Cape Town's fascinating history: From Inn to City

By 1771, the inn on the sea — the town in Table Bay — was being referred to as Cape Town for the first time by travelers. It appears that there was not even a formal process; the town at the foot of the mountain simply emerged over the preceding 120 years. By 1772, there were approximately 7,000 people living there.

Of these, 4,000 were white, including 1,700 sailors, and 2,000 were free blacks and slaves. Part of this episode will be viewed through the eyes of botanist, Scottish gardener, and explorer Francis Masson, who journeyed through the Cape three times. He arrived in October 1772 to find that the acting governor was Joachim van Plettenberg.

The newly appointed governor, Pieter van Rheede van Oudshoorn, had died at sea on his way out from Amsterdam. And right there are the men whose surnames would be two future towns: Plettenberg Bay and Oudtshoorn.

1772 was an important year because that's when foreign shipping numbers increased significantly because of the American War of Independence. 

French ships in particular were sailing through the bay regularly because they were supporting the American rebels who were fighting the British. Cape Town was already known as a pretty and orderly locale, its layout admired by most who visited.

Listen to episode 33 below:

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It began with pre-history where we understand that humans are merely a recent layer of mammal on top of ancient rocky outcrops.

Parts of South Africa feature some of the oldest rocks you will find anywhere on the planet. And the oldest rocks bequeath the greatest wealth and southern Africa is especially well endowed. 

Two-billion years ago volcanic spasms squeezed magma through the crust and laid it down – an island of solid rock 400 kilometres long and 10 kilometres thick. It was one piece.

This is crucial to understand what treasures it contains and have been tapped by Africans and then Europeans. Listen below.

Note from Des on this episode:

Just a note of thanks to one of the most unique and informed people I’ve ever met – apart from my spouse of course!

Through the academic year of 2000 and 2001, I was fortunate to attend a series of lectures at Harvard University delivered by the remarkable Professor John Stilgoe who is the Robert and Lois Orchard Professor in the History of Landscape Development. 

Just to give you some idea about how erudite and informed he is – John was the youngest tenured professor ever at Harvard at age 24. 

His understanding of historical connections through a broad array of sources and his factual precision was life-changing. 

I dedicate this series to John Stilgoe thank you for those two-hour lectures that kept me enthralled with your sophisticated idiosyncratic presentation style and facts which remain with me for the rest of my life. 

Dive into the full series below:

More about Des Latham:

Des Latham has a BA Honours in African History from Rhodes University and began his broadcasting career as a Radio 702 News Reporter in 1987. He speaks a number of South African languages and was a reporter during the latter phases of the struggle against apartheid. 

Des has worked in various positions in media, including online editor at Business Day/Financial Mail, editor-in-chief at GCIS, Manager of BDFM Business Radio, and editor for Business Day television. He is currently CEO of frayintermedia based in Johannesburg. 

He began podcasting in 2017 with the successful Anglo Boer War podcast, and followed this up with The Battle of Stalingrad podcast and Falklands War podcast. Des currently produces three podcasts, including the ‘History of South Africa’, ‘South African Border Wars’, and ‘Plane Crash Diaries’. 

He is married to Paula Fray and has three children. Des spends his time traveling, flying aeroplanes, and rehearsing and performing music as a guitarist.