• Province: Western Cape
• Coordinates: 34°07′00″S “18°49′00″E
• Area: 21.36 km2
• Municipality: City of Cape Town

Strand is a coastal town in the City of Cape Town, Western Cape, located along the northern edge of False Bay. It lies east of Somerset West and south of Gordon’s Bay. Strand sits at the foot of the Hottentots Holland mountain range and is bordered by a long sandy beachfront and an urban coastal plain.

History of Strand

In 1695, employees of the Dutch East India Company came upon the white sandy shoreline and named it Milk Bay. The settlement developed on the farm Vlooibaai, granted to French Huguenot settler David du Buisson. Over the years, the area was known by several names, including Mostert’s Bay, Van Ryneveldsdorp and Somerset West Strand, before officially becoming Strand in 1937.

Originally a small fishing settlement, Strand grew steadily during the 19th century. The arrival of the railway in nearby Somerset West in 1862 made the False Bay coastline more accessible to visitors from Cape Town, helping establish Strand as a popular holiday destination. By the late 1800s, it had become a well-known seaside resort and was granted municipal status in 1897. 

Holiday destination since the mid-1800s

,Many Anglo-Boer War veterans settled in the area, contributing to its growth as both a residential community and holiday town. In 1903, the opening of the nearby Paardevlei Dynamite Factory, later known as Cape Explosives Works, brought industrial development and permanent employment to the region, further expanding the town.

Today, Strand forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan area. Its long sandy beachfront, promenade and calm waters make it one of the most popular and safest swimming beaches on the False Bay coast

local WEATHER TODAY

Browse businesses and places to visit in Strand

Useful Numbers

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

• Emergency Services

• Police: 021 854 9100
• Fire:  Fire Station-021 444 7600
• Ambulance: 10177 or 021 853 5978

• Medical

• Closest hospital: Mediclinic -021 854 7663
•  Community Clinic-021 853 8210
• Pharmacy;-021 854 3603

• Municipal & Utilities

• Water: 0860 103 089
• Electricity:0860 103 089
• Transport & Roads
• Road Emergencies / SANRAL: 0800 204 204
• Traffic department: Helderberg-021 865 4521

• Community & Safety

• NSRI 087 094 9774
• 24-hour Poisons Information Helpline of the Western Cape:  0861 555 777.
• SPCA: Animal Welfare Society Helderberg – 021 856 0597

• Local Contacts and Community Resources in

• Post office;021 853 7522
• Library:021 444 3106
• Charles Morkel Community Hall:021 706 8073
• Town Hall: 021 850 4262
• Lwandle  community Hall:021 850 4261
• Museum: Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum – 021 845 6119

• Schools in Strand

•  Strand High School – 021 853 1056
• Strand Muslim Primary – 021 854 6123
• False Bay High School / Hoërskool Valsbaai – 021 853 7314
• DR. G.J. Joubert Primary School – 021 853 7422
• Lochnerhof Primary School – 021 854 7316
• Silukhanyo Primary School – 021 850 8178
• Hendrik Louw Primary School – 021 853 1045
• Khanyolwethu Secondary School – 021 845 5290 (Lwandle)
• Natural Learning Academy – 021 854 5905
• Hottentots-Holland High School – 021 852 1405
• Hoërskool Strand-021 853 1056
• Simanyene Secondary – 021 845 4280
• Strand Secondary School – 021 853 2413
• El Marine Primary School – 021 853 7943
• Umnqophiso Primary School – 021 845 8113 (Lwandle
• Laerskool Hendrik Louw – 021 853 1045

• The City of Cape Town Public Emergency Communication Centre is available 24/7 For all life or property-threatening emergencies. Call 021 480 7700 from any phone or 107 from a landline or report online at https://bit.ly/3o4Ji3K

• Colourdots is an independent regional information resource for the Western Cape.
  Learn more about the project HERE