What lies behind this imaginary divide in Cape Town, that is somewhat different to its counterpart in Pretoria and Gauteng where the Jukskei River visibly forms the division, goes partly beyond common knowledge. Fortunately the origins of the term Boerewors Curtain, related to the border between communist East and Capitalist West during the Cold War, bears little resemblance to this lucrative mix of residential, commercial and industrial property development.
Since language serves as the official divide separating the city’s Afrikaans or Northerly suburbs from the English in the South, the common perception of the Cape Boerewors Curtain that is synonymous with Jack Parow and Die Antwoord, may be enlightened by also noting the natural beauty and the exceptional lifestyle this area offers.
Stretching from the ‘visible’ divide of Century Century on the N1 freeway pass Kuilsriver and Joostenbergvlakte towards the Boland towns of Stellenbosch and Paarl, it features a number of spectacular mountain ranges and nature reserves. Also worth noting is the natural beauty of some suburbs surrounded by vineyards where prize wine labels have resulted in this area featuring firmly as one of SA’s world class wine routes.
This geographical area officially falls under the City of Tygerberg that includes the larger northern municipalities of Goodwood, Parow, Bellville, Durbanville, Khayelitsha and Mfuleni. What lies between these suburbs are many smaller areas with prime real estate opportunities, that has seen extensive property development resulting in sought after estates and retail therapy of a different kind.
Some of the established suburbs’ exclusive offerings include Plattekloof that is located on the Plattekloof Ridge where panoramic views of Table Mountain and Table Bay are visible from all angles. The suburb of Loevenste located in the vicinity of Tygerberg Nature Reserve boasts tranquil natural surroundings, as do Durbanville Hills and Welgemoed along the local wine route. For those seeking upmarket waterfront living and a trendy lifestyle, the Tygervalley Waterfront offers lock up and go apartment living in the hub of this area with a variety of restaurants, Virgin Active Gymnasium and Tygervalley Shopping Centre.
Other major landmarks in this area include the Grand West Casino in Goodwood and surrounding suburbs such as Edgemead, with affordable housing options for first time homeowners and young families. This area is also known to offer property rentals falling within competitive price ranges where both smaller family homes and apartments are available for rent. The central location of this area bordering close to a number of industrial areas such as Epping and Parow, as well as large retail outlets makes it a popular option with short commuting distances between schools, the city and tertiary institutions.
Another little known fact about the Boerewors Curtain is its rich cultural history where art and music of a sophisticated kind is well and alive. It also boasts a number of excellent schools available to property owners who can enjoy one of the latest developing trends at Afrikaans schools. Similar to some top schools in upcountry areas, a number of excellent local primary schools, in recognition of English as the global language of the future, now offer English tuition at mother tongue level that can be continued in English medium high schools.