Middledrift, Eastern Cape

Middledrift (also Middeldrift or Middeldrif) is a small town located 90 kilometres (60 mi) north-west of East London in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated in Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in Amathole District in an area that was formerly part of the Ciskei.

Middledrift

iXesi (in Xhosa)

Middeldrift, Middeldrif
Landscape near Middledrift
Middledrift
Middledrift
Coordinates: 32°49′7″S 26°59′15″E
Country South Africa
ProvinceEastern Cape
DistrictAmathole
MunicipalityRaymond Mhlaba
Area
  Total1.84 km2 (0.71 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
  Total2,140
  Density1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
  Black African95.9%
  Coloured2.1%
  Indian/Asian0.3%
  White0.8%
  Other0.8%
First languages (2011)
  Xhosa86.7%
  Afrikaans5.2%
  English3.8%
  Sign language1.0%
  Other3.3%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
5685
PO box
5685
Area code046

The town is on the Keiskamma River, 45 km west-north-west of King William's Town and 16 km east-south-east of Alice. It was founded in 1853 and laid out in 1882. At first known as Beaconsfield, it was renamed after its situation at a ford (Dutch: drift) between two others. Due to corruption and mismanagement of funds it has become a wasteland and most of the residents nearby have to travel to Alice for shopping and services.[2] The town is the birth place of anti-apartheid activist Wilton Mkwayi and advocate Bulelani Ngcuka.

References

  1. "Main Place Middledrift". Census 2011.
  2. "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 309.
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