Tsomo is a town in Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town is 45 km east of Qamata and 48 km west of Ndabakazi.

Tsomo
Tsomo is located in Eastern Cape
Tsomo
Tsomo
Tsomo is located in South Africa
Tsomo
Tsomo
Coordinates: 32°02′17″S 27°49′01″E / 32.03794°S 27.81689°E / -32.03794; 27.81689
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceEastern Cape
DistrictChris Hani
MunicipalityIntsika Yethu
Established1877
Area
 • Total
3.72 km2 (1.44 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
2,108
 • Density570/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African94.8%
 • Coloured2.1%
 • Indian/Asian1.7%
 • White1.3%
First languages (2011)
 • Xhosa88.7%
 • English3.1%
 • Afrikaans1.1%
 • Other7.0%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
PO box
5400
Area code047

History

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Founded in 1877, it originated as a military station known as Tsomo Post.[2] The name is derived from that of the Tsomo River, on which it is situated, which in turn is said to be named after a Xhosa chief who lived where the bridge now stands.[2]

Tsomo was originally included in the Transkei territory of Fingoland (Mfenguland) however after the annexation by the British Fingoland was further divided into Butterworth, Tsomo and Nqamakwe.[3]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Tsomo". Census 2011.
  2. ^ a b Erasmus, B. P. J. (1995). On Route in South Africa. Internet Archive. Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 205. ISBN 978-1-86842-026-1.
  3. ^ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 439.