History of Constantia

Province: Western Cape
Coordinates: 34°01′53″S 18°25′06″E
Municipality: Cape Town
Southern Suburbs
Area: 23.9 km2

One of the oldest suburbs in Cape Town. Originally the Groot Constantia estate was established by Simon Van der Stel, Governor of the Cape in 1685. It is now a museum and the vineyards still produce wines today.
For over 200 years the area remained rural and was inhabited by freed slaves who were farmers, farm labourers, fruit and flower sellers and domestics until the group areas act in 1961 when Constantia was declared a white area and these inhabitants were forcibly removed to areas in the Cape Flats.
Steenberg (Mountain of Stone), Buitenverwachting (Beyond Expectations), Klein Constantia (Small Constantia), and Constantia Uitsig (View of Constantia).established in the early years of the Cape colony are also still producing wines today.
During the Dutch conquest of Sumatra Sheik Abdurachman Matebe Shah and Sheikh Mahmoud were exiled in the Constantia area. They brought Islam to South Africa. The sheikh died in 1682 and his grave (Kramat) can be seen along Spansgemat River road.
The area is now one of the more upmarket and sought-after suburbs of Cape Town.

WEATHER IN CONSTANTIA TODAY

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Things to do and places to see in Constantia

Constantia nek loop
Groot Constantia
Constantia nek
Constantia gift fair info@thegiftfair.co.za
Harry Molteno Library/Kirstenbosch Research Centre, 021 799-8712

Useful Numbers in Constantia

Police: Diep River 021 710 7300
Traffic department:
Fire: 021 794 1128
Water: 0860 103 089
Electricity: 021 710 9430
Sub council office; 021 444 8112
Ambulance: 10177
Closest hospital-Constantiaberg clinic021 799 2911
SPCA: 021 700 4140Constantiaberg clinic021 799 2911
Post office; 021 794 5796
Constantia Residents assosciation Website
Schools:

Constantia Waldorf: 021 794 2103
Constantia Pre school: 021 794 109
Herzlia Constantia Primary School 021 286 3951
Constantia Primary :021 794 6186

CapeTown postal code 8001 (Street) 8000 (boxes)
Constantia Hills Residents Association: 021 715 6009
Library; Medowridge library 021 712 9382
Museum: Groot Constantia museum 021 795 5147

Constantia