Ixopo
Ixopo
Stuartstown | |
---|---|
SAR Class NG G11 no. NG55arriving at Ixopo station | |
Coordinates:30°09′26″S30°03′53″E/ 30.15722°S 30.06472°E | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
District | Harry Gwala |
Municipality | Ubuhlebezwe |
Area | |
• Total | 10.85 km2(4.19 sq mi) |
Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 12,461 |
• Density | 1,100/km2(3,000/sq mi) |
Racial makeup (2011) | |
•Black African | 90.6% |
•Coloured | 5.6% |
•Indian/Asian | 1.9% |
•White | 1.4% |
• Other | 0.5% |
First languages(2011) | |
•Zulu | 74.8% |
•English | 10.6% |
•Xhosa | 7.6% |
•Sotho | 2.2% |
• Other | 4.8% |
Time zone | UTC+2(SAST) |
Postal code(street) | 3276 |
PO box | 3276 |
Area code | 039 |
Ixopo,also known asStuartstown,is a town situated on a tributary of theuMkhomazi Riveralong theR56highway in the midlands ofKwaZulu-Natal,South Africa.
Background
[edit]The town was laid out in 1878 and named after M Stuart, Resident Magistrate of the surrounding district, who was killed at theBattle of Ingogoin 1881.[2][3]: 256 Its name is derived from theZuluonomatopoeicword,eXobo,describing the sound made ascattlesquelch through mud.[3]: 256 The 'x', in Zulu, is pronounced as alateral click.
The town is most famously described byAlan Patonin the opening lines ofCry, 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 gaugeUmzinto - Donnybrook narrow gauge railway.[3]: 256
Notable people
[edit]- Thabo Nodada(Footballer)
- Purity Nomthandazo Malinga(Bishop)
- Ray Zondo(Chief Justice,Constitutional Court of South Africa)
References
[edit]- ^abcd"Main Place Ixopo".Census 2011.
- ^"Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)".Human Science Research Council. p. 421.
- ^abcdConolly, Denis (1975).The Tourist in South Africa.Travel-Guide (PTY) LTD.ASINB0000E7XZN.
3.R56 informationRoute 56 - Ixopo