Bonteheuwel

• Jump to: History of Bonteheuwel |Useful Numbers in Bonteheuwel
• • Province: Western Cape
  • Coordinates 33.951°S 18.554°E
  • Area 3.55 km2
  • Municipality City of Cape Town

Bonteheuwel, often called “Bontas” by the locals, is a suburb on the Cape Flats in Cape Town, located south-east of the city centre and west of Langa. It lies between Thornton, Pinelands and Gugulethu, with easy access to the N2 and M7 road networks. The suburb forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan area and is situated close to industrial zones and major transport routes linking the northern and southern suburbs.

History of Bonteheuwel

Bonteheuwel is a residential suburb on the Cape Flats that was developed in the early 1960s. Construction of the housing began in 1961 and was completed in 1964. The area was initially planned as a municipal letting scheme by the then Cape Town City Council.

The development took place during the apartheid era and was closely connected to the Group Areas Act of 1950. Families who had been forcibly removed from areas such as District Six and other parts of Cape Town were among those relocated to the new suburb. Bonteheuwel therefore became one of the many Cape Flats communities created or expanded as a result of apartheid-era housing and forced removals.

The name Bonteheuwel is generally translated as “coloured hill” or “variegated hill”, referring to the Afrikaans words bont and heuwel. The name predates the development of the suburb and was associated with the landscape of the area.

Most of the original housing consisted of brick houses on individual stands, with semi-detached houses also forming part of the development. Additional backyard accommodation has subsequently become an important part of the housing pattern.

Bonteheuwel developed a strong community identity and became an important centre of political activity during the apartheid years. The suburb was particularly active during the 1970s and 1980s, when residents and young people became involved in opposition to apartheid policies.

Freedom Square, in the centre of Bonteheuwel, became an important gathering place. Meetings and community activities were held there during the years of political struggle, and the surrounding civic facilities also became places where residents could meet and organise. Freedom Square was officially declared a Provincial Heritage Site in recognition of its historical importance.

Bonteheuwel also has an unusual connection with the Cape Town coastline through the Sea Point Swifts Football Club. The club was established in Sea Point in 1920. After the forced removals of the apartheid era, members and supporters of the club moved to the Cape Flats, but the club retained the name Sea Point Swifts. It continues to carry the name of the community from which it originated.

The suburb was also affected by the political unrest of the 1980s. Young people from Bonteheuwel were involved in resistance activities, and the Bonteheuwel Military Wing, associated with the armed struggle of the period, became part of the area’s history. The group was connected with young activists and Umkhonto weSizwe.

Today Bonteheuwel is a well-established Cape Flats community with schools, shops, sports clubs, community facilities and a busy central area.

Read more about the story of the Cape Flats

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Transport

Metrorail, Golden Arrow Bus Services, and minibus taxis serve Bonteheuwel. See linked pages for details—other options for getting around the Western Cape.

The buses have a Bonteheuwel route, with stops along Bonteheuwel Avenue. There’s a Cape Town route, an Elsies River route, and a Hanover Park route,

The postcodes for Bonteheuwel are 7764 (streets) and 7763 (boxes)

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Useful Numbers in Bonteheuwel

Residents and visitors can find important local contact numbers below, including police, medical services, utilities, and community facilities

• Emergency Services

• Police: 021 695 4258
• Fire: Epping Fire Department 021 534 1387
• Ambulance: 10177

• Medical

• Closest hospital: Vanguard Community Health Centre: 021 695 8238
• Pharmacy;

• Municipal & Utilities

• Water: 021 546 3452 / 0860 103 33089
• Electricity: 0860 103 33089

• Transport & Roads

• Traffic department: Elsies River 021 592 1158
• Road Emergencies / SANRAL: 0800 204 204

• Community & Safety

• NSRI 087 094 9774
• SPCA: Grassy Park 021 700 4140
• 24hour Poisons Information Helpline of the Western Cape:  0861 555 777. 

• Local Contacts and Community Resources 

• Post office; 021 694 4712
• Library: 021 444 0140
• Civic Centre/Multi-purpose centre/community centre:021 444 051
• Civic Centre /
• Bluegum community centre /
• Community centre /
• Multi-purpose centre.:021 444 0516
• Kalksteenfontein community centre:021 444 0916
• Schools in Bonteheuwel
• Bonteheuwel Secondary School: 021 694 4645
• Janari Primary School 021 694 5361
• Rosewood Primary School  087 077 0319
• Arcadia Senior Sekondere Skool 021 694 1736
• Bonteheuwel Sekondere Skool  021 694 4654
• Modderdam Sekondere Skool 021 100 3926
• Protea Primary School 021 694 7799
• Klipfontein Primêre Skool 021 370 0161
• Mimosa Primary School 021 694 7808
• Nerina Primary School 021 694 1005
• Arcadia Primary School 021 694 4661
• Bramble Way Primary School  081 732 5081
• Boundary Primary School  084 696 8592
• Cedar Primary School  061 116 9137
• Central Park Primary School 021 694 4659
• Disa Primary School  021 694 2205