Vision Kayamandi
The Area
Kayamandi is regarded as the second oldest township in the Western Cape. The first people moved to the area Kayamandi in 1940. The township is situated at the edge of Stellenbosch, a historical town 45 km north east of Cape Town, famous for its wines and Cape Dutch architecture.
Interesting Facts
• There are over 30 000 residents in Kayamandi, mostly Xhosa speaking. According to the Stellenbosch Municipality Kayamandi grows by 10% annually. While the population has grown, the physical area of Kayamandi has not expanded significantly, and all residents live on an area of just over one square kilometre.
• These residents are immigrants from the Eastern Cape who came to the Western Cape to seek employment.
• Kayamandi is mostly an informal settlement.
• ‘Kayamandi’ is Xhosa; it means ‘sweet home’.
• The unemployment rate is estimated at 40%.
• The average income per working household is estimated at R1000. A household has on average 7 adults and children.
• Most of the employed work in factories, farms, restaurants and as domestic workers.
• There exist both economical and social problems such as HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, alcoholism, drug abuse, illiteracy, malnutrition, crime and a high incidence of one parent households.
• There are about 50 different church groups in Kayamandi and a fair number of shebeens (taverns) to match.
• There continues to exist, however, a spirit of hope and community in Kayamandi.
