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Cofimvaba

Coordinates: 32°0′9″S 27°34′50″E / 32.00250°S 27.58056°E / -32.00250; 27.58056
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Cofimvaba
Cofimvaba is located in Eastern Cape
Cofimvaba
Cofimvaba
Cofimvaba is located in South Africa
Cofimvaba
Cofimvaba
Cofimvaba is located in Africa
Cofimvaba
Cofimvaba
Coordinates: 32°0′9″S 27°34′50″E / 32.00250°S 27.58056°E / -32.00250; 27.58056
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceEastern Cape
DistrictChris Hani
MunicipalityIntsika Yethu
Area
 • Total21.19 km2 (8.18 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total8,783
 • Density410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African98.3%
 • Coloured0.5%
 • Indian/Asian0.3%
 • White0.0%
 • Other0.5%
First languages (2011)
 • Xhosa93.1%
 • English2.6%
 • Other4.3%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
PO box
5380
Area code047

Cofimvaba is a town in Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.[2]

Location

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The village is 79 km east of Queenstown on the route to Butterworth, in Thembuland.

History

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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

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Cofimvaba". Census 2011.
  2. ^ "Eastern Cape Development Corporation". Eastern Cape Development Corporation. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  3. ^ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 120.