Evander, Mpumalanga

Evander
Evander

 Evander shown within South Africa

Coordinates: 26°28′19″S 29°06′36″E / 26.47194°S 29.11000°ECoordinates: 26°28′19″S 29°06′36″E / 26.47194°S 29.11000°E
Country South Africa
Province Mpumalanga
District Gert Sibande
Municipality Govan Mbeki
Area[1]
  Total 23.78 km2 (9.18 sq mi)
Elevation 1,655 m (5,430 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
  Total 10,166
  Density 430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
  Black African 49.5%
  Coloured 6.7%
  Indian/Asian 2.9%
  White 40.1%
  Other 0.7%
First languages (2011)[1]
  Afrikaans 40.7%
  Zulu 16.9%
  English 12.6%
  Sotho 7.4%
  Other 22.4%
Postal code (street) 2280
PO box 2280
Area code +27 (0)17

Evander is a town in the Mpumalanga, South Africa 8 km north west of Secunda. The town was founded in 1955 when the Union Corporation started its mining activities and was originally part of the Bethal district (named after a town 36 km to the east). The town is named after Evelyn Anderson, the wife of Peter Maltitz Anderson, one of the directors of the corporation.

Gold mining

The Union Corporation acquired options in the Kinross area, 64 km west of Springs. Mining started in 1955 though heir subsidiary Winkelhaak Mines Ltd.[2] The Evander mine is currently operating in its 8th shaft and employs 3 300 people.[3] These operations now owned by Harmony Gold, mine the Kimberley Reef in the Evander Basin and produced over 16 000 kg of gold from 2008 to 10. The ore is milled and processed at Kinross, 7 km north.

Facilities

The town has a 5 primary schools (Emdibini, Hoeveld, Isikhumbuzo, Inqanawe, and T P Stratten), a high school and hosts one of the four campuses of the Gert Sibande College (originally the Evander Technical Institute[4]). The Evander airfield is located just south-west of the town.

References