Keiskammahoek, Eastern Cape
Encyclopedia
Keiskammahoek is a town in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
. From 1981 until the end of apartheid, the town was part of the Ciskei
bantustan
.
Keiskammahoek is a small rural town that is situated some forty kilometers to the West of King Williamstown, in the Amahlathi Local Municipality, which is one of eight local municipalities that constitute the Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape. Keiskammahoek is surrounded by a number of villages and peri urban settlements that support the town.
The town was once an important commercial centre for the timber and agricultural industries. In recent years, the timber industry has moved towards Stutterheim and the agricultural production has declined somewhat. The economy of Keiskammahoek relies mainly on grants from the State. The population has been steadily declining and many villages are still without basic services such as water and sanitation. However, the town still maintains some of the remnants of the historic past and there are a number of historic buildings to be found such as the Gilead Church.
Just outside the town is St Matthew's High School, one of South Africa's Historic Schools. Founded as a mission school by John Armstrong (bishop of Grahamstown) in 1854, the school was once a particularly thriving educational centre, and the large parish church is a local landmark. A hospital and training facility for nurses was opened at the site in 1923 and the secondary school began in 1926. Like other church schools, the Anglican Church withdrew from direct involvement in the school as a result of the 1953 Bantu Education Act. The state bought much of St Matthews’ land in 1970, and in 1976 the hospital was taken over by the Ciskei government. It closed ten years later, moving to Keiskammahoek, where it became known as the SS Gida Hospital. The high school continues as a state boarding school for girls (with male day students). A small clinic remains on the school site, and the ruins of many of the school's buildings are everywhere evident.
Keiskammahoek is situated near the headlands of the Keiskamma River catchment area. It is located in the centre of four different biomes, Albany Thicket, Grasslands, Savannah and Afromontane forest.
The settlement of the area since the 1800s also led to the large scale exploitation and destruction of the natural environment.
Accommodation near Keiskammahoek can be found at Cata Lodge, which is located at Cata Village 17km outside of Keiskammahoek Town. Cata Lodge is a community owned and run initiative , that offers accommodation in two Chalets each sleeping six people. It also offers the option of homestays, with various trained hosts in the village.
Cata Lodge is the start of the Cape Parrot Day Hiking Trail. It also offers mountain biking (these can be hired at the lodge) as well as flyfishing and bird watching.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. From 1981 until the end of apartheid, the town was part of the Ciskei
Ciskei
Ciskei was a Bantustan in the south east of South Africa. It covered an area of 2,970 square miles , almost entirely surrounded by what was then the Cape Province, and possessed a small coastline along the shore of the Indian Ocean....
bantustan
Bantustan
A bantustan was a territory set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and South West Africa , as part of the policy of apartheid...
.
Keiskammahoek is a small rural town that is situated some forty kilometers to the West of King Williamstown, in the Amahlathi Local Municipality, which is one of eight local municipalities that constitute the Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape. Keiskammahoek is surrounded by a number of villages and peri urban settlements that support the town.
The town was once an important commercial centre for the timber and agricultural industries. In recent years, the timber industry has moved towards Stutterheim and the agricultural production has declined somewhat. The economy of Keiskammahoek relies mainly on grants from the State. The population has been steadily declining and many villages are still without basic services such as water and sanitation. However, the town still maintains some of the remnants of the historic past and there are a number of historic buildings to be found such as the Gilead Church.
Just outside the town is St Matthew's High School, one of South Africa's Historic Schools. Founded as a mission school by John Armstrong (bishop of Grahamstown) in 1854, the school was once a particularly thriving educational centre, and the large parish church is a local landmark. A hospital and training facility for nurses was opened at the site in 1923 and the secondary school began in 1926. Like other church schools, the Anglican Church withdrew from direct involvement in the school as a result of the 1953 Bantu Education Act. The state bought much of St Matthews’ land in 1970, and in 1976 the hospital was taken over by the Ciskei government. It closed ten years later, moving to Keiskammahoek, where it became known as the SS Gida Hospital. The high school continues as a state boarding school for girls (with male day students). A small clinic remains on the school site, and the ruins of many of the school's buildings are everywhere evident.
Keiskammahoek is situated near the headlands of the Keiskamma River catchment area. It is located in the centre of four different biomes, Albany Thicket, Grasslands, Savannah and Afromontane forest.
The settlement of the area since the 1800s also led to the large scale exploitation and destruction of the natural environment.
Accommodation near Keiskammahoek can be found at Cata Lodge, which is located at Cata Village 17km outside of Keiskammahoek Town. Cata Lodge is a community owned and run initiative , that offers accommodation in two Chalets each sleeping six people. It also offers the option of homestays, with various trained hosts in the village.
Cata Lodge is the start of the Cape Parrot Day Hiking Trail. It also offers mountain biking (these can be hired at the lodge) as well as flyfishing and bird watching.
Notable residents
- Alice PeglerAlice PeglerAlice Marguerite Pegler , was a South African teacher and botanical collector.The daughter of S. Mackin Pegler, Alice was educated at the Dominican Convent in King William's Town. Although trained as a teacher, she abandoned this career and settled at Kentani where she raised and educated her nieces...
, born in Keiskammahoek in 1861, noted botanical collector - William GreenstockWilliam GreenstockWilliam Greenstock was a cricketer. Born in Keiskammahoek, Cape Province, South Africa he nevertheless played all his cricket in England...
, born in Keiskammahoek in 1865, international cricketer - Membathisi MdladlanaMembathisi MdladlanaMembathisi Mdladlana is a South African politician. He has been the Minister of Labour of South Africa since appointment by Nelson Mandela in 1998. A teacher by training, Mdladlana earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Africa in 1997 in education and the IsiXhosa language...
, born in Keiskammahoek in 1952, a member of Parliament with African National CongressAfrican National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
and longtime Minister of Labour - Henry TabererHenry TabererHenry Melville Taberer was an South African cricketer who played in one Test in 1902....
, born in Keiskammahoek in 1870, international cricketer