Sanddrif

Sanddrif
Sanddrif

 Sanddrif shown within South Africa

Coordinates: 28°25′38″S 16°46′38″E / 28.42722°S 16.77722°ECoordinates: 28°25′38″S 16°46′38″E / 28.42722°S 16.77722°E
Country South Africa
Province Northern Cape
District Namakwa
Municipality Richtersveld
Area[1]
 • Total 2.70 km2 (1.04 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 1,854
 • Density 690/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 17.4%
 • Coloured 78.5%
 • Indian/Asian 0.2%
 • White 3.3%
 • Other 0.6%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Afrikaans 78.2%
 • Xhosa 12.9%
 • English 1.9%
 • Tswana 1.1%
 • Other 5.9%

Sanddrif is a town in Richtersveld Local Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River.[2] It is located 57 km east of Alexander Bay.[3]

Mining in the region began in the 1900s leading to the displacement of the indigenous Nama people. Diamond mines were again established in the 1970s, bringing a source of employment but also socio-economic upheaval, threatening the traditional Nama lifestyle.[3] The subsequent migration of Xhosa people who came to the area to work in the mines led Sanddrif to acquire the nickname of "Rainbow Town".[4] Sanddrif has nevertheless suffered from ethnic conflict between the indigenous Namas and the Xhosa migrants.[5]

The Baken diamond mine, located outside Sanddrif, was opened by Trans Hex Group in May 2001.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Main Place Sanddrif". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ "Sanddrift". Richtersveld National Park. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Sanddrift". Explore the Richtersveld. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  4. ↑ François Odendaal; Helen Suich (2007-01-01). Richtersveld: The Land and Its People. Struik. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-77007-341-8.
  5. ↑ Gitanjali Maharaj (1999). Between unity and diversity: essays on nation-building in post-Apartheid South Africa. Idasa. p. 50. ISBN 978-1-874864-90-5.
  6. ↑ "Diamond plant throughput rises 67%". MiningWeekly.com. Retrieved 29 August 2014.