Mitchells Plain

Mitchells Plain
From top, Mitchells Plain sign at the intersection of the M7 and R300. An aerial view of Mitchells Plain (centre right). A view over Westridge from the dunes at the Westridge Gardens (centre left). The notable Luco Meyer town centre taxi rank (bottom left). Mitchells Plain town centre market (bottom right).
Mitchells Plain Show map of Western Cape Mitchells Plain Show map of South Africa Mitchells Plain Show map of Africa
Coordinates: 34°3′2″S 18°37′5″E / 34.05056°S 18.61806°E / -34.05056; 18.61806
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
Municipality	City of Cape Town
Area [1]
• Total	43.76 km2 (16.90 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	310,485
• Density	7,100/km2 (18,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	7.3%
• Coloured	90.8%
• Indian/Asian	0.6%
• White	0.2%
• Other	1.1%
First languages (2011) [1]
• English	47.4%
• Afrikaans	46.9%
• Xhosa	3.3%
• Other	2.4%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	7785
PO box	7789

Mitchells Plain is a large census designated sub-place^[2] located within the City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa and situated about 28 km (17 mi) from the Cape Town city centre. It is one of South Africa's largest residential areas and contains multiple smaller suburbs. It is located on the Cape Flats on the False Bay coast between Muizenberg and Khayelitsha. Conceived of as a "model suburb" by the apartheid government, it was built during the 1970s to provide housing for Coloured victims of forced removal due to the implementation of the Group Areas Act.

At an estimated population of 290,000–305,000^[3] people, it comprises a number of sub-sections which reflect the diverse class backgrounds of the population. It was once a major stronghold of the United Democratic Front, the broad-based ANC-sponsored anti-apartheid body. It also has one of greater Cape Town's biggest shopping centres, known as the Liberty Promenade.