Ritchie is a small town situated 40 kilometres (20 mi) south of Kimberley on the north bank of the Riet River in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The town, with a population of approximately 15,000, is in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, which forms part of the Frances Baard District Municipality.
Ritchie | |
|---|---|
 Grain silos at Modder River Station | |
  Ritchie  Ritchie | |
| Coordinates: 29°03′S 24°36′E / 29.05°S 24.6°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Northern Cape |
| District | Frances Baard |
| Municipality | Sol Plaatje |
| Area | |
• Total | 24.8 km2 (9.6 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 14,850 |
| • Density | 600/km2 (1,600/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 50.9% |
| • Coloured | 45.4% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.8% |
| • White | 2.1% |
| • Other | 0.7% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 87.6% |
| • Tswana | 6.3% |
| • Xhosa | 1.8% |
| • Sotho | 1.6% |
| • Other | 2.7% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 8701 |
| PO box | 8701 |
| Area code | +27 (0)53 |
Demographics
editAccording to the 2011 census, the town of Ritchie proper has a population of 7,610, while the adjacent township of Motswedimosa has a population of 7,240, giving the urban area a population of 14,850. Of this population 50.9% described themselves as "Black African", 45.4% as "Coloured" and 2.1% as "White". 87.6% spoke Afrikaans as their home language, 6.3% spoke Tswana, 1.8% spoke Xhosa and 1.6% spoke Sotho.