Cape Town
Cape Town
Kaapstad (Afrikaans)
iKapa (Xhosa)
Central Cape Town panorama
Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): The Mother City, or The Tavern of
the Seas
Motto: Spes Bona (Latin for "Good Hope")
Cape Town
Location in South Africa
Coordinates: 33°55′S 18°25′E / 33.917°S
18.417°E / -33.917; 18.417
Country
South Africa
Province
Western Cape
Municipality
City of Cape Town
Founded
1652
Municipal
government
1839
Government [1]
- Type
City council
- Mayor
Dan Plato (DA)
- City manager
Achmat Ebrahim
Area [2]
- Total
2,454.72 km2 (947.8 sq mi)
Highest elevation 1,590.4 m (5,218 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population (2007)[3]
- Total
3,497,097
- Density
1,424.6/km2 (3,689.8/
sq mi)
Time zone
SAST (UTC+2)
Postal code
8000
Area code(s)
+27 (0)21
Twin Cities
- Aachen
Germany
- Buenos Aires
Argentina
- Galveston
United States
- Tunis
Tunisia
- Nice
France
- Saint
Petersburg[4]
Russia
- San Francisco
United States
- London
United Kingdom
Website
www.capetown.gov.za
Cape Town (Afrikaans: Kaapstad; Xhosa:
iKapa) is the second most populous city in
South Africa, forming part of the metropolit-
an municipality of the City of Cape Town. It is
the provincial capital of the Western Cape, as
well as the legislative capital of South Africa,
where the National Parliament and many
government offices are located. Cape Town is
famous for its harbour as well as its natural
setting in the Cape floral kingdom, including
such well-known landmarks as Table Moun-
tain and Cape Point. Cape Town is one of the
most popular South African destinations for
tourism.[5]
Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape
Town was originally developed by the Dutch
East India Company as a victualling (supply)
station for Dutch ships sailing to Eastern
Africa, India, and the Far East. Jan van Rie-
beeck’s arrival on 6 April 1652 established
the first permanent European settlement in
South Africa. Cape Town quickly outgrew its
original purpose as the first European out-
post at the Castle of Good Hope, becoming
the economic and cultural hub of the Cape
Colony. Until the