Kenilworth, Cape Town

Geography

Kenilworth is bordered by Wynberg to the south and Claremont to the north. Kenilworth railway station is on the main line from Cape Town to Simon's Town. Main Road (which runs from Central Cape Town through to Simon's Town) runs through Kenilworth, and the suburb can also be accessed from the M5 freeway.

Saint James Church massacre

On 25 July 1993 four members of Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) attacked Saint James Church in Kenilworth; 11 members of the congregation were killed and 58 wounded. The attack took place at a turbulent time in South African history, during the country's transition from apartheid to its first truly democratic elections in 1994.

Demographics

As of the census of 2001, there were 4,850 households and 10,304 people residing in the suburb. The racial makeup of the suburb was 12.50% Black African, 16.14% Coloured, 3.73% Indian/Asian, 67.63% White and 0% from other races.

In the suburb the population was spread out with 18% under the age of 18, 35.95% from 18 to 34, 24.13% from 35 to 54, 8.65% from 55 to 64, and 12.95% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 77.44 males.

81.22% of the population speak English, 7.20% speak Afrikaans, 6.49% speak Xhosa, 2.53% speak another African language and 2.55% some other language as a first language.

Kenilworth Racecourse

An attraction which draws visitors to Kenilworth is the Kenilworth Racecourse. The oldest race course in the country, it is home to the J&B Met (held in late January each year), an event which draws more than 50,000 spectators. The race has been won by horses who have gone on to international success, including Horse Chestnut and Wolf Power. The Queens Plate, a similar event but smaller and more exclusive than the J&B Met, is held every year around two to three weeks before the Met. Numerous other Grade 1 horse races are held at Kenilworth throughout the year.

Economy

The Kenilworth Racecourse is a large part of the economy of the suburb. Not only drawing in large crowds during the J&B Met and smaller crowds during the more common races but it is also the site of a commercial park that hosts numerous businesses including the headquarters of Pick 'n Pay Stores Limited. Access Park, a large factory outlet shopping complex, is also located in the suburb.

Education

Schools