Wolvengat

Wolvengat
Viljoenshof
Wolvengat

 Wolvengat shown within Western Cape

Coordinates: 34°39′58″S 19°40′59″E / 34.666°S 19.683°E / -34.666; 19.683Coordinates: 34°39′58″S 19°40′59″E / 34.666°S 19.683°E / -34.666; 19.683
Country South Africa
Province Western Cape
District Overberg
Municipality Overstrand
Area[1]
 • Total 1.36 km2 (0.53 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 50
 • Density 37/km2 (95/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 11.8%
 • Coloured 41.2%
 • White 43.1%
 • Other 3.9%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Afrikaans 80.4%
 • English 19.6%

Wolvengat, also known as Viljoenshof, is a village in the southern Overberg region, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is situated 10 kilometres (6 mi) south of Elim and 35 kilometres (22 mi) southwest of Bredasdorp. It was originally named Wolfgat or Wolvengat in reference to the brown hyena, known as strandwolf in Afrikaans.[2] However, when the local post office was established the authorities named it Viljoenshof[3] in honour of DJ Viljoen, the Dutch Reformed (NGK) minister of Bredasdorp from 1904 to 1934;[4] this name was then extended to the village. The original name Wolvengat was officially restored in 1991.[5]

In the early 1900s the village had a school with 100 children, but by the early 21st century there was neither a church nor a school. The fertile soil, and the potential of using land for vineyards, explains the high property prices.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Wolvengat". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ du Plessis, Karena; Cleary, Melanie (2005). The Overberg: inland from the tip of Africa. Cape Town: Struik. p. 130. ISBN 9781868729920.
  3. 1 2 Peter Joyce (2004). Presenting South Africa. Struik. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-77007-080-6.
  4. ↑ Raper, Peter E; Möller, Lucie A; du Plessis, L Theodorus (2014). Dictionary of South African Place Names (4th ed.). Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball. p. 529. ISBN 9781868425495.
  5. ↑ Joubert, Maureen (6 November 1991). "Viljoenshof is weer Wolvengat" [Viljoenshof is Wolvengat again]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans) (Cape Town). Retrieved 15 January 2015.
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