Salt River

• Name — Salt River • Mapframe — yes • Mapframe Wikidata — yes • Map Caption — Street map of Salt River • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — South Africa • Subdivision Type1 — Province • Subdivision Name1 — Western Cape • Subdivision Type2 — District • Subdivision Type3 — Municipality • Subdivision Name3 — City of Cape Town • Subdivision Type4 — Main Place • Subdivision Name4 — Cape Town • Established Title — Established • Leader Party — DA • Leader Title — Councillor • Leader Name — Bernadette Le Roux • Area Total Km2 — 2.75 • Population Total — 6577 • Population As Of — 2011 • Population Density Km2 — auto • Demographics Type1 — Racial makeup (2011) • Demographics1 Title1 — Black African • Demographics1 Info1 — 39.5% • Demographics1 Title2 — Coloured • Demographics1 Info2 — 45.0% • Demographics1 Title3 — Indian/Asian • Demographics1 Info3 — 3.8% • Demographics1 Title4 — White • Demographics1 Info4 — 6.6% • Demographics1 Title5 — Other • Demographics1 Info5 — 5.1% • Demographics Type2 — First languages (2011) • Demographics2 Title1 — English • Demographics2 Info1 — 56.5% • Demographics2 Title2 — Afrikaans • Demographics2 Info2 — 15.9% • Demographics2 Title3 — Xhosa • Demographics2 Info3 — 10.1% • Demographics2 Title4 — Zulu • Demographics2 Info4 — 1.8% • Demographics2 Title5 — Other • Demographics2 Info5 — 15.7% • Timezone1 — SAST • Utc Offset1 — +2 • Postal Code Type — Postal code (street) • Postal Code — 7925 • Postal2 Code Type — PO box • Area Code Type — Area code Salt River is a suburb of Cape Town, located near Table Bay, to the east of Cape Town CBD. The area is noted for its association with the clothing and textiles industry. The name Salt River is a translation of the Dutch "Soutrivier".

Prior to its establishment as a suburb within Cape Town, the area was inhabited by the Goringhaiqua Khoikhoi clan. In 1510 it was the scene of the Battle of Salt River between the Portuguese and the Goringhaiqua. Once a booming part of Cape Town because of its close proximity to the CBD, Salt River was the industrial heart of Cape Town. The steel and locomotive industries were important in the suburb's early development due to the expansion of the rail network in the early 1900s. Up until the late 1980s, prominent industries also included textile and clothing manufacturing. However, due to the influx of cheaper, imported clothing many of the clothing factories closed and are being redeveloped. Due to Salt River's proximity to Cape Town CBD and large manufacturing plants, the suburb became popular with Cape Malays and the so-called coloured working class. Many Cape Malay and coloured people moved to Salt River from District Six in the late 1950s and early 1960s, even before the "forced removals" from District Six, which took place around 1967. Cape Malays and coloureds could buy houses in Salt River, but Indians could not. However, Indians were allowed to live in Salt River provided they buy or rent a house attached to a corner grocer shop. Over the following decades, many businesses in the area closed, while unemployment and crime increased. A rise in gangs and drug use in the suburb in the mid-1990s led to the formation of the militant group PAGAD. In 2010, Salt River was pegged for revival as part of a R20 billion urban renewal initiative across Cape Town. In recent years, the suburb has undergone gentrification, and property prices have increased. As of January 2026, the average price of a 2-bedroom condo in Salt River was R2.33 million.

Salt River is named after a river of the same name. The Salt River is formed by the confluence of the Liesbeek and Black Rivers. The river has been canalised and flows into Table Bay between Paarden Eiland and Brooklyn. Salt River is situated around 4km from Cape Town CBD, 8km from Sea Point, 8km from Century City, and 14km from Cape Town International Airport. It is surrounded by other mixed-use areas; namely Woodstock, Observatory, Foreshore, Paarden Eiland, Maitland, and Ndabeni.

• Community House, a site of historical civic activism that houses numerous NGOs and trade unions