About Victoria Mxenge Project

Just south of where Lansdowne and Ottery Roads meet in Cape Town is the community of Victoria Mxenge, named after one of the heroes of the freedom struggle in South Africa, and one of the places to visit on the Cape Care Route. A highly successful project is based here where a group of women build their own homes, assisted by Abalimi Bezekhaya and the Homeless People's Federation.

Tired of waiting for the government subsidy, a group of women have learned skills in house building. Together they came up with a savings scheme as a way to provide finance for the project. And they can build three-bedroom homes of little bigger than 85 square metres for a little more than the price of a basic RDP house.

The project is part of the larger Philippi Triangle, honoured by the United Nations in 1997 as one of the four leading examples of people-driven poverty alleviation programmes in the world. What started as a development of 140 houses built by a group of 30 women who used to live in squatter shacks, has now grown into a project that teaches other women to start similar developments in their areas.

Over 50 000 homes have now been built as part of the Triangle, a three-phase development that included negotiating for land and paying for it, developing site plans, making bricks and finally building the houses themselves.

You can visit the project as part of the Cape Care Route, where you are welcomed into a couple of the women's homes for tea or a home-made meal.

A flower growing project, known as the Lilies for Peace Project, has also been established in Victoria Mxenge, where arum lilies, indigenous to the Western Cape, are grown for sale at the fresh flower market.

Need to Know

WhereVictoria Mxenge Project, Cape Care Route, Athlone, Cape Flats, Cape Town

WhenBy appointment only.

How muchPrices on request.

Telephone+27 (0)21 372-4206

OvernightStay nearby in Athlone, in Cape Town

Disclaimer

Please note, business details can change. While we endeavour to ensure all information provided by the service provider is correct at the time of publication, we do not assume any liability caused by errors or changes, such as price, cost, time, and location. Please check with the provider that the activity/business is still offered as described, before making any travel plans.

Need an Update?

Send us feedback if this is your service/activity. Please let us know if anything on this page is outdated or contains inaccuracies.
Note, we do not have additional information or rates. Please don't contact us, rather use the service provider's contact details provided.

Find Victoria Mxenge Project in these collections

In the vicinity

Hotels & other accommodation options by proximity

* Distances shown are "as the crow flies", not driving distances. Please confirm with the establishment should driving distance be a factor in your decision.

Other things to do in the area

Noteworthy attractions

Accommodation convenient to Victoria Mxenge Project

FIND / South Africa Accommodation / Western Cape Accommodation / Cape Town Accommodation / Southern Suburbs Accommodation / Athlone Accommodation

Athlone as a destination

Want to stay overnight?

Dates

When would you like to stay?
Choose dates

Number of Guests

Why book with SA-Venues.com
  • Your card is safe with us; strictest card verification in the industry and we don't store card numbers.
  • No airy fairy service fees; you save!
  • We care. Service with integrity.
  • Multiple payment methods:
    credit card, SID instant EFT, bank transfer.
  • All Athlone property owners / managers are verified (our experience protects you from online fraud).
  • Secure your booking
Our Payment Protection Guarantee only applies if your deposit payment is made via SA-Venues.com
Things To Do
South Africa. Explore. Experience. Stay

SA-Venues.com® has been assisting travellers with their South Africa travel plans since 1999, and is the largest, independent online travel guide for South Africa available in both English and German.