Cape Town’s CBD is home to people of many different cultures. Their diversity makes the city an exciting place in which to work, stay and play, but there’s a more serious side to it too. A better understanding of diversity can impact an economy positively and help to bridge the gaps between cultures.
For many of the immigrants and expats who move here, Cape Town represents a place of opportunity, based on pull factors such as the convenience of the Central City’s geographic proximity to major transport hubs and the beauty of the mountain-meets-sea landscape and the lifestyle it inspires.
Tunisia-born Ouafa Belgacem has lived in countries across the continent and recently relocated here to take up the position of secretary general of the Arterial Network – a Pan-African network established to empower creative people and facilitate the creation of a vibrant and diverse cultural community. “The fact that the city is economically active and geographically convenient helps to attract a mix of people who come here to fulfil their dreams. The unique laidback vibe of the city attracts a lot of creative people in particular,” says Ouafa.
The perception of Cape Town as the country’s multicultural capital is another important pull factor for many people.
“People refer to the city as a cultural melting pot, but strictly speaking, the term ‘melting pot’ is a metaphor for a heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, with its diverse aspects melting together into one common culture,” says French-Beninese Daniel Lima who recently moved here to assume the role of coordinator for the African arm of U40 – a global arts and culture youth leadership network that was formed to help promote the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. “Multiculturalism, on the other hand, implies a mixture of different cultures where each culture remains distinct. So the salad bowl metaphor is probably a better way of defining Cape Town.”
Johannes Kraus, a local ambassador for InterNations – an international company that facilitates events to connect its 1 500 local members and settle them in to Cape Town life – explains how multiculturalism and a place's openness to and tolerance of different cultures can play a vital role in economic growth. “Diversity creates great opportunities for an economy because a diversity of people means diverse thoughts, ideas and problem solving. It creates room for creativity as opposed to narrow-minded thinking, and this is sure to drive any economy.”
It’s difficult to ascertain exactly how many expats live and work in the CBD, but the fact that over 25 foreign consular offices are based here – representing countries as diverse as Belgium, Japan, Switzerland, Brazil, India and Angola – is testament to the diversity of our immigrant population.
The Arterial Network and U40 Africa: 25 Commercial Street | www.arterialnetwork.org, 021 465 9027
InterNations: www.internations.org, 021 426 4606
Diverse city by numbers
The CCID recently conducted a user survey of the CBD, to find out who is using the CBD, why, and where they come from – so as to better meet their needs. Over 1 500 people were interviewed at random (one every eight minutes during a two-week shift in March 2012) at various times of day.
- 38.4% of CBD users come from the south (Athlone, Bonteheuwel, Claremont, Fish Hoek, Grassy Park, Gugulethu, Hanover Park, Hout Bay, Langa, Lavender Hill, Maitland, Mitchells Plain, Muizenberg, Phillipi, Pinelands, Rondebosch, Simon’s Town, Strandfontein, Wynberg).
- 34.6% come from the north (Atlantis, Bellville, Bloubergstrand, Blue Downs, Bothasig, Brackenfell, Delft, Durbanville, Edgemead, Elsiesrivier, Gordon’s Bay, Kenridge, Khayelitsha, Kraaifontein, Kuilsrivier, Macassar, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton, Parklands, Parow, Scottsdene, Somerset West, Strand, Table View).
- 9.8% are from the City Bowl (which includes, for this survey, Camps Bay and Clifton).
- 52.1% say the single biggest reason the CBD is so well regarded is it’s so multicultural.
- 55.3% of Central City users are here to work.
- 12.1% are here to study.
- 8.7% are here to live.
For more information on this user survey (and the business survey of the CBD that happened at the same time) read the August 2012 edition of City Views online and The State of Cape Town Central City Report. [links]
This article first appeared in the July 2012 issue of City Views: Read it online.
Words: Benita Kursan
Photo: Cape Town Partnership