Might Claremont be more interesting than you think? Claremont is a suburb in Johannesburg. It lies about 9 km west-northwest of City Hall. Once, Claremont bordered Roodepoort under old municipal borders. It was one of the city’s westernmost suburbs.
Let’s take a closer look at Claremont. The suburb stretches 1.7 km from northwest to southeast. From northeast to southwest it spans only 600 m. Claremont is bordered by several suburbs. Delarey lies to the northwest. Newlands and Montclare are to the north. Newclare is on the east. Bosmont sits to the southeast. Industria North is to the southwest.
Claremont has a history dating back to 1896. H. de V. Steytler laid it out. It was part of plot No. 211 of the Waterval Estate. The plot covered 106-ha. The estate was 1,200-ha. The African Land and Investment Company bought the area in 1906. In 1944, the Johannesburg City Council annexed it.
In its early years, Claremont was not very large. In 1934, there were only 64 Afrikaans-speakers. There were also 22 English-speakers. By 1949, this had risen to 97 Afrikaans and 19 English speakers. In 1961, there were 127 Afrikaans and 58 English speakers.
The Claremont Reformed Church was founded. It was part of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. Population shrinkage led to its absorption. In 2011, it merged with the Waterval Reformed Church in Newlands.
Laerskool Claremont still operates today. It is on Charles Street. The school teaches in both English and Afrikaans. This parallel-medium school serves the community. Claremont may be small. However, its history is rich. Its demographics reflect South Africa’s diverse population. Claremont stands as a testament to Johannesburg’s past. It continues to evolve today.