This Area was established in the Years of Apartheid! It is perfectly positioned; as it is extremely close to the Cape Town International Airport (less than about four kilometres, in fact) and is fewer than 20 kilometres from the City Bowl. This Suburb has a deep, poignant History, and is a fascinating Area, to explore and discover. Originally, home to larger segments of the Coloured Community and Working Class! It now has developed into an Area that showcases the food, music, beliefs and faces of these folk. Matroosfontein Population is now a full spectrum of the South Africans. Bordering on: the Township of Gugulethu, Bonteheuwel, Elsie’s River, Goodwood, Athlone, Belhar and Parow Industrial. Matroosfontein is just one more of the Areas that define the character and charm of Cape Town and South Africa, and offers locals and visitors alike the opportunity to tour this unique place!

Bonteheuwel is a coloured Township situated North of Cape Town. It was created in the 1960's as a "Dumping Site" for coloured people, who had been forced to move out of Cape Town. This was a result of the Group Areas Act of 1950, were the land was divided into: blacks and whites distinct residential zones, the beginning of Apartheid! This act established the distinct areas of South Africa in which members of each race could live and work, typically setting aside the best urban, industrial, and agricultural areas for whites. The area was conceived as a letting scheme owned by the then Cape Town City. The construction of housing in Bonteheuwel (proper) started in 1961 and was completed in 1964.
In the 2001 national census, Bonteheuwel had a population of 55 707, of whom 95% were classified as coloured and 4% as Black African, indicating the results of the Group Areas Act. Afrikaans is the dominant language at 76%, while English is spoken as a home language by a further 22%. The housing profile of Bonteheuwel is dominated by brick houses on separate stands in which 72% of the population lives, followed by semi-detached houses in which a further 11% of population lives, while backyard dwellings – both brick structures and informal dwellings – are home for a further 11% of the people.
This Area is Bonteheuwel is a coloured Township situated North of Cape Town. It was created in the 1960's as a "Dumping Site" for coloured people, who had been forced to move out of Cape Town. This was a result of the Group Areas Act of 1950, were the land was divided into: blacks and whites distinct residential zones, the beginning of Apartheid! This act established the distinct areas of South Africa in which members of each race could live and work, typically setting aside the best urban, industrial, and agricultural areas for whites. The area was conceived as a letting scheme owned by the then Cape Town City. It comprised four areas, namely Bonteheuwel (proper), Bluegum, Netreg and Kalksteenfontein. The construction of housing in Bonteheuwel (proper) started in 1961 and was completed in 1964.
In the 2001 national census, Bonteheuwel had a population of 55 707, of whom 95% were classified as coloured and 4% as Black African, indicating the results of the Group Areas Act. Afrikaans is the dominant language at 76%, while English is spoken as a home language by a further 22%. The housing profile of Bonteheuwel is dominated by brick houses on separate stands in which 72% of the population lives, followed by semi-detached houses in which a further 11% of population lives, while backyard dwellings – both brick structures and informal dwellings – are home for a further 11% of the people.
This Area is predominantly is made up of financially and impoverished, struggling community!

Bonteheuwel's Freedom Square is now officially a Provincial Heritage Site. The square, in the suburb's central business district (CBD), holds historic significance. It is the place where anti-apartheid freedom fighters often gathered to strategize and organise. During the liberation struggle, Freedom Square was a space for congregation and political meetings. The Bonteheuwel Civic, the library, the staircases and platforms surrounding the library would act as assembly and meeting points, which provided a platform for activists to address crowds.

Before the arrival of European settlers, it was a watering ground for early Khoi herders. The first encounter between these herders and Europeans was with the battle against Fransisco D’Almeida, which has been linked to the legend of a Princess. The legend goes; that this Khoisan Princess was abducted by Portuguese sailors while bathing in its waters.
During the years of Apartheid, it became one of the few natural Areas that people of colour could visit, after they were forcibly removed by the Government to Housing Estates on the Cape Flats. This Vlei was severely neglected by the authorities, and became further degraded when a road was built through it, with little regard for conserving its ecology!
The Khoi and the San were Cape Town’s earliest inhabitants, forcibly enslaved or driven out by those who came later. The Vlei remains an important site for celebrating and memorialising this Heritage by many Khoi cultural revivalist groups. When theses people classified as coloured and black were forcibly removed to the Cape Flats by group areas, this was the one of the few natural places they could come to relax and enjoy picnics with their families. Since people were denied access to the beaches, Princess Vlei become known as 'Claremont beach' or 'Gala land'.

It has long been used as a place for water immersion Baptism. Church groups come every Sunday from Nyanga, Gugulethu, Philippi….At Easter, they come from as far afield as Gauteng, baptising hundreds in a morning. Many others come to the vlei to be close to God and nature.
The vlei offers a venue where local Capetonians from all walks of life can enjoy nature together. Located between formerly coloured and white Areas, it is perfectly situated to build community, overcome Historical divisions and bring people together.
The Vlei provides a valuable public space to communities facing socio-economic challenges in highly urbanised environments. This space reconnects urbanised communities with nature, and an outdoor classroom where youngsters can experience and develop an appreciation of and love for nature.
The Princess Vlei provides a habitat for many plants and animal species and nurtures biodiversity. As human pressure on natural resources increases, our continued existence is under threat if we do not find a way to live more sustainably. The sustainable City of Cape Town, works closely with nature, nurturing biodiversity and allowing natural systems such as wetlands to exist!

After 12 years of being in the the placement of an official Heritage Site; a plaque has been laid at the Princess Vlei. This declares that Princess Vlei is a Provincial Heritage Site. This occurred on Tuesday 12 October.