Epping

• Province: Western Cape
• Coordinates: 33°56′03″S 18°32′37″E
• Area: 6.18 km2
• Municipality; City Of Cape Town

Jump to: History of Epping |Useful Numbers in Epping

Epping is a major industrial suburb located approximately 15 km southeast of the Cape Town city centre on the Cape Flats. It is bordered by Manenberg, Athlone, and Macassar. Epping serves as a key hub for manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics in the Western Cape, with access to the N2 and M5 freeways, linking it to central Cape Town, Cape Town International Airport, and regional freight routes.

History of Epping

Epping Industria began developing in the late 1940s as Cape Town expanded its industrial areas. The early industrial development was initially limited, leaving large areas of open road around the new suburb.

This led to an unusual chapter in Epping’s history. A street circuit known as Gunner’s Circle was established in 1950, covering about 5.23 kilometres. The first race was held on 2 January 1951 and regular meetings continued until 1 January 1958. Sports cars and single-seater racing cars competed on the circuit, but increasing industrial development eventually meant that permission to continue using the roads was not renewed. The area that once hosted motor racing is now surrounded by factories, warehouses and other industrial businesses.

Epping also has an unusual system of street names. Many of the roads were named in alphabetical order, although some letters are missing from the sequence. The names include Royal Navy admirals as well as artillery and military equipment. Admiral Benbow, Admiral Cochrane, Admiral Bertie, Admiral Christian and Bofors are examples. Bofors refers to the Swedish artillery manufacturer and the famous Bofors gun.

One of Epping’s best-known landmarks is the Cape Town Market, formerly known as the Epping Market. The market has been at its present Epping location for more than 60 years and is one of the oldest and largest fresh produce markets in South Africa. It supplies produce to thousands of registered buyers and serves a large network of producers and market agents. The market plays an important role in distributing fresh produce throughout Cape Town and the surrounding region.

Epping also has a connection with Cape Town’s modern public transport system. Busmark, a South African bus body manufacturer, assembled buses for the MyCiTi Bus Rapid Transit system at its Cape Town facilities. The company has manufactured thousands of buses over the years and has also supplied buses for other operators.

Today Epping Industria is a major industrial area containing manufacturing, food processing, logistics, recycling, automotive and other businesses. The roads that once provided a temporary racing circuit now carry the everyday traffic of one of Cape Town’s established industrial areas.

Transport

Epping is served by  Golden Arrow Bus Services, and minibus taxis. See linked pages for details. Other options for getting around the Western Cape.

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Useful Numbers in Epping

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

• Emergency Services

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

• Medical

• Closest hospital;Ruyterwacht Day Hospital-021 534 4361
• Pharmacy; Reo Pharmacy-021 932 2955

• Municipal & Utilities

• Water: 0860 103 089
• Electricity:0860 103 089

• Transport & Roads

• Traffic department: Goodwood Traffic Department-021 444 7151

• Community & Safety

• NSRI 087 094 9774
• 24-hour Poisons Information Helpline of the Western Cape:  0861 555 777.
• Childline South Africa: 116
• SPCA: Cape of Good Hope SPCA-021 700 4140
• ANIMAL ANTI-CRUELTY LEAGUE-021 534 6426

• Local Contacts and Community Resources 

• Library: Goodwood Public Library-021 444 7326
• Post office;Goodwood Post Office-021 591 8621

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• Other Cape Flats towns and suburbs include: Athlone; Atlantis; Belhar; Blue Downs; Crawford; Eerste Rivier;  Grassy park; Hanover Park; Khayalitsha; Kuils River; Langa; Lansdowne; Lotus river; Macassar; Mannenberg; Mitchells Plain; Nyanga; Ottery;Philippi and Wetton