Ixopo

Ixopo is a town situated on a tributary of the Mkhomazi River along the R56 highway in the midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Ixopo

Stuartstown
SAR Class NG G11 no. NG55 arriving at Ixopo station
Ixopo
Ixopo
Coordinates: 30°09′26″S 30°03′53″E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceKwaZulu-Natal
DistrictHarry Gwala
MunicipalityUbuhlebezwe
Area
 • Total10.85 km2 (4.19 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total12,461
 • Density1,100/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African90.6%
 • Coloured5.6%
 • Indian/Asian1.9%
 • White1.4%
 • Other0.5%
First languages (2011)
 • Zulu74.8%
 • English10.6%
 • Xhosa7.6%
 • Sotho2.2%
 • Other4.8%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
3276
PO box
3276
Area code039

Background

Ixopo was formerly known as Stuartstown, was laid out in 1878 and named after M Stuart, Resident Magistrate of the Ixopo district, who was killed at the Battle of Ingogo in 1881.[2][3]:256 Its name is derived from the Zulu onomatopoeic word, eXobo, describing the sound made as cattle squelch through mud.[3]:256 The 'x', in Zulu, is pronounced as a lateral click).

Ixopo is most famously described by Alan Paton in the opening lines of Cry, The Beloved Country: "There is a lovely road which runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it."[3]:256

Until the mid-1980s, Ixopo was served by a railway station on the 610 mm (2 ft 0 in) narrow gauge Umzinto - Donnybrook narrow gauge railway.[3]:256

Notable people

References
  1. "Main Place Ixopo". Census 2011.
  2. "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 421.
  3. Conolly, Denis (1975). The Tourist in South Africa. Travel-Guide (PTY) LTD. ASIN B0000E7XZN.

3. R56 information Route 56 - Ixopo


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