Tsomo

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Tsomo
Tsomo is located in Eastern Cape
Tsomo
Tsomo
Tsomo is located in South Africa
Tsomo
Tsomo
Coordinates: 32°02′17″S 27°49′01″E / 32.03794°S 27.81689°E / -32.03794; 27.81689
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceEastern Cape
DistrictChris Hani
MunicipalityIntsika Yethu
Established1877
Area
 • Total3.72 km2 (1.44 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total2,108
 • Density570/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African94.8%
 • Coloured2.1%
 • Indian/Asian1.7%
 • White1.3%
First languages (2011)
 • Xhosa88.7%
 • English3.1%
 • Afrikaans1.1%
 • Other7.0%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
PO box
5400
Area code047

Tsomo is a town in Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town is 45 km east of Qamata and 48 km west of Ndabakazi.

History[edit]

Founded in 1877, it originated as a military station known as Tsomo Post.[2] The name is derived from that of the Tsomo River, on which it is situated, which in turn is said to be named after a Xhosa chief who lived where the bridge now stands.[2]

Tsomo was originally included in the Transkei territory of Fingoland (Mfenguland) however after the annexation by the British Fingoland was further divided into Butterworth, Tsomo and Nqamakwe.[3]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Tsomo". Census 2011.
  2. ^ a b Erasmus, B. P. J. (1995). On Route in South Africa. Internet Archive. Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 205. ISBN 978-1-86842-026-1.
  3. ^ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 439.