Riebeek-Kasteel

Riebeek-Kasteel is one of the oldest towns in South Africa, situated at 80 km north-east of Cape Town in The Riebeek Valley together with its sister town Riebeek West. They set off in the direction of Paardeberg and on 3 February 1661 they ascended a lonely mountain and came upon the fertile vista of the Riebeek Valley. They named it Riebeek Kasteel, in honor of the Commander.

Riebeek-Kasteel
View of the Dutch Reformed Church (built circa 1914)
Riebeek-Kasteel
Riebeek-Kasteel
Coordinates: 33°23′7.21″S 18°53′54.65″E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceWestern Cape
DistrictWest Coast
MunicipalitySwartland
Area
  Total6.39 km2 (2.47 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
  Total1,144
  Density180/km2 (460/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
  White61.42%
  Coloured30.62%
  Black African6.56%
  Indian/Asian0.09%
  Other1.31%
First languages (2011)
  Afrikaans78.62%
  English18.40%
  Other2.98
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
7307
Area code022

Jan Smuts was born in Bovenplaatz, near Riebeek West, on May 24, 1870.[2] Daniel Malan was born in 1874 in Riebeeck West.[3] Both men later became prime ministers of South Africa.

Subsequently farmers established themselves in the valley and during 1900 the town was laid out in and around its existing church and its neighbor The Royal Hotel, the oldest hotel of South Africa. The town eventually developed and today it houses more or less 2700 residents including some of South Africa's most famous painters, attracted by the picturesque surroundings of the valley.

The town also serves as a satellite, a residential settlement for Paarl, Malmesbury and even the Metropole area. Often Riebeek Kasteel is referred as “the best kept secret of the Western Cape” and "Franschhoek 15 years ago"

In 2009 Riebeek Kasteel was chosen one of the three most beautiful towns of the Western Cape by the newspaper "Rapport". The other two finalists were Stellenbosch and Clanwilliam.

Sources

  • Swartland Municipality
  • Riebeek Valley Handbook

References

  1. Riebeek-Kasteel from Census 2011.
  2. Root, Waverley (1952). "Jan Christian Smuts. 1870-1950". Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society. 8 (21): 271–73. doi:10.1098/rsbm.1952.0017. JSTOR 768812.
  3. "Daniel Francois Malan". "https://www.sahistory.org.za". South African History Online.
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