Portion 5 of Cape Farm 32, Atlantis
Baseline Historical Background Information
Prepared for
City of Cape Town, Housing Department
November 2010
City of Cape Town,
Environmental and Heritage Resources Management Branch
Milpark
Application
The site is approximately 85ha in extant and the application is for the development of
a Temporary Relocation Area by the Housing Directorate of the City of Cape Town.
Property Description and Location
The study area lies on portion 5 of Cape Farm 32, Atlantis which is owned by the City
of Cape Town. The site is outside the urban edge, south of Atlantis adjacent to
Atlantis Industrial. The property is located adjacent to the Waste Water Treatment
Works (WWTW) on the northwest and the Klein Dassenberg smallholdings on the
northeast.
Heritage Status
The proposed development triggers Section 38 of the National Heritage Resources
Act (no 25 of 1999) which states that: any development or other activity which will
change the character of a site (i) exceeding 5000m2.’
Historical Background
The farm is on a portion of the original farm Brakkefonten. This farm has a long
history. It was granted to Wessel de Jongh in 1714. From 1714-1717, Jacob Kruger
(an ancestor of President Paul Kruger) was farm manager there. Helena Gulix, the
widow of Willem ten Damme and later the wife of Jan Jurgen Kotze lived on the farm.
During the VOC period, this farm occupied a strategic position in the Slagtersveld the area around the outposts Ganze Kraal and Groene Kloof, largely used for grazing
cattle for slaughter and sale to passing ships. The farm continued to be occupied and
was farmed by successive owners until 1855.1
Portion 5 of Cape Farm 32 is a portion of ‘Portion 4’ of Brakfontein, surveyed in 1967.
Parking area adjacent to site and closest vantage point to property, seen through the fence.
1
Rennie and Scurr (2001: 82)
Portion of 1901 Map of Cape division (courtesy City of Cape Town)
Heritage Significance
The site is covered in Port Jackson. The site is outside of the City’s archaeological
zones and is not considered to have any significant heritage attributes.
It is also noted that Heritage Western Cape has commented on a previous
application on the subject property to subdivide the farm into smallholdings. The
Record of Decision dated 23 July 2007 stated that the proposed development could
proceed and that no further heritage studies would be required. The development
was never realised.
Recommendations:
•
If any paleontological or archaeological materials are exposed they must be
dealt with in accordance with the National Heritage Resources Act (No. 25 of
1999).
•
Should any burials be exposed during earthmoving activities it should be
noted that human remains are protected by law and must be reported to the
South African Heritage Resources (SAHRA).
Reference
Rennie and Scurr. 2001. The built Environment Conservation Study for Blaauwberg
Municipality.
Heritage Western Cape: Record of Decision. 23 July 2007 Reference: HM/ Atlantis/
Portion 5 of the farm Brakkefontein