Makhanda, South Africa
Makhanda, also known as Grahamstown, is a town of about 140,000 people in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated about 110 kilometres (70 mi) northeast of Gqeberha and 130 kilometres (80 mi) southwest of East London. It is the largest town in the Makana Local Municipality, and the seat of the municipal council. It also hosts Rhodes University, the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court, the South African Library for the Blind (SALB), a diocese of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, and 6 South African Infantry Battalion. Furthermore, located approximately 3 km south-east of the town lies the world renowned Waterloo Farm, the only estuarine fossil site in the world from 360 million years ago with exceptional soft-tissue preservation.
Makhanda
Grahamstown | |
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Makhanda seen from Fort Selwyn | |
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Flag | |
Makhanda Makhanda Makhanda | |
| Coordinates: 33°18′36″S 26°31′36″E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | Sarah Baartman |
| Municipality | Makana |
| Established | 1812 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 65.1 km2 (25.1 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 580 m (1,900 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 67,264 |
| • Density | 1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 78.9% |
| • Coloured | 11.3% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.7% |
| • White | 8.4% |
| • Other | 0.6% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Xhosa | 72.2% |
| • Afrikaans | 13.7% |
| • English | 10.8% |
| • Other | 3.4% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 6139 |
| PO box | 6140 |
| Area code | 046 |
The town's name-change from Grahamstown to Makhanda was officially gazetted on 29 June 2018. The town was officially renamed to Makhanda in memory of Xhosa warrior and prophet Makhanda ka Nxele.