Middelburg, Eastern Cape

Middelburg (Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈmədəlbœrχ]) is a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, in the Great Karoo. It lies in the Upper Karoo, 1,279 m above sea level, with a population of 19,000.[3] It falls under the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality, in the Chris Hani District Municipality.

This article is about the town in Eastern Cape. For other uses, see Middelburg (disambiguation).
Middelburg
Middelburg railway station
Middelburg railway station
Middelburg is located in Eastern Cape
Middelburg
Middelburg
Middelburg is located in South Africa
Middelburg
Middelburg
Middelburg is located in Africa
Middelburg
Middelburg
Coordinates: 31°29′38″S 25°1′2″E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceEastern Cape
DistrictChris Hani
MunicipalityInxuba Yethemba
Established1852[1]
Area
[2]
 • Total44.76 km2 (17.28 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total18,681
 • Density420/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[2]
 • Black African49.2%
 • Coloured43.9%
 • Indian/Asian0.3%
 • White6.2%
 • Other0.4%
First languages (2011)
[2]
 • Afrikaans52.3%
 • Xhosa43.6%
 • English1.9%
 • Other2.2%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
5900
PO box
5900

History

In 1837 the Cape Colony government proclaimed the district of Colesberg, and established the Town of Middelburg in 1852, so named since it is midway between Graaff-Reinet and Colesberg. (It is also approximately halfway between Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein, as well as between Johannesburg and Cape Town.)

The town and surrounding areas are rich in history from the Anglo Boer War. The adjacent Grootfontein College of Agriculture was established as a military camp and training centre for British troops.[4] About 7,000 troops from the Third Manchester Regiment were stationed at Grootfontein - some of them were married, so about 3,000 women and children also lived at Grootfontein.[3]

In 1910 the Union of South Africa took control of the farm after which the Grootfontein School of Agriculture was established in 1911. Today the college offers a two-year Certificate in Agriculture and a three-year Diploma in Agriculture, both accredited by the Higher Education Quality Committee.

The Cape Province branch of the National Party was constituted at a congress held in Middelburg on 15 September 1914, two months after the National Party's founding in Smithfield, Orange Free State Province. Over 300 delegates attended the meeting that would also choose Dr D.F. Malan, later Prime Minister of South Africa, as the provincial party's first chairman.[5]

The R56, the shortest route between the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal begins at Middelburg. The town's hospital is Wilhelm Stahl Provincial Hospital.[6]

Persons born in Middelburg

Jozua François Naudé, Pastor in the Dutch Reformed Church, was born in Middelburg EC in 1873. Middelburg is also the birthplace of playwright Athol Fugard. Other well known South Africans who were born or lived in Middelburg include Eddie Stuart (Footballer), Steven Sykes (Rugby player), Keanu Vers (Rugby Player), Arthur Lennox Ochse (Cricketer), John James Clements (recipient of the Victoria Cross), Eric Rosenthal (historian and author), Cecily Norden (Horse industry), John Phillip Harison Acocks (botanist), Colin Turpin, Reader in Law at Clare College, Cambridge .[7]

Climate
Climate data for Middelburg, Eastern Cape
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 30
(86)		 28
(82)		 26
(79)		 22
(72)		 18
(64)		 15
(59)		 16
(61)		 18
(64)		 22
(72)		 24
(75)		 26
(79)		 29
(84)		 22
(72)
Daily mean °C (°F) 21
(70)		 20
(68)		 18
(64)		 14
(57)		 11
(52)		 8
(46)		 8
(46)		 10
(50)		 13
(55)		 15
(59)		 18
(64)		 20
(68)		 14
(57)
Average low °C (°F) 13
(55)		 12
(54)		 11
(52)		 7
(45)		 3
(37)		 −4
(25)		 −1
(30)		 1
(34)		 4
(39)		 6
(43)		 9
(48)		 11
(52)		 6
(43)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 44
(1.7)		 56
(2.2)		 60
(2.4)		 31
(1.2)		 16
(0.6)		 10
(0.4)		 11
(0.4)		 12
(0.5)		 15
(0.6)		 26
(1.0)		 38
(1.5)		 37
(1.5)		 356
(14.0)
Source: Weatherbase [8]

References
  1. 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.
  2. "Main Place Middelburg". Census 2011.
  3. travel-informed.co.za Archived 2009-08-07 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Grootfontein College
  5. Malan, MPA (1964). Die Nasionale Party van Suid-Afrika: Sy Stryd en Sy Prestasies, 1914-1964. Cape Town: National Party of South Africa. p. 19.
  6. Eastern Cape Dept of Health official website Archived 2012-04-29 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Colin Conyngham Turpin". Squire Law Library. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  8. "Climate Statistics for Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa". Retrieved June 8, 2012.
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