Cofimvaba is a town in Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.[2]
Cofimvaba | |
|---|---|
  Cofimvaba  Cofimvaba  Cofimvaba | |
| Coordinates: 32°0′9″S 27°34′50″E / 32.00250°S 27.58056°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | Chris Hani |
| Municipality | Intsika Yethu |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21.19 km2 (8.18 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 8,783 |
| • Density | 410/km2 (1,100/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 98.3% |
| • Coloured | 0.5% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.3% |
| • White | 0.0% |
| • Other | 0.5% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Xhosa | 93.1% |
| • English | 2.6% |
| • Other | 4.3% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| PO box | 5380 |
| Area code | 047 |
Location edit
The village is 79 km east of Queenstown on the route to Butterworth, in Thembuland.
History edit
The village of Cofimvaba was probably established in 1877 when the magisterial seat for Thembuland, (which had originally been located at St Marks), was transferred to a more accessible location. Chris Hani was born in Cofimvaba.
In September 2022, more than nine people were murdered in and around this small town, within a 30-day period, in which people suspected to be "mapara paras" (thugs) were killed by a group of locals, claiming a lack of policing by the South African Police Service. It has been claimed that the suspects were killed for offences such as stealing television sets, assault and other petty and more serious infractions.
Name origin edit
Probably named after the nearby stream which, after rains, froths turbulently and resembles milk. The name is also said to be derived from cofa, "press", mvaba, "milk-bag" (of goat-skin), done to break lumps of sour milk. Another explanation is that the sound of the water gurgling over the rocks is reminiscent of the splashing of milk in the bag when shaken.[3]
Features edit
There is a hospital in Cofimvaba called Cofimvaba Hospital. There are also two high schools in town, St. James High School and Cofimvaba High School.
Notable people edit
- Hani, Chris, former leader of the South African Communist Party and chief of staff of uMkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC)
- Maxwell Xolani Rani, professional African dancer and choreographer
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Main Place Cofimvaba". Census 2011.
- ^ "Eastern Cape Development Corporation". Eastern Cape Development Corporation. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- ^ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 120.
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