Ixopo

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Ixopo
Stuartstown
SAR Class NG G11 NG55 (2-6-0+0-6-2).JPG
SAR Class NG G11 no. NG55 arriving at Ixopo station
South Africa KwaZulu-Natal location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Ixopo
South Africa adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Ixopo
Coordinates: 30°09′26″S30°03′53″E / 30.15722°S 30.06472°E / -30.15722; 30.06472
Country South Africa
Province KwaZulu-Natal
District Harry Gwala
Municipality Johannes Phumani Phungula
Area
[1]
  Total
10.85 km2 (4.19 sq mi)
Population
 (2011) [1]
  Total
12,461
  Density1,100/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
   Black African 90.6%
   Coloured 5.6%
   Indian/Asian 1.9%
   White 1.4%
  Other0.5%
First languages (2011)
[1]
   Zulu 74.8%
   English 10.6%
   Xhosa 7.6%
   Sotho 2.2%
  Other4.8%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
3276
PO box
3276
Area code 039

Ixopo, also known as Stuartstown, is a town situated on a tributary of the uMkhomazi River along the R56 highway in the midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Contents

Background

The town was laid out in 1878 and named after M Stuart, Resident Magistrate of the surrounding district, who was killed at the Battle of Ingogo in 1881. [2] [3] :256 Its name is derived from the Zulu onomatopoeic word, eXobo, describing the sound made as cattle squelch through mud. [3] :256 The 'x', in Zulu, is pronounced as a lateral click.

The town is most famously described by Alan Paton in the opening lines of Cry, 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 gauge Umzinto - Donnybrook narrow gauge railway. [3] :256

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Ixopo". Census 2011.
  2. "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 421.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Conolly, Denis (1975). The Tourist in South Africa. Travel-Guide (PTY) LTD. ASIN   B0000E7XZN.

3. R56 information Route 56 - Ixopo