Middledrift, Eastern Cape

Middledrift
Xesi
Landscape near Middledrift
Landscape near Middledrift
Middledrift is located in Eastern Cape
Middledrift
Middledrift
Middledrift is located in South Africa
Middledrift
Middledrift
Middledrift is located in Africa
Middledrift
Middledrift
Coordinates: 32°49′7″S 26°59′15″E / 32.81861°S 26.98750°E / -32.81861; 26.98750
Country South Africa
Province Eastern Cape
DistrictAmathole
MunicipalityRaymond Mhlaba
Area
[1]
 • Total
1.84 km2 (0.71 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
2,140
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
 • Black African95.9%
 • Coloured2.1%
 • Indian/Asian0.3%
 • White0.8%
 • Other0.8%
First languages (2011)
[1]
 • Xhosa86.7%
 • Afrikaans5.2%
 • English3.8%
 • Sign language1.0%
 • Other3.3%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
5685
PO box
5685
Area code046

Middledrift, officially Xesi,[2] 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.

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.[3] The town is the birthplace of anti-apartheid activist Wilton Mkwayi and advocate Bulelani Ngcuka.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Middledrift". Census 2011.
  2. ^ "New names for towns under community spotlight". DispatchLIVE. Archived from the original on 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
  3. ^ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 309.