Cape Town Civic Centre and the CBD of Cape Town

Coordinates: -33.9200, 18.4260
Updated: 21 Jul 2026

The Cape Town Civic centre is a Building in the centre of Cape Town, which is just under Signal Hill. This building houses the Municipality of the City of Cape Town. It was completed in 1978. This building also houses the council chambers and the offices of the mayor of Cape Town.

Cape Town CBD (sometimes referred to as Cape Town Central City or City Centre) is the central business district of Cape Town, and the economic centre of the City. (The CBD is generally safe during business hours, but I wouldn't walk around Cape Town at night. "Even in a group, I just wouldn't do it unless I was with a trusted local.")
The City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality is a Category A, municipality and is situated in the Southern Peninsula of the Western Cape Province. It has a coastline of 294 km. It stretches from Gordon's Bay to Atlantis and includes the suburbs of Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain.

The municipalities adjacent to it are Swartland and West Coast to the North; Drakenstein, Cape Winelands and Stellenbosch to the North-East; and Theewaterskloof, Overberg and Overstrand to the South-East. It is also bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the South and West.

The City, is South Africa's second-largest economic centre and second most populous City after Johannesburg. It is the Provincial Capital of the Western Cape, as well as the Legislative Capital of South Africa. This is where the National Parliament and many government offices are located.

The City is famous for its working harbour which also has a tourist draw card of the V&A Waterfront, with its many shops and apartments. This City also has the natural setting of the Cape Floral Kingdom, including such well-known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point. It is for these beautiful sites that Cape Town is hailed as one of the most beautiful Cities in the World. Being the oldest City in South Africa, it is affectionately known as ‘The Mother City'.

Cities/Towns of Cape Town, include: Athlone, Atlantis, Belhar, Bellville, Blackheath, Blouberg, Blue Downs, Brackenfell, Cape Point, Delft, Durbanville, Elsies River, Fish Hoek, Goodwood, Gordon's Bay, Grassy Park, Guguletu, Hout Bay, Khayelitsha, Kommetjie, Kraaifontein, Kuils River, Langa, Macassar, Matroosfontein, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton, Mitchells Plain, Muizenberg, Noordhoek, Nyanga, Parow, Philadelphia, Philippi, Robben Island, Scarborough, Simon's Town, Sir Lowry's Pass, Somerset West, Southern Suburbs, Strand and Table View.

Main Economic Sectors are: Finance and business services (36.1%); manufacturing (16.1%); community services (15.6%); trade and hospitality (15.6%); transport; storage; communication (11.2%); agriculture (9.7%) and lastly construction (4.1%).

Location Map

Cape Town Civic Centre and the CBD of Cape Town

How we know this

01https://www.localgovernment.co.za/metropolitans/view/6/City-of-Cape-Town-Metropolitan-Municipality

Last updated · 21 Jul 2026

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, July 14). Cape Town Civic Centre and the CBD of Cape Town. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ss/ref/P-0065703

South African History Online (2011) 'Cape Town Civic Centre and the CBD of Cape Town', South African History Online, 14 July. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ss/ref/P-0065703 (Accessed: 22 July 2026).

South African History Online, Cape Town Civic Centre and the CBD of Cape Town [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ss/ref/P-0065703, (accessed 22 July 2026).

"Cape Town Civic Centre and the CBD of Cape Town." South African History Online, 14 July 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ss/ref/P-0065703. Accessed 22 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Cape Town Civic Centre and the CBD of Cape Town." South African History Online. July 14, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ss/ref/P-0065703.