The Northern Suburbs house a largely Afrikaans-speaking community and form part of South Africa’s Cape Peninsula. The locals like to refer to the imaginary line that separates north from south in Cape Town as ‘the boerewors curtain’, which is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the different communities that make up either side. In reality, the two are separated by the enormous Century City Shopping Centre that serves as the literal shopping mecca for much of the city.
While the major distinction between the two major suburbs in Cape Town is said to be language, this is a vast generalization that doesn’t take into account the obvious exceptions to the rule. Suffice it to say that ‘Die Burger’ is the newspaper of choice in the Northern Suburbs, while the south prefers ‘The Cape Argus’. This region officially forms part of the City of Tygerberg, which comprises the municipalities of Bellville, Durbanville, Goodwood, Parow, Khayelitsha and Mfuleni. These areas have experienced a massive growth in property development in recent years, mainly due to their proximity to the international airport, Grand West Casino and a number of wine routes.
Durbanville is perhaps the most renowned of the Northern Suburbs and lies just 20 minutes outside the centre of Cape Town. It was originally called Pampoenkraal after a meeting place for local farmers around some fresh water springs just beyond the hills synonymous with the area. This really is a beautiful part of the world, as the area lies in a lush valley that is home to a popular wine route that produces some of the country’s top wines. There are plenty of Cape Dutch homes set on rambling properties with large gardens, which makes this area popular with families looking for a relatively quiet life away from the crazy city life. Wherever you decided to buy property in the Northern Suburbs, keep in mind that it is renowned for its great value for money. |
