Mount Ayliff, officially eMaxesibeni,[2] is a small town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, near that province's border with KwaZulu-Natal.
Mount Ayliff
eMaxesibeni | |
|---|---|
  Mount Ayliff  Mount Ayliff | |
| Coordinates: 30°48′33″S 29°22′01″E / 30.80917°S 29.36694°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | Alfred Nzo |
| Municipality | Umzimvubu |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.32 km2 (1.28 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 5,367 |
| • Density | 1,600/km2 (4,200/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 98.2% |
| • Coloured | 0.8% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.4% |
| • White | 0.4% |
| • Other | 0.3% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Xhosa | 91.5% |
| • English | 2.9% |
| • Zulu | 1.4% |
| • Other | 4.2% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 4735 |
| PO box | 4735 |
| Area code | 039 |
Mount Ayliff is located in the Umzimvubu Local Municipality, which is part of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality; it is the location of the headquarters of the latter.[3]
Xesibeland, the traditional region of the Xesibe people, was located around Mount Ayliff. The Xesibe was led by Chief Jojo; Jojo today is the royal family and still the leading family in EmaXesibeni.
History edit
It was possibly named in 1878 after either William Ayliff, a Cape government official for native affairs or John Ayliff, a mission station founder.[4]
1999 tornado edit
On 18 January 1999, a number of tornadoes hit the town and surrounding areas. Twenty five people were killed and over 500 were injured; the tornadoes destroyed around 95% of the homes in the area leaving most people homeless making it the most destructive tornado recorded in South Africa.[5]
Mount Ayliff Christmas Day Massacre edit
The town was the scene of a mass shooting incident between a group of Mpeni and Nokhatshile men on Christmas Day 2020 in-which at least seven people died and at least six were injured. Following a search for suspects led by the South African National Defence Force, seven people, all injured in the incident, were arrested. The incident was the result of a conflict between competing mini-bus taxi operators in the area.[6][7][8]
Geography edit
Mount Ayliff is located in a mountainous valley, hence the word "Mount". It is located just 26 km south-west of the KwaZulu-Natal border and is also located 34 km south of Kokstad and 144 km north-east of Mthatha. The nearest city to Mount Ayliff is Durban which is 283 km north-east of the town.[9][10][11]
Demographics edit
In the census of 2011, its population was recorded as being 5,367 people, of whom 98% described themselves as "Black African", and 91.5% spoke Xhosa as their first language.[12]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Main Place Mount Ayliff". Census 2011.
- ^ "WATCH | Crossing rickety bridge a daily nightmare for EC villagers | eNCA".
- ^ "Contact information: Alfred Nzo District Municipality". Government Communication and Information System. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- ^ Erasmus, B. P. J. (1995). On Route in South Africa. Internet Archive. Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 209. ISBN 978-1-86842-026-1.
- ^ Cowan, Kyle (24 November 2014). "Top 5 worst tornadoes in South African history". Newcastle Advertiser. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ Mthethwa, Cebelihle. "Mount Ayliff killings: Accused in court for Christmas Day attack where 7 died". News24. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ^ Mthethwa, Cebelihle. "Mount Ayliff Christmas unrest: SANDF joins search for killers after 'taxi violence' leaves 7 dead, 6 injured". News24. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ Seleka, Ntwaagae. "Mount Ayliff killings: Six people arrested for deadly Christmas Day clash between rival groups". News24. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "Mount Ayliff". Census 2001. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
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