Cyrildene

Cyrildene
Cyrildene is located in Gauteng
Cyrildene
Cyrildene
Location within Gauteng
Cyrildene is located in South Africa
Cyrildene
Cyrildene
Location within South Africa
Coordinates: 26°10′23″S 28°06′04″E / 26.173°S 28.101°E / -26.173; 28.101
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceGauteng
MunicipalityCity of Johannesburg
Main PlaceJohannesburg
Established1938
Area
 • Total
1.20 km2 (0.46 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
3,417
 • Density2,850/km2 (7,370/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African26.5%
 • Coloured3.0%
 • Indian/Asian33.9%
 • White31.1%
 • Other5.5%
First languages (2011)
 • English55.8%
 • Zulu3.7%
 • Afrikaans3.4%
 • Northern Sotho2.1%
 • Other35.0%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
2198

Cyrildene (simplified Chinese: 西罗町; traditional Chinese: 西羅町) is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. The area is found east of the Johannesburg CBD and is surrounded by the suburbs of Linksfield, Observatory and Bruma.

In the early-mid twentieth century it drew in Jewish families from Central Johannesburg, by 1971, Jews made up 63% of the resident population. Most Jewish residents have since relocated to more affluent areas of Johannesburg or emigrated abroad.

During the apartheid era, it was classed as a "whites only" area under the terms of the Group Areas Act. Since the repeal of the Act in 1991, the resident-mix has become more cosmopolitan, with a large Chinese population.

It is noted for a new Chinatown that exists on Derrick Avenue. This new Chinatown is now considered as the main Chinatown in Johannesburg, replacing the declining Chinatown on Commissioner Street in the inner-city of Johannesburg. It is located in Region F of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality.

History

The suburb is situated on part of an old Witwatersrand farm called Doornfontein. It would be proclaimed as suburb on 18 May 1938 and was named after the land developer's son, Cyril Cooper.

Jewish community

In 1942, a Jewish congregation, Cyrildene - Observatory Extension Hebrew Congregation, was established, as the area was attracting a growing number of Jewish families from the central areas of the city. Prior to constructing a permanent home, services were held at private homes, a shop, Cyrildene Garage, with High Holiday services held at a marquee. Services and Talmud Torah classes were also held at the site of the present Athlone Girls High School in Observatory.

In 1950, the congregation build a communal hall and classrooms on Aida Avenue in Cyrildene. In 1965, the hall was converted into a permanent synagogue, and it was consecrated by Rabbi Bernard M. Casper. Several prominent members of the Jewish community have been involved with the congregation, including Solly Krok, furniture retailer, Eric Ellerine and Melbourne-based Rabbi Ralph Genende, Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).

Cyrildene was also home to a Jewish sporting club. A factor in the establishment of Jewish sporting clubs was antisemitism, with Jews barred from being admitted to several clubs in the city at the time.

In his seventeen-month period underground between 1961 and 1962, Nelson Mandela spent some of this time at a "safe house" in Cyrildene, the home of Jewish couple, Cyril and Raie Jones.

In 1971, Jews made up 63% of the resident population. During the 1990s, Jewish residents increasingly moved to more prosperous areas of Johannesburg or emigrated overseas.

Chinese community

In 1991, Cyrildene was subject to the Abolition of Racially Based Land Measures Act, 1991. This abolished the Group Areas Act, in place since the 1950s, and classes Cyrildene as a "whites only" area.

Unlike the old and now largely abandoned Chinatown in Newtown, which was largely made up of second or third generation South African Chinese, the new inhabitants of the Chinatown in Cyrildene are overwhelmingly first generation Chinese immigrants from mainland China. The Chinatown has a paifang (arch).

A street scene of the Chinatown on Derrick Avenue in Cyrildene, Johannesburg. (May 2011)

Notable residents

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Sub Place Cyrildene". Census 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Cyrildene JewishGen Kehila Links. Retrieved on 13 June 2026
  3. 1 2 Dubb, A. A.; Della Pergola, S. (1978). South African Jewish Population Study: Advance Report No. 9 – Geographical Distribution and Mobility (PDF) (Report). Division of Jewish Demography and Statistics, Institute of Contemporary Jewry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
  4. 1 2 (26 May 2014). Made in Cyrildene Visi. Retrieved on 2 June 2026.
  5. 1 2 Raper, Peter E.; Moller, Lucie A.; du Plessis, Theodorus L. (2014). Dictionary of Southern African Place Names. Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 1412. ISBN 9781868425501.
  6. ↑ Goldman, Yossy (13 February 2025). Solly Krok – the man who made charity cool South African Jewish Report. Retrieved on 14 June 2026.
  7. ↑ Krost, Peta (7 December 2023). End of an era, as quintessential businessman passes on South African Jewish Report. Retrieved on 14 February 2026.
  8. ↑ (8 December 2022). Living the right way up in an upside down world South African Jewish Report. Retrieved on 14 June 2026.
  9. ↑ Kamionsky, Saul (14 September 2023). Soccer legend’s passing sparks ‘guilded’ memories South African Jewish Report. Retrieved on 14 June 2026.
  10. ↑ Saks, David (13 July 2017). Nelson Mandela and his relationship with SA Jews South African Jewish Report. Retrieved on 14 June 2026.
  11. ↑ John Matshikiza (22 January 2007). "Hoe's my China nou?". Mail and Guardian Online. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  12. ↑ "L Ron Hubbard Heritage Site". Facebook. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  13. ↑ "Plaques: Joburg Heritage Plaques". Johannesburg Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2017.