Mission guide
South Africa Cape Town Mission
A historic coastal city and home to the South Africa Cape Town Mission.
- English
- Zulu
South Africa Cape Town Mission shirts
Every style made for this mission, printed when you order.
South Africa Cape Town Mission T-Shirt
$29.00
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South Africa Cape Town Mission Heart Map Shirt
$29.00
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South Africa Cape Town Mission Flag Map Shirt
$29.00
Choose size & color →I Glory in My Jesus, in the language of this mission
2 Nephi 33:6 as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
Weak Things Become Strong, in the language of this mission
"I make weak things become strong" (Ether 12:27) as it reads in the Book of Mormon for each language spoken here.
About the mission
English and Zulu are spoken in the mission area. Missionaries may also hear other languages in this diverse part of South Africa.
At a glance
- Country
- South Africa
- Main city
- Cape Town, 4,772,846 people in the metropolitan area (2022)
- Mission
- South Africa Cape Town Mission
- Languages
- English and Zulu
- Time zone
- South Africa Standard Time (UTC+2)
- Climate
- Hot-summer Mediterranean, with mild wet winters and warm, dry summers
A short history of the area
The British captured Cape Town in 1795, and Britain received permanent control in 1814. Slavery was abolished in the Cape Colony in 1833. In 1910, Cape Town became the legislative capital of the Union of South Africa. In 1990, Nelson Mandela gave his first public speech after leaving prison from Cape Town City Hall.
The Church here
- 1852Brigham Young called Jesse C. Haven, Leonard I. Smith, and William H. Walker to open a mission in South Africa.
- 1853Haven, Smith, and Walker arrived in Cape Town and began missionary work.
- 1853On May 23, the missionaries climbed Lion’s Head and organized the Cape of Good Hope Mission.
- 1853Joseph Patterson and John Dodel, the first converts in South Africa, were baptized at Mowbray on May 26.
- 1853Henry Stringer was baptized on June 15.
- 1853The first branch in Africa was organized at Mowbray on August 16.
- 1853A second branch was organized at Newlands on September 7.
Temples nearby
Cape Town South Africa Temple
Under construction · Near Cape Town
Johannesburg South Africa Temple
Dedicated August 24, 1985 · About 785 miles from Cape Town
The Book of Mormon here
Missionaries in this mission share the Book of Mormon in these languages. Tap a cover to read it free.
Cover art is an illustration. Links open the free edition on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Before you go
Phrases to learn
- SawubonaHello
- Unjani?How are you?
- NgiyabongaThank you
- Hamba kahleGo well
Foods to try
- Bobotie (a sweet and savory spiced meat dish)
- Gatsby (a large sandwich filled with slap chips and other toppings)
- Koe’sister (a cinnamon-infused Cape Malay pastry finished with coconut)
- Malva pudding (a sticky, sweet dessert often served with hot custard)
Fun facts
- Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden contains five of South Africa’s six biomes.
- About 2,200 plant species are confined to Table Mountain, more than the number of plant species in the whole United Kingdom.
- Cape Town’s coastline is roughly 307 kilometres long.
Just got the call?
Turn the opening into a game: family and friends guess where the missionary is going before the reveal.