Somerset East
Somerset-Oos | |
|---|---|
| KwaNojoli | |
From top: Charles Street, Somerset East, left: Town Hall, right: Gill College, left: War Memorial, right: Somerset-East Reformed Church (NGK) | |
  Somerset East  Somerset East  Somerset East | |
| Coordinates: 32°43′S 25°35′E / 32.717°S 25.583°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | Sarah Baartman |
| Municipality | Blue Crane Route |
| Established | 1825 [1] |
| Government | |
| • Councillors | Archer Heynse[2] (DA) Lorraine Smith-Johnson (DA) Ayanda Dyantyi (ANC) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 72.8 km2 (28.1 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 750 m (2,460 ft) |
| Population (2011)[3] | |
| • Total | 18,825 |
| • Density | 260/km2 (670/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 48% |
| • Coloured | 32% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.4% |
| • White | 20% |
| • Other | 0.5% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Xhosa | 51.8% |
| • Afrikaans | 42.9% |
| • English | 3.7% |
| • Other | 1.6% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 5850 |
| PO box | 5850 |
Somerset East (Afrikaans: Somerset-Oos)[4] (renamed KwaNojoli in 2023)[5] is a town in the Blue Crane Route Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was founded by Lord Charles Somerset in 1825.
The Blue Crane Route follows the national road R63 from Pearston, via Somerset East, to Cookhouse. Somerset East, at the foot of the Boschberg Mountains, is a small town that's known for its natural environment and for its provincial heritage sites and buildings.
The forested, mountainous backdrop frames the town (which is within sight of 16 waterfalls after good rains). The wooded Boschberg Nature Reserve is in the area, and has a number of hiking trails. Due to the densely forested mountain, it is advisable to only attempt these with a local familiar with the area. As the route's name suggest, Somerset East is a bird-watching destination - other outdoor adventures include trout fishing on several local dams; both rainbow and brown trout fishing is available through the Bankberg Trout Fisher's Club, malaria free safari and hunting operations. There is also a 9-hole golf course.
Notable buildings in the town include the Old Wesleyan Chapel, which now houses the Somerset East Museum, and the officers' mess, which now houses the largest permanent exhibition of paintings by the South African artist Walter Battiss.
Historical annual events include the Biltong Festival, which was started in 1991, the Bruintjieshoogte Marathon, Bruintjieshoogte Cycle Tour (run between Pearston & Somerset East) and the Spring Rose & Flower show. Somerset East now hosts an annual Walter Battiss Art Festival, as well as the Somerset East Agricultural show. Somerset East is known for producing roses.[citation needed]
- ^ 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.
- ^ Blue Crane Route - Our Councillors
- ^ a b c d Sum of the Main Places Somerset East and Somerset East from Census 2011.
- ^ Dayimani, Malibongwe. "Fort Beaufort was just renamed after Xhosa warrior chief Maqoma, and Somerset East is now Somerset East". News24. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "85 towns hit with name changes in South Africa – and more are on the way". BusinessTech. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.