Salt River

• Province: Western Cape
• Coordinates: 33°55′58″S “18°27′27″E
• Area: 2.75 km2
• Municipality: City Of Cape Town

Salt River is an inner-city suburb of Cape Town located just east of the city centre, between Woodstock and Observatory. The area lies along the Liesbeek River and the N1 and N2 highway approaches, making it one of the main transport corridors into the CBD. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality and is closely connected to neighbouring suburbs such as Maitland and District Six

History of Salt River

Fishing village by the river

This suburb began to grow in about 1665. The settlement consisted of several fishermen’s cottages and an inn. It overlooked a fjord on the river. Once the railway line reached here in 1862, it began to develop into a major rail junction. It was amalgamated with Woodstock into one municipal area in 1883.

The integrated area was a boomtown in the early 1900s.

In the early days, this was a booming suburb as it was close to town. It was the industrial heart of Cape Town in the 1900s, with the steel and railway industries being here. Salt River has also been the centre of the textile industry for many years.
In the 50s and 60s, many Malay and “coloured” people moved into the area from “District Six”, even before the forced removals. Here, they could buy houses. For some reason, people of Indian extraction were prohibited from buying property unless it was attached to a corner grocery shop. Consequently, there used to be grocery stores on almost every corner. Today, the suburb is a cosmopolitan, integrated area with people of varying cultures living together.

Battle of Salt River

On the 1st of March 1510, a force of around 150 Portuguese armed with swords and spears attacked and raided a local village.  A force of 170 locals, along with a herd of cattle, counter-attacked using stones, fire-hardened tipped wooden spears and poison arrows. The locals herded the cattle that they used as shields  and achieved victory

Resources

Practical information for the Western Cape, Regulations, permits and helpful tips. See the Colourdots coastal and nature use guide

WEATHER IN SALT RIVER TODAY

Browse businesses and places to visit in SAlt River

.Useful Numbers

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

• Emergency Services

• Police: SAPS Woodstock-021 442 3117
• Fire: City of Cape Town – Fire Station-021 444 0830
• Ambulance: 10177

• Medical

• Closest hospital;Groote Schuur Hospital-021 404 9111
• Clinic (Woodstock)Chapel Street Clinic-021 461 7870
• Pharmacy;Medi-Place Pharmacy-021 447 6871

• Municipal & Utilities

• Water: 0869 103 089
• Electricity: 0869 103 089
• Transport & Roads
• Traffic Department: Elsies River Traffic Department-021 592 115

• Community & Safety

• NSRI 087 094 9774
• SPCA: Cape Of Good Hope -021 700 4140

• Local Contacts and Community Resources

• Post office; Woodstock Post Office-021 447 2475
• Library: Woodstock Town Hall and Public Library-021 444 6867
• Community house: 021 447 7319
• Salt River Town hall:021 447 0608
• Salt River Community Hall: 021 400 3647

• Schools in Salt River

• : Cecil Road Primary School-021 448 1574
• Salt River Secondary School-021 448 1534
• Wesley Practising School-021 448 1646
• Salt River Public School-021 448 1405
• Shereens Montessori-021 447 7810
• B.e.s.T College- special needs-B.e.s.T College- 021 448 5746
• Salt River Muslim Primary School-021 447-9525