Manenberg is an area on the Cape Flats, next to Heideveld and Surrey Estate, and has an estimated 70 000 residents. The area was created due to the apartheids group areas act to move coloured people to areas away from the city and mountain, classified White.

In 1975 the area consisted of about seven corner shops and two liquor outlets. There were no adequate commercial facilities or community services. Nyanga Railway Station was later established to service the growing population of Gugulethu and Manenberg. The outer boundaries can be traced by following Duinefontein Road which runs, for the most part, parallel to the railway line, to where it meets Lansdowne Road to the south and Klipfontein Road to the north.

The streets of Manenberg were named after rivers. The flats or 'courts' were given female names like Nellie or Mathilda Court. The major road inside Manenberg was called Manenberg Avenue and is still a vibrant avenue filled with cars, minibus taxis and buses. 
                                                                      Source: Wikipedi, May 2011

Manenberg Library is situated in the heart of Manenberg and is just off Manenberg Avenue, which is central to all its residents of Manenberg. The Library boasts a huge adult and children section with a range of books to suit everyone.  SmartCape computers are also available and offers registered users 45 min free internet access.

The library has also given heed to its social responsibilities within the area and have partnered with local community organizations to assist in the upliftment and educational needs of the young and old.

Sanzaf, a religious organization whose main aim is to assist the community in disaster relieve, offers Art and Crafts programmes during the school holidays to children at the library. They mostly rely on donations to run these programmes successfully.  The library can be contacted regarding donations for this programme.

A community outreach worker, Mymoena Jacobs, have regular talks on HIV/AIDS at the library, educating the community on the importance of safer sex and accepting persons affected and infected with the virus.  Contact the library for more information on how to attend these talks or get in contact with Mymoena.

The Selfhelp Manenberg group, established in 1992, also does its bit for the community and offers a range of parenting, family, youth and business programmes aimed at assisting the community in helping each other instead of seeking it elsewhere. The group also meets at the library - for more information, the library may be contacted to find out exact dates and times of their meeting and programme dates.

Manenberg Library recently established a friends of the library (FOL) and needs the community's involvement in making this a success. Should you have any old books or donations that can aid the fundraising of FOL, please speak to Riaan Abrahams at Manenberg Library who will assist you in this regard.

Manenberg Library Opening Times:

Monday - Thursday  : 10am - 5 pm
Friday                       : 11am - 2pm
Saturday:                 : 9am - 12pm

Library Contact Details: 021 691 0140

Page Created: 13 April 2011
Page updated: 10 May 2011