About
Mitchell's Plain Alive
Mitchell's Plain Alive took a birds-eye view of the community and saw it's vibrancy and potential to be the forerunner in positivity. Wikipedia describes Mitchell's Plain as largely a coloured township about 32 km from the city of Cape Town.
It is one of South Africa's largest townships BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH..... Wikipedia also takes the flavor out of descriptions.
We're way more exciting than that..... A page designed and developed to highlight the vibe, culture, and potential that Mitchel'ls Plain has. Added to this strong opinions on everyday issues that direct affect lives.
For a long time, this community has been plagued with the stereotypes that seem embedded in people’s minds, so for the first time in its long history, this site will be the source for a vibrant, exciting, informational, and reliable guide to what’s hot and happening in a town that never sleeps.
Mitchell's Plain a community of vibrancy
Resting on the edge of the mesmerizing False Bay coastline, Mitchell's Plain is approximately 32km away from the Cape Town City Centre. The area is home to a population who stem from diverse backgrounds. Property prices in the western parts of Mitchell's Plain are higher than the eastern side which has more affordable properties on offer for buyers.
Sub-areas in Mitchell's Plain include; Beacon Valley, Eastridge, Lentegeur, London Village, Lost City, New Tafelsig, Portlands (eastern suburbs) and Bayview, Colorado, Rondevlei, Strandfontein, Wavecrest, Weltevreden Glen, Westridge, also West Gate (western suburbs).
A brief history of the area
Mitchell's Plain was established in the early 1970s for middle-income families. The area was laid out in terms of the neighbourhood unit concept with large open spaces, localised public facilities and wide arterial routes. Freestanding, semi-detached, and duplex houses were provided for residents. By the late 1980s, Mitchell's Plain expanded to include around 33 000 dwellings. Present-day, the area boasts more than 300 000 residents.
Many families relocated here from District Six when it was razed to the ground, and although violent gangs are a way of life, Mitchell’s Plain in no way resembles the informal settlements that line the N2.
The former government liked to showcase Mitchell’s Plain to overseas visitors – the houses, although dreary, are, by black standards, ‘middle-class’, and neat rows of houses stretch for miles between wide thoroughfares. An FNB Bank survey concluded that for every home put up for sale in Mitchell’s Plain, there are now eight potential buyers. Despite the apparent dreariness of the Cape Flats, space is a commodity!
Today Mitchell’s Plain houses almost a million residents and a diversity of class backgrounds. It is economically divided into east and west - the western half of Westridge, Rocklands and Portlands is seen as 'wealthier' than the eastern half of Tafelsig, Beacon Valley and Eastridge.
Climate
Mitchell's Plain experiences its warmest month in February each year as the temperature averages 21.0 °C, while at 12.3 °C on average, July is the coldest month of the year. The temperature here averages 16.7 °C. Rainfall occurs mostly in the winter, with relatively little rain in the summer. The average annual rainfall is 644 mm.
Distance from key points (Airport/CBD)
The driving distance from Mitchell's Plain is around 11.2km to the Cape Town International Airport and 20km from Cape Town CBD, which will take you roughly 21 to 33 minutes, via the M22/N2 respectively, to reach with an average speed of 80km/h.
Schools in Mitchell's Plain
Mitchell's Plain has 47 primary schools and 18 high schools
Neighbouring Strandfontein has two primary schools and one high school
Medical facilities
Mitchell's Plain has numerous medical centres and hospitals to cater to the healthcare and medical needs of the local community. They include Mitchell's Plain District Hospital, Mitchell's Plain CHC, Mitchell's Plain Day Hospital, Life Esidemeni - Intermediate Care Facility, Samwumed Medi Centre, as well as Melomed Mitchells Plain.
Shopping Malls
There are three major shopping malls in Mitchell's Plain; Town Centre, Westgate Mall and Liberty Promenade and Watergate Mall.
Restaurants
Locals and tourists indulge their palettes at Wajid's Chicken Tikka and Take-Away, Deckster's Catering, The Grillfather Mitchells Plain, The Hood Kitchen, Gafeesa's Fish Den, and Lady Bee Westgate Mall. The area also caters for McDonald's, Nandos, Hungry Lion, 4 KFCs, Mugg and Bean, Spur and 3 Debonairs Pizza franchises to choose from.
Westridge Gardens is located in the heart of Mitchell's Plain. Visitors can see the indigenous Cape Fynbos and breathtaking roses along the many pathways. The perfect place for a stroll, dog walking, and bicycle rides, Westridge Gardens is a highly demanded-spot for wedding photography and family picnics. The Mitchell's Plain Festival also takes place at the Westridge Gardens.
Mnandi Beach was awarded the status of a Blue Flag Beach 2004. This day resort has safe swimming conditions appealing to water sport enthusiasts who enjoy swimming or a splash in the Atlantic Ocean waves, surfing, kite-surfing, stand-up paddling, and even fishing. For the kids, there is also a big swimming pool with fun water slides, playground equipment on landscaped lawns, picnic spots, barbecue spots, and kiosks where snacks and refreshments can be purchased.
