| Philippi | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Western Cape#South Africa#Africa |
| Coordinates: | -34.0167°N 51°W-34.02819677014453, 18.55411447417612 |
| 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: | Sub Place |
| Subdivision Name4: | Cape Town |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 34.21 |
| Population Total: | 6,618 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 1,061 |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 4,665 |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 222 |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 432 |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 238 |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal Code: | 7750 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 7781 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 021 |
The Philippi Horticultural area is a large semi-rural area of Philippi on the Cape Flats region of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The horticultural area is sparsely populated compared to the surrounding city and contains many farms. The 2011 national census recorded 6,618 residents living in the area with an additional 2,961 residents living in the Knole Park community in the central western part of the area.
Prior to European settlement in the 1600s nomadic Khoi and San used the land for grazing their animals and hunting for food.[2] The first recorded community of local residents in the Philippi area was in 1833 during which time it was known as "Die Duine" (The Dunes).[3] The Philippi Germans arrived in Cape Town (most of whom originated from the Lüneburger Heide region of Germany)[4] in three groups between 1860 and 1883, and became known for their ability to grow vegetables in the sandy soils of the Cape Flats.[5]
The Philippi Horticultural Area provides up to 80% of Cape Town's fresh produce.[6] It hosts 38 farms, 20 of which focus on the cultivation of horticultural products and 11 on livestock and animal products. Continuing urban development within the horticultural area has been controversial amid concerns that it will have a negative impact on food sustainability within Cape Town broadly.[7] The area's agricultural activities generate R484 million of economic output annually.