarl and Stellenbosch were dissolved and the Western Cape Regional Services Council (RSC) was created in their place. The RSC councils were indirectly elected, consisting of representatives nominated by all the local authorities within its area, including municipalities, management committees and town councils. The Cape Rural Council represented
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