Fresnaye (pronounced as "Fres-Nay" in a more affluent accent) is one of Cape Town's most affluent suburbs, situated between Signal Hill and Sea Point, a few kilometres to the west of Cape Town's Central Business District (CBD).

Fresnaye
Suburb of Cape Town
Fresnaye and Sea Point as seen from Lion's Head which surrounds the suburb on the East. Sea Point is to the North and the West separating the suburb from the Atlantic Ocean.
Fresnaye and Sea Point as seen from Lion's Head which surrounds the suburb on the East. Sea Point is to the North and the West separating the suburb from the Atlantic Ocean.
Fresnaye is located in Western Cape
Fresnaye
Fresnaye
Fresnaye is located in South Africa
Fresnaye
Fresnaye
Coordinates: 33°55′30″S 18°23′15″E / 33.92500°S 18.38750°E / -33.92500; 18.38750
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceWestern Cape
MunicipalityCity of Cape Town
Main PlaceCape Town
Government
 • TypeMetropolitan Council
Ward 54
 • CouncillorNicola Jowell [1] (DA)
Area
 • Total
0.73 km2 (0.28 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total
2,011
 • Density2,800/km2 (7,100/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African9.5%
 • Coloured4.0%
 • Indian/Asian0.8%
 • White83.1%
 • Other2.6%
First languages (2011)
 • English81.2%
 • Afrikaans9.8%
 • Xhosa1.8%
 • Other7.3%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
8005
Area code021

History

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Fresnaye was originally an estate of 200 acres (81 ha), acquired in the early 1800s, and belonging to Ryk Le Sueur, a barrister, and French aristocrat from Bayeux in Normandy and descendant of the French Huguenots. The original name was Winterslust, and the farmhouse was at that time, the only building on the mountain slopes, other than Heeren Huis near Bantry Bay, built in 1776. Fresnaye was set in vineyards and orchards, and referred to as "A Garden of Eden" at the time.

The suburbs street names reflect its French heritage to this day.

The ratepayers, residents and local businesses in the area are represented by the Sea Point, Fresnaye & Bantry Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association (SFB), a volunteer-led organization financed by donations and memberships.[3] The SFB's mandate includes defending the heritage of the area,[4][5] construction applications,[6][7] providing added security and cleansing above what is provided by the City and State,[8][9][10] and communications with residents and ratepayers, as well as on behalf of these parties with stakeholders such as the City of Cape Town.[11][12][13]

Geography

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Fresnaye is set on the slopes of Lion's Head on the East and between Sea Point and Bantry Bay to the suburb's North West and South West respectively.

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "Councillor Details: Nicola Jowell". City of Cape Town. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Sub Place Fresnaye". Census 2011.
  3. ^ "SFB Ratepayers & Residents Association". SFB Ratepayers and Residents Association. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  4. ^ "Heritage Project". SFB Ratepayers and Residents Association. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  5. ^ Joseph, Shahied (16 May 2024). "SFB want holistic approach to development". The Atlantic Sun.
  6. ^ "Planning Committee". SFB Ratepayers and Residents Association. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  7. ^ "Laughtons Hardware closes down after 104 years". The Cape Argus. 28 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Safety & Cleaning Initiative". SFB Ratepayers and Residents Association. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  9. ^ "How can I humanely get homeless people sleeping outside my house to move?". GroundUp. 8 March 2024.
  10. ^ Yuku, Nomzamo (30 July 2022). "Project Homeless Outreach Prevention and Education gives beneficiaries a second chance". The Weekend Argus.
  11. ^ "Communications". SFB Ratepayers and Residents Association. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  12. ^ "Local property owners urged to object valuations". Cape Town Etc. 17 April 2019.
  13. ^ SFB (2023-11-30). "Helicopters Along the Atlantic Seaboard". SFB Ratepayers and Residents Association. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  14. ^ Lacey, Marc (2021-11-11). "F.W. de Klerk, Former South African President Who Dismantled Apartheid, Dies at 85". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  15. ^ a b Green, Michael (2004). Around and About: Memoirs of a South African Newspaperman. Cape Town: David Philip. p. 163. ISBN 9780864866608.