History of Langa
Province; Western Cape
Coordinates: 33.9447° S, 18.5323° E
Area 3.09 km2
Municipality: City Of Cape Town
Langa means Sun in Xhosa but the name comes from the name of a Xhosa chief Langalibalele who was a prisoner on Robben Island. He was arrested in 1873 for rebelling against the Natal government. After various prominent people fought for his release he was transferred to the farm Uitvlugt on the site of the present Pinelands. Langa the name of which commemorates this folk hero was developed in 1898 in the area known as”Langalibalele’s Location”. Langa was built in stages. The first structures were shabby with little infrastructure but the township was completed in 1927 and is adjacent to Pinelands it is often called Kwa-Langa” which means “place of Langa”.
Langa was originally designed in a way to allow the authorities maximum visibility and control of residents. In the early years local laws prohibiting the brewing of sorghum beer (utywala) were strongly resented and in the 1930s prohibition was abolished. Thereafter the construction of municipal beer halls took place in 1945.
The postcode in Langa is 7455
WEATHER IN LANGA TODAY
Things to see and do in Langa
- King Langalibalele Drive is one of the busiest streets in Langa, The street was renamed in 2014 to honour amaHlubi chief Langalibalele, who was imprisoned on Robben Island in 1873. It is a fascinating stretch of road which is home to some of the country’s most famous musicians and sports stars
Useful Numbers
- Police: ;021-6958000, 021-6958006
- Traffic department: Gugulethu
- Phone: 021-6958000, 021-6958006
- Fire: Epping021 534 1387
- Water: 0860 103 089
- Electricity:0860 103 089
- Ambulance: 10177
- Post office;021 694 6281
- Clinic;021 694 1740
- Langa Community Health Centre· Pharmacy-021 694 1740
- Langa Multi-purpose Sports centre:021 694 7700 Bunga ave
- Langa Indoor Sports centre:021 444 5802
- Langa community hall:021 444 5802
- Monwabisi Recreation Centre:021 444 5802
- SPCA: Cape Of Good Hope- 021 700 4140
- Schools;
- Langa High School-021 694 1874
- Thembani Primary School-021 694 1829
- Leap School Langa-021 012 5067-081 347 4430
- Ikamvalethu Secondary School-021 694 9933
- Siyabulela Primary School-021 694 2718
- Zimasa Primary School-021 694 2775
- Mokone Primary School-021 694 0201
- Moshesh Primary School-021 694 1834
- Isilimela Secondary School-081 347 4430
- Kulani Secondary School-021 694 3301
- Zimasa Primary School-061 479 6252
- Lagunya Finishing School-021 694 1801
- Saint Louis (RC) Primary School.-021 694 2157
- Museum; Langa Heritage / Dompas Museum-021 694 8320
- Tourism ;021 695 5098