Cape Town Is South Africa - 1659 Words

Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest city and is closely behind Johannesburg as the nations largest city. This capital city is known for is breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture. However, Cape Town is home to a conflicted history in which is still evident in it’s urban fabric today. Apartheid, South Africa’s system of racial segregation created an immense divide in the populations of Cape Town. Not only was this divide social, but it was physical as well. Communities were segregated by race into varying townships. While this injustice was ended nearly two decades ago, inequality and divides are still extremely noticeable in the makeup of the city. While many changes have been made to society in Cape Town, there is still much room for†¦show more content†¦Government backed injustice had serious repercussions. These laws made white people officially superior and the large black majority of the population faced discrimination in all aspects of life. â €Å"In the absence of an indigenous urban tradition, South African cities were established by white settlers, who regarded the cities as their cultural domain.† Black people were prohibited from living, doing business or owning land in white areas. Separate public facilities such as schools and public transport were strictly enforced. Interracial marriage was also banned. Inevitably, this injustice lead to resistance. Liberation groups formed and protests ensued. Among the hundreds of thousands of people fighting for freedom was Nelson Mandela. After imprisonment, Mandela was set free in 1990. Shortly after, democratic elections took place and Mandela was elected as South Africa’s first black president. Although Apartheid had ended, the effects of its persecution still remained in areas of the nation, particularly Cape Town. Townships in Cape Town were areas designated for certain classes of colored and black people. These residential developments confined non-whites l iving near or working in white-only communities. Legal definitions of townships were used for land titles in all areas. An example of a township formed under the Apartheid is Mitchell’s Plan. Mitchell s Plan is a colored township just outside of Cape Town. This