Sanddrif

Sanddrif
Sanddrif

 Sanddrif shown within Northern Cape

Coordinates: 28°25′38″S 16°46′38″E / 28.42722°S 16.77722°E / -28.42722; 16.77722Coordinates: 28°25′38″S 16°46′38″E / 28.42722°S 16.77722°E / -28.42722; 16.77722
Country South Africa
Province Northern Cape
District Namakwa
Municipality Richtersveld
Area[1]
  Total 2.70 km2 (1.04 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 1,854
  Density 690/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
  Black African 17.4%
  Coloured 78.5%
  Indian/Asian 0.2%
  White 3.3%
  Other 0.6%
First languages (2011)[1]
  Afrikaans 78.2%
  Xhosa 12.9%
  English 1.9%
  Tswana 1.1%
  Other 5.9%

Sanddrif is a town in Richtersveld Local Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River.[2] It is located 57 km east of Alexander Bay.[3]

Mining in the region began in the 1900s leading to the displacement of the indigenous Nama people. Diamond mines were again established in the 1970s, bringing a source of employment but also socio-economic upheaval, threatening the traditional Nama lifestyle.[3] The subsequent migration of Xhosa people who came to the area to work in the mines led Sanddrif to acquire the nickname of "Rainbow Town".[4] Sanddrif has nevertheless seen ethnic conflict between the indigenous Namas and the Xhosa migrants.[5]

The Baken diamond mine, located outside Sanddrif, was opened by Trans Hex Group in May 2001.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Sanddrif". Census 2011.
  2. "Sanddrift". Richtersveld National Park. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Sanddrift". Explore the Richtersveld. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  4. François Odendaal; Helen Suich (2007-01-01). Richtersveld: The Land and Its People. Struik. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-77007-341-8.
  5. Gitanjali Maharaj (1999). Between unity and diversity: essays on nation-building in post-Apartheid South Africa. Idasa. p. 50. ISBN 978-1-874864-90-5.
  6. "Diamond plant throughput rises 67%". MiningWeekly.com. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
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