Independent Newspapers Archive
University of Cape Town
This significant, under threat and extensive archive of about 850 000 images, now housed at UCT, spans a period from about the 1900’s – 2000. The archive has been identified as having highly significant social history and heritage value with a particular connection to Cape Town, Western Cape and UCT. Topics range from social conditions in and around Cape Town, key protests in pre- and post apartheid periods as well as a broad spectrum of political activity, sport and very large collection of images on prominent figures (sport, social, political). UCT Libraries has selected and scanned nearly 6 000 images with appropriate metadata. It will complement other collections on the history of Cape Town and the province in Special Collections. The archive intersects with History, Film and Media Studies, Sociology, and African Studies and is a valuable portal of our regional social history.
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South Africa
This picture shows construction work on the Kromboom Parkway, which will form part of a major route from the city to the False Bay coast. The parkway - a dual …
The Mayor of Bellville, Mr W. J. Bezuidenhout, looks out over his rapidly-developing town. He visualizes it one day becoming a sprawling city with a population of about 150,000.
Auction day on the Grand Parade, Cape Town.
An impressive photograph of the new heart of Cape Town, by A. J. Musgrave-Newton. It shows the dynamic growth that is taking place on and near the Foreshore. The two …
View from the new Railway building, Foreshore, Cape Town, 1959
Cape Town Harbour and reclaimed land on the Foreshore, Cape Town.
Water canal found in city: Council workers laying water pipes in Adderley Street stopped digging when archaeologist, Miss Gabebah Abrahams peered down the hole and discovered a 17th century water …
Spreading suburbs of Green Point and Sea Point on the slopes of Signal Hill and Lion's Head as seen from the air.
The current row over proposed night-time parking in Greenmarket Square reminded a Pinelands reader, Mr Tony Freer, of the days when the historic square was a daily car park. This …
Parow, nine years ago a small Cape Town "dormitory," now a thriving industrial and business centre. Its council has ambitious schemes in hand for improving the amenities for its rapidly …
Plein Street, Cape Town, pre-1950. Published 24 April 1972.
Statue of Jan van Riebeeck in its original location at the entrance to Cape Town Pier, circa 1920s.
Old house at the top of Wale Street.
The Foreshore Freeway which will link the Eastern and Western boulevards. At bottom, work can be seen in progress over the Culemborg goods yards. To the right of the freeway …
Horse-drawn carriage in front of Groote Kerk, Church Square, Cape Town
Standard General Insurance Company has paid R150 000 for this Church Street, Cape Town, property adjoining its building at the corner of Church and Adderley streets. The site area is …
Housing construction on the sandy Cape Flats
Mr Michael Wilson (left), the archaeologist working on the Golden Acre site, points out a section of what may be the wall of Van Riebeeck's historic 'drinkwaterback' dam to Mr …
Building dating to 1904 in Bree Street, Cape Town, 1978
Adderley Street entrance to the Groote Kerk, Cape Town
The three towers of the Disa Park development on the slopes of Devil's Peak have just been completed. They are believed to be the first high-rise circular buildings in the …
[Rubble] covers the old concourse where commuters once ran for their trains.
The heavy traffic in Voortrekker Road Bellville, typifies the vitality of the business centre of Bellville - a town that in commercial, industrial and housing development is fast outstripping others …
The view of Cape Town, looking in a south-easterly direction, is another of the series taken by The Argus photographer from the top of recently completed 300ft. chimney at the …
Construction of the extension of Strand Street, Cape Town.
1888: Cape Town had not yet encroached on Devil's Peak and Table Mountain. Note Roeland Street, which ended up as a track leading to a quarry.
Cape Town City Bowl towards Devil's Peak, showing the old harbour, docks and power stations, before the demolition of District Six.
Ironmongery stores in Cape Town, South Africa.
The former Dutch Reformed Church in Kalk Bay.
Until about 40 years ago Table Bay provided safe anchorage for seafarers close to the city, as the top picture shows. That was before the pier (seen in the picture) …
The old Opera House on the corner of Darling and Parliament Streets, Cape Town. Demolished in 1937.
In less than an hour the station will echo the sounds of hurrying footsteps, the shouts and the general cacophony of noise associated with a busy rail terminal. In the …
Informal trading in St. George's Mall after the pedestrianisation of St. George's Street, central Cape Town.
Archaeologists from the South African Museum and the University of Cape Town busy unearthing the dam wall found on Cape Town's Golden Acre. It is now thought that the wall …
The construction of Victoria Road from Sea Point to Camps Bay, completed in 1887, provided impetus to the development of Camps Bay as a place for recreation. People were now …
Shopping in Bellville, heart of the Tygerberg.
This old muzzle-loading cannon was unearthed when the foundations for the railway workshops at Salt River were being sunk. Giving it an affectionate polish is Mr C. A. Driescher.
View of the City Bowl and Table Bay from Signal Hill, 1900.
A night club and takeaways have replaced a New Apostolic church.
Aerial view of central Cape Town during the demolition of District Six (foreground).
The old Heerengracht stream which flowed through this brickwork watercourse has been re-routed above the underground pedestrian walkway.
The Communist Party of South Africa (Cape District) had its offices at Lloyd's Building in Burg St, Cape Town, before its banning.
This unusual aerial view of Cape Town has all the boldness, optimism and excitement of the New Year. The great vista stretching over the Cape Flats towards Hottentots Holland to …
This is what Adderley Street looked liked in the 1920s, when the Cape Town Chamber of Commerce was already more than 100 years old (see far right).