History of Bothasig
- Province: Western Cape
- Coordinates 33°51′34″S 18°32′23″E
- Municipality: City of Cape Town
- Area: 4.07 km2
Bothasig, often referred to as “The Sig,” is a suburb in the northern part of greater Cape Town, near the N7 highway. Established in 1965 on the farm Bosmansdam, Bothasig was initially designed to accommodate 300 houses, with a plan to eventually house 20,000 people. The development primarily targeted “white working-class families,” with 800 people on a waiting list for the first 300 of the planned 4,000 houses. Notably, Bothasig was the first town in South Africa where prefabricated wooden houses were built, chosen for their speed and cost-effectiveness. The designs included several options for three-bedroom, 1,000-square-foot houses with garages, priced at R5,200 (excluding land costs). The state planned to build 3,000 houses, with private developers constructing the remaining units.
Originally named Bosmansdam, the suburb’s name changed to Bothasig in 1966 after a visit by PW Botha, then Minister of Community Development and later State President of South Africa. Impressed by the view of Table Mountain, Botha remarked, “Where can one find a better view?” leading to the name “Botha-sig,” meaning “Botha’s view.” Mr. Botha took over the first completed house on October 26, 1965.
In its early days, Bothasig resembled a pioneer settlement, surrounded by a sandy wasteland that caused issues when the wind blew. The area lacked paved roads, shops, a post office, telephone services, and public transport. Residents had to organize lift clubs to reach Goodwood station.
Among the first families to move into a completed timber house were Mr. and Mrs. von Loosen and their four children, immigrants from the Netherlands. With the assistance of the Department of Housing and Milnerton Municipality, the community’s needs were gradually addressed. A primary school was built first, followed by a post office, and by 1968, a community hall and a bilingual creche. An automatic telephone exchange was only installed in 1974.
The postcodes for Bothasig are 7441 (streets) and 7406 (boxes)
Things to do and see in Bothasig
- Dog park, adam Tas road
- Community food garden Link road behind the hall.
- Bothasig Fynbos Nature Reserve Bosmansdam road 021 444 8971
- De Grendel Park 2 Outdoor Gym Swellengrebel Avenue, Bothasig
WEATHER IN BOTHASIG TODAY
Useful Numbers in Bothasig
- Police: 021 559 9400
- Crime Protection Forum: 0215599400
- Traffic department: Milnerton 021 550 1312
- Fire: Milnerton fire dept; 021 400 6949
- Water: 0860 103 089
- Electricity: 0860 103 089
- Ambulance: 10177 or resq medix 074 173 7283
- SPCA: Cape Town Grassy Park 021 700 4140
- Library; 021 400 2757
- Bothasig community hall: 021 558 4055
- Neighbourhood watch
- Residents association bothasigra@gmail.com
- Schools:
Bosmansdam high; 021 558 1070
Bosmansdam primary; 021 558 7110
Wolraad Woltemade primary; 021 558 3600
Tafelburg school; 021 558 2405
Bothasig High; 021 065 2146
