Mount Ayliff

Mount Ayliff (isiXhosa: emaXesibeni) is a small town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, near that province's border with KwaZulu-Natal. In the census of 2011, its population was recorded as being 5,367 people, of whom 98% described themselves as "Black African", and 91.5% spoke Xhosa as their first language.[2]

Mount Ayliff

EmaXesibeni
Mount Ayliff
Mount Ayliff
Coordinates: 30°48′33″S 29°22′01″E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceEastern Cape
DistrictAlfred Nzo
MunicipalityUmzimvubu
Area
 • Total3.32 km2 (1.28 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total5,367
 • Density1,600/km2 (4,200/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African98.2%
 • Coloured0.8%
 • Indian/Asian0.4%
 • White0.4%
 • Other0.3%
First languages (2011)
 • Xhosa91.5%
 • English2.9%
 • Zulu1.4%
 • Other4.2%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
4735
PO box
4735
Area code039

Mount Ayliff is located in the Umzimvubu Local Municipality, which is part of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality; it is the location of the headquarters of the latter.[3]

Xesibeland, the traditional region of the Xesibe people, was located around Mount Ayliff. The Xesibe was led by Chief Jojo; Jojo today is the royal family and still the leading family in EmaXesibeni.

Geography

Mount Ayliff is located in a mountainous valley, hence the word "Mount". It is located just 26 km south-west of the KwaZulu-Natal border and is also located 34 km south of Kokstad and 144 km north-east of Mthatha. The nearest city to Mount Ayliff is Durban which is 283 km north-east of the town.[4][5][6]

1999 tornado

On 18 January 1999 a number of tornadoes hit the town and surrounding areas. Twenty five people were killed and over five hundred thousand were injured; the tornadoes destroyed around 95% of the homes in the area leaving most people homeless making it the most destructive tornado recorded in South Africa.[7]

Mount Ayliff Christmas Day Massacre
Main article: Mount Ayliff Christmas Day Massacre

The town was the scene of a mass shooting incident on Christmas day 2020 in-which at least 7 people died and at least 6 were injured. Following a search for suspects lead by the South African National Defence Force seven people, all injured in the incident, were arrested. The incident was the result of a conflict between competing mini-bus taxi operators in the area[8]

References
  1. "Main Place Mount Ayliff". Census 2011.
  2. "Mount Ayliff". Census 2001. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  3. "Contact information: Alfred Nzo District Municipality". Government Communication and Information System. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  4. "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  5. "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  6. "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  7. Cowan, Kyle (24 November 2014). "Top 5 worst tornadoes in South African history". Newcastle Advertiser. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  8. Mthethwa, Cebelihle. "Mount Ayliff killings: Accused in court for Christmas Day attack where 7 died". News24. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
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