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The Racial Divide and Milnerton's Efforts to Bridge It.

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As early as 23 January 1907, the Cape Times Weekly carried an advertisement for Milnerton, which stated, inter alia: "MILNERTON The Popular Marine Suburb Reserved for European Residents…" This was long before the promulgation of the Group Areas Act, under which residential areas were racially segregated by law, so this decision to reserve the new township for whites only must have been that of the directors of Milnerton Estates. Significantly, too, sport was racially segregated, with the directors being "startled" in May that year by a request to permit "coloured" rugby teams to use the Milnerton Rugby Football and Athletics Ground. To their credit, they gave their consent, but with the proviso that "the [Western Province] Rugby Union is satisfied that the playing of Coloured matches and Union matches on the same ground at the same time will not be taken exception to." Later in the same year, there was a dispute between a Mr McGregor...
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Public Services in Milnerton

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Milnerton Fire Station The Volunteer Fire Brigade   The need for a fire station was brought home by the outbreak of a serious fire at Ascot on 28 February 1948, which destroyed some of the stands overlooking the course. A temporary arrangement was made with the Cape Town City Council that the Salt River Fire Brigade would respond to fires at Milnerton. This arrangement lasted until 1956. In 1956, an agreement was reached with the Goodwood Fire Brigade that, in case of need, it would serve Milnerton, and this arrangement continued for years. However, when it was discovered that the Goodwood Brigade required at least 12 minutes to get to Milnerton, complaints were rife that, in an emergency, this might prove disastrous. Hence, early in 1957, a campaign was launched for volunteers living in Milnerton to serve on a volunteer basis. However, notwithstanding the appointment of a Chief Fire Officer and of two Firemasters, the response from the public was inadequate, despite the offer of 5...
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Sport and Recreation in Milnerton

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                   Besides horse racing, which I've covered in a previous blog, Milnerton is also home to many other sports and forms of recreation. Milnerton Golf Club   One of the finest Links courses in South Africa In the early 1900s, a proposal was submitted to Milnerton Estates, namely the establishment of a Golf Club “on a piece of ground adjoining the Estate and in the vicinity of the Hotel”. This scheme was sponsored by Mr ACF Gore, who asked furthermore that the amenities of the existing Pavilion and Pagoda should be made available to future players. Though received favourably, the scheme languished for several years. At last, in January 1910, Mr Vos, a senior ...
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