The northern part of Manenberg, (closest to Phillipi and Edith Stevens wetland nature reserve) is known as Sherwood Park, here, in the past live many wealthy people of both Christian and Muslims descent, sadly all this changed.

Poverty, unemployment, lack of education and motivation,coupled with drug abuse/addiction, gang activities, social injustice and racial profiling are some of the major issues people in Manenberg suffer under.

Planning for a Coloured township to receive forcibly relocated people during the height of implementation of Group Areas Act by the apartheid government of South Africa began in 1964.

Manenberg was established in 1966 with residents predominantly coming from areas designated by the apartheid government as white such as Constantia, District Six, Cape Town city centre, the Bo-Kaap, Wynberg, Crawford, Sea Point, and Lansdowne.

[3] Housing conditions and the basic design of area was a major grievance that prompted local residents to participate in a range of anti-apartheid activities including acts of civil disobedience in an effort to make the country ungovernable.