| Libode | |
|---|---|
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| Time zone | SAST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | |
Libode is a small town of 5000 inhabitants in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated on the R61 road from Port St Johns to Umtata and serves as the administrative seat of the Nyandeni Local Municipality, which is part of the OR Tambo District Municipality. As a small infrastructural hub for the surrounding rural area, Libode features a community college and a hospital.
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Libode is situated in an area formerly known as Mpondoland. Mpondoland was annexed to the Cape Colony in 1894. In 1903 the Transkeian Territories General Council was established, and in 1911 the district of Libode was incorporated into the council.[1]
In 1935 some land in the area of Libode was annexed by the Government of the Union of South Africa and the then Transkei government to develop the town of Libode and expand it. It was declared a Village Management area. Further land was dispossessed when the government implemented the Native Trust and Land Act of 1936. This was the subject of a successful land claim in 2009.[2]
Libode is part of one of the poorest areas of South Africa. Unemployment in 2008 was at 85%.[3]
Near Libode is the Hluleka Nature Reserve and Hluleka Beach (60 km away), as well as Presely Bay (68 km).[4]