Cape Town in 1829.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Na die Britse besetting van die Kaap (1806) het die bevolking van die moederstad stadig toegeneem; teen 1829 was die inwonertal ruim 18000 en het bestaan uit invloedryke Engelse handelaars, Hollandssprekende persone, Vry Swartes en slawe. Onhigiëniese toestande het oor die algemeen geheers en gesondheidsdienste het veel te wense oorgelaat. Die lewensomstandighede van minder gegoede Blankes en die Vry Swartes was haglik en is vererger deur armoede, swak behuising, siektes en selfs epidemies. Deur Ordonnansie 50 van 1828 is die inheemse bevolkingsgroepe weliswaar met persone van Europese herkoms gelykgestel; die beginsel van integrasie was ook sosiaal aanvaarbaar. Tog was die gemeenskap nag op ʼn stelsel van slawerny aangewys en rassedifferensiasie in die samelewing was steeds merkbaar. Die handel en algemene vooruitgang is voorts deur ontoereikende hawegeriewe gestrem. Strate was stowwerig en onverlig, terwyl die oop waterkanale (gragte) vuil en ongesond was. In hierdie stadium het enkele klein woonbuurte (soos Seepunt en Wynberg) reeds bestaan; die plaaslike bestuur van Kaapstad was in die hande van die magistraat en amptenare war deur die regering aangestel is. ʼn Hooggeregshof is in die lewe geroep en tien advokate en elf prokureurs het teen 1829 in Kaapstad gepraktiseer. In teenstelling met die betreklik swak maatskaplike toestande, is ruim voorsien vir die opvoedkundige en godsdienstige behoeftes van die inwoners. Ook die kulturele lewe aan die Kaap was lewendig en ontspanningsgeriewe redelik goed. Teen 1829 was Kaapstad inderdaad besig om, veral onder die invloed van Britse immigrante, ʼn nuwe vorm aan te neem.

• Summary: After the British occupation (1806) the population of Cape Town had grown slowly; by 1829 the mother-city had more than 18 000 inhabitants comprising influential English traders, Dutch-speaking persons, Free Blacks and slaves. The general hygiene of the town was bad while health services left much to be desired. Living conditions of Poor Whites and Free Blacks were most unsatisfactory and had been aggravated by poverty, poor housing, diseases, and even epidemics. Ordinance 50, promulgated in 1828, placed the indigenous peoples on an equal footing with their European counterparts and integration was also socially acceptable. Yet the society was still dependent on a system of slavery and racial differentiation was still appreciable. The inadequate harbour facilities also retarded trade and general progress. Streets were dusty and unlit and the open canals ("grachts") were in a filthy and insanitary state. A few tiny suburbs (e.g. Sea Point and Wynberg) existed at this stage; local government in Cape Town was exercised by a government appointed magistrate and officials. A Supreme Court was created and in 1829 ten advocates and eleven attorneys practised in Cape Town. In contrast to the relatively poor social conditions, inhabitants enjoyed the benefits of ample educational and religious facilities. The cultural life of Cape Town flourished and fair provision was made for entertainment and recreation. By 1829 Cape Town was indeed a town beginning to develop a new character, mainly as a result of the influence of British immigrants.