Malgas

Malgas (or Malagas^[2]) is a settlement on the right (southwest) bank of the Breede River in the Overberg region of the Western Cape. It is situated 25 kilometres north-west of the Breede River mouth at Witsand, and 30 kilometres south-east of Swellendam.

Malgas
Malgas Show map of Western Cape Malgas Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 34.3°S 20.583°E / -34.3; 20.583
Country	South Africa
Province	Western Cape
District	Overberg
Municipality	Swellendam
Area [1]
• Total	0.77 km2 (0.30 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	44
• Density	57/km2 (150/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	11.4%
• Coloured	50.0%
• White	38.6%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Afrikaans	74.4%
• English	18.6%
• S. Ndebele	2.3%
• Xhosa	2.3%
• Other	2.3%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)

"Malgas" is the Afrikaans for gannet. The word "malgas" is probably an adaptation of the Portuguese: mangas de velludo, lit. 'velvet sleeves', referring to the Cape gannet (Morus capensis) with its black-tipped wings.^[3] According to the 2011 census, Malgas has a population of 44 people in 20 households.^[1]

Malgas Pont

It is well known for the "pont", a man-hauled pontoon cable ferry across the Breede River, which is the last of its type in South Africa.^[4] The man-hauled ferry has been replaced by a motor driven ferry, a yellow steel pontoon with a massive diesel engine.

Breede River crossing on the Malgas Pont

The old Malgas cable ferry on the Breede River

Boarding the Malgas Pont