 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2023) |
Fort Beaufort
iBhofolo | |
|---|---|
| KwaMaqoma | |
 The martello tower at Fort Beaufort | |
  Fort Beaufort  Fort Beaufort  Fort Beaufort | |
| Coordinates: 32°46′44″S 26°38′07″E / 32.77889°S 26.63528°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | Amathole |
| Municipality | Raymond Mhlaba |
| Established | 1822[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 82.81 km2 (31.97 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 25,668 |
| • Density | 310/km2 (800/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 83.6% |
| • Coloured | 12.9% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.4% |
| • White | 2.6% |
| • Other | 0.5% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Xhosa | 76.9% |
| • Afrikaans | 15.4% |
| • English | 4.7% |
| • Other | 3.0% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 5720 |
| PO box | 5720 |
| Area code | 046 |
Fort Beaufort (Xhosa: iBhofolo), officially renamed KwaMaqoma in March 2023,[3] is a town in the Amatole District of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, and had a population of 25,668 in 2011. The town was established in 1837 and became a municipality in 1883. The town lies at the confluence of the Kat River and Brak River between the Keiskamma and Great Fish Rivers. KwaMaqoma serves as a mini-'dormitory' for academic staff and students of Fort Hare University, based in the nearby town of Alice, and is also close to Sulphur Springs.
It is also the birthplace of South African politician and anti-apartheid activist who is also the first Premier of the Eastern Cape Raymond Mhlaba and his former first wife Joyce Meke.
- ^ Robson, Linda Gillian (2011). "Annexure A" (PDF). The Royal Engineers and settlement planning in the Cape Colony 1806–1872: Approach, methodology and impact (PhD thesis). University of Pretoria. pp. xlv–lii. hdl:2263/26503.
- ^ a b c d "Main Place Fort Beaufort". Census 2011.
- ^ Dayimani, Malibongwe. "Fort Beaufort was just renamed after Xhosa warrior chief Maqoma, and Somerset East is now Kwa Nojoli". News24. Retrieved 14 March 2023.