Modjadjiskloof (formerly Duiwelskloof) is a small town situated at the foot of the escarpment in the Limpopo province of South Africa.

Modjadjiskloof
Duiwelskloof
Modjadjiskloof is located in Limpopo
Modjadjiskloof
Modjadjiskloof
Modjadjiskloof is located in South Africa
Modjadjiskloof
Modjadjiskloof
Coordinates: 23°42′S 30°08′E / 23.700°S 30.133°E / -23.700; 30.133
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceLimpopo
DistrictMopani
MunicipalityGreater Letaba
Area
 • Total2.99 km2 (1.15 sq mi)
Elevation
875 m (2,871 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total1,815
 • Density610/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African47.4%
 • Coloured0.5%
 • Indian/Asian2.8%
 • White47.9%
 • Other1.5%
First languages (2011)
 • Afrikaans43.7%
 • Northern Sotho23.3%
 • English12.3%
 • Tsonga9.7%
 • Other11.0%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
0835
PO box
0835
Area code015

The town is 18 km north of Tzaneen. Surveyed in 1919 and proclaimed in 1920, it was administered by a village management board. The Sunland Baobab tree, that was located nearby, lost a large chunk of its main stem early in 2017 and the rest of the tree fell into pieces in April 2017.

The town was named in honour of Rain Queen Modjadji, hereditary ruler of the Balobedu people, the indigenous people of the area and at some stage the only ruling queen in South Africa.

Name change

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The former name Duiwelskloof, Afrikaans for "Devil's ravine", was possibly given by virtue of the rugged, awe inspiring aspect, or because of the difficulty with which laden wagons trekked through it in the rainy season. Duiwelskloof was renamed Modjadjiskloof on 14 June 2004. Unlike most name changes, Duiwelskloof kept the Afrikaans suffix "-kloof" (meaning valley) in its new name.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Main Place Modjadjiskloof". Census 2011.