Middledrift

Middledrift, also known as iXesi,^[2] is a small town located 90 kilometres (60 mi) north-west of East London in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated in Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in Amathole District in an area that was formerly part of the Ciskei.

Middledrift Xesi
Landscape near Middledrift
Middledrift Show map of Eastern Cape Middledrift Show map of South Africa Middledrift Show map of Africa
Coordinates: 32°49′7″S 26°59′15″E
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
District	Amathole
Municipality	Raymond Mhlaba
Area [1]
• Total	1.84 km2 (0.71 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	2,140
• Density	1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	95.9%
• Coloured	2.1%
• Indian/Asian	0.3%
• White	0.8%
• Other	0.8%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Xhosa	86.7%
• Afrikaans	5.2%
• English	3.8%
• Sign language	1.0%
• Other	3.3%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	5685
PO box	5685
Area code	046

The town is on the Keiskamma River, 45 km west-north-west of King William's Town and 16 km east-south-east of [[Alice, Eastern Cape|Alice]].

History

It was founded in 1853 and laid out in 1882. At first known as Beaconsfield, it was renamed after its situation at a ford (Dutch: drift) between two others. Due to corruption and mismanagement of funds it has become a wasteland and most of the residents nearby have to travel to Alice for shopping and services.^[3] The town is the birthplace of anti-apartheid activist Wilton Mkwayi and advocate Bulelani Ngcuka and author/reporter Noni Jabavu.

Notable people

• Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, politician
• Ayabonga Khaka, national female cricket team player
• Mark Joko, cricket player^[4]
• Noni Jabavu, author and journalist
• Bulelani Ngcuka, advocate
• Wilton Mkwayi, anti-apartheid activist