Khayelitsha, derived from the Xhosa language meaning ‘new home,’ initially provided nothing more than tents for its early residents. This sprawling township was originally established based on racial segregation enforced by the Group Areas Act. Presently, Khayelitsha stands as the second-largest Black township in South Africa, second only to Soweto in Johannesburg.
Situated on the desolate Cape Flats, Khayelitsha was initially created to accommodate Cape Coloureds. Many of these individuals were forcibly relocated from Old Crossroads to alleviate overcrowding, while others chose to move voluntarily to escape the violence of the Witdoeke (White Handkerchief), a notorious vigilante group.
In 1984, the National Party abandoned its Coloured-preference policy for the area, allowing Khayelitsha residents to apply for 99-year leaseholds. By 1986, approximately 8,300 people had settled on 4,150 serviced sites, each equipped with a tap and toilet. An additional 13,000 residents rented 5,000 core houses, which were modest cement-brick structures.
Since the abolition of influx control regulations in the 1990s, Khayelitsha has experienced rapid growth. Its population has swelled to over 450,000 residents, earning it a reputation as one of South Africa’s fastest-growing urban settlements. The majority of the Khayelitsha community comprises Black South Africans, predominantly speaking the Xhosa language.
For those visiting Khayelitsha for the first time, the experience may be unsettling. It presents as an expanse of makeshift shacks with unpaved roads and inadequate infrastructure, giving an overwhelming impression of a community trapped in a perpetual cycle of extreme poverty.
However, there is a significant amount of hope within the people of Khayelitsha as they work together to improve their quality of life. Since the advent of democracy, the community has harnessed its collective entrepreneurial spirit, resulting in a thriving ecosystem of artisans, informal traders, small business enterprises, and owners of restaurants, taverns, and guesthouses within the township.