Qumbu | |
Pushpin Map: | South Africa Eastern Cape#South Africa#Africa |
Coordinates: | -31.1617°N 28.8681°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
Subdivision Type1: | Province |
Subdivision Name1: | Eastern Cape |
Subdivision Type2: | District |
Subdivision Name2: | O.R. Tambo |
Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
Subdivision Name3: | Mhlontlo |
Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
Established Title: | Established |
Leader Title: | Councillor |
Area Footnotes: | [1] |
Area Total Km2: | 42.31 |
Population Total: | 4928 |
Population As Of: | 2011 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
Demographics1 Info1: | 98.8% |
Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
Demographics1 Info2: | 0.5% |
Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
Demographics1 Title4: | White |
Demographics1 Info4: | 0.1% |
Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
Demographics1 Info5: | 0.6% |
Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
Demographics2 Title1: | Xhosa |
Demographics2 Info1: | 90.0% |
Demographics2 Title2: | English |
Demographics2 Info2: | 3.3% |
Demographics2 Title3: | Sign language |
Demographics2 Info3: | 1.9% |
Demographics2 Title4: | Hlubi |
Demographics2 Info4: | 1.1% |
Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
Demographics2 Info5: | 3.7% |
Timezone1: | SAST |
Utc Offset1: | +2 |
Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
Postal Code: | 5180 |
Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
Postal2 Code: | 5180 |
Area Code Type: | Area code |
Area Code: | 047 |
Qumbu is a town in OR Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
The town is 61 km north of Mthatha and was founded in 1876. The name is of isiXhosa origin, derived from amazimba aqumbu, ‘the corn has budded’, or ‘the corn is swollen’, referring to a tribal war which occurred at that time of the year. It is also known by its tribal fights during the 19th century, where Chief Mhlontlo of the AmaMpondomise was accused of killing the then Missioner Mr Hamilton Hope who helps in the foundation of the town Magistrate court. Mhlontlo was later arrested in King Williams Town.
Qumbu was the first place in the Eastern Transkei homeland to have a hospital named Nessie Knight in the nearby rural area of Sulenkama, founded by the Missioner Mr Peterson. It lies on the north-east side of the Eastern Cape provincial border alongside the N2 route between Mthatha and Mt Frere, and the R396 between Tsolo and Maclear. It is bordered by King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality to the south, Nyandeni Local Municipality to the east, Umzimvubu Local Municipality to the north [2]
The nearest hospital is Nessie Knight Hospital.[3]
In the 1990s a high level of stock theft in the area resulted in a low-level civil war that engulfed Qumbu and the nearby settlement of Tsolo.[4] This conflict left an estimated 400 people dead. In 2007 the area was still ranked as having one of the highest rates of stock theft in South Africa.[5]