History of Bothasig
Province: Western Cape
Coordinates 33°51′34″S 18°32′23″E
Municipality: City of Cape Town
Area: 4.07 km2
Bothasig sometimes called ‘The Sig’ is a suburb in the Northern part of greater Cape Town, close to the N7. It was established on the farm Bosmansdam in 1965. About 300 houses were planned to start the project which was to eventually house 20,000 people. The development was specifically for“White working-class families.” There were 800 people on the waiting list for the first 300 of the planned 4000 houses. This was the first town in the country where prefabricated wooden houses were going to be built, this was for speed and cost-effectiveness. There were several designs for 3 bedroom 1000 sq foot houses with garages. The cost was R 5 200.00 excluding the cost of the land. The state was responsible for the building of 3000 houses and the balance was to be built by private developers.
The suburb was called Bosmansdam until 1966 when the name was changed to Bothasig after PW Botha who was the Minister of Community Development at the time and who later became State president of the Republic of South Africa visited the area. On seeing the view of Table Mountain said” Where can one find a better view” Botha-sig (view) The first house to be completed was taken over by Mr Botha on 26 October 1965.
In the beginning, Bothasig was like pioneer country. It was surrounded by a sandy wasteland that was a real nuisance when the wind blew. There were no tarred roads, no shops, no post office, no telephone service and no transport. Residents had to organise lift clubs to Goodwood station.
Among the first families to take occupation of one of the completed timber houses were Mr and Mrs von Loosen and their 4 children who were immigrants from the Netherlands. With the help of the Department of Housing and Milnerton Municipality the needs of the community were identified and addressed. First, a primary School was built, then a post office and By 1968 a Community Hall and a bilingual creche were built. Only in 1974 was an automatic telephone exchange installed.
The postcodes for Bothasig are 7441 (streets) and 7406 (boxes)
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Things to do and see in Bothasig
- Bothasig Dog park, adam Tas road
- Bothasig community food garden Link road behind the hall.
- Bothasig Fynbos Nature Reserve Bosmansdam road 021 444 8971
- De Grendel Park 2 Outdoor Gym Swellengrebel Avenue, Bothasig
WEATHER IN BOTHASIG TODAY
Useful Numbers in Bothasig
- Police: 021 559 9400
- Crime Protection Forum: 0215599400
- Traffic department: Milnerton 021 550 1312
- Fire: Milnerton fire dept; 021 400 6949
- Water: 0860 103 089
- Electricity: 0860 103 089
- Ambulance: 10177 or resq medix 074 173 7283
- SPCA: Cape Town Grassy Park 021 700 4140
- Library; 021 400 2757
- Bothasig community hall: 021 558 4055
- Neighbourhood watch
- Residents association bothasigra@gmail.com
- Schools:
Bosmansdam high; 021 558 1070
Bosmansdam primary; 021 558 7110
Wolraad Woltemade primary; 021 558 3600
Tafelburg school; 021 558 2405
Bothasig High; 021 065 2146