Ezibeleni

Ezibeleni
Ezibeleni Ezibeleni
Coordinates: 31°54′S 26°58′E
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
District	Chris Hani
Municipality	Enoch Mgijima
Established	1974
Area
• Total	32.09 km2 (12.39 sq mi)
Elevation	3,500 m (11,500 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	30,113
• Density	940/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	99.3%
• Coloured	0.1%
• Indian/Asian	0.1%
• Other	0.5%
First languages (2011)
• Xhosa	91.5%
• English	4.5%
• Other	4.0%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	5326
PO box	5326
Area code	047

Ezibeleni is a township in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It was established in the 1960s and officially recognised in 1974, when black South Africans were not allowed to live, but only to work, in the white-dominated Queenstown. In order to pursue the policy of separate development, the apartheid-era government of the time dictated that, due to its location on the map and the predominant Xhosa ethnicity of its people, Ezibeleni would belong to Transkei, one of ten fragmented batustans, or homelands, scattered across South Africa.

Ezibeleni is the largest township in the Queenstown area. Its original name was Queensdale, named after Queenstown. It is divided into zones (1, 2, 3, Chancele & Themba), with the new units; known as Kwamabuyaze (RDP houses) which is still expanding.

Komani River flows near or through various towns in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, including Ezibeleni. The Great Fish River is a significant watercourse in the region, and its proximity to Ezibeleni have environmental and cultural importance for the local community.

The majority of people resident in Ezibeleni live below the living wage according to government economic classifications. There are about 12 schools in the area, 4 lower primary, 3 senior primary, 3 lower high and 2 senior high schools.

The township is known for being a home to some of the best local and school music choirs in the country, Siyaphakama Adult Choir and Bulelani Senior Secondary School to name but a few. Bulelani has represented Eastern Cape in the school's music competitions many times in the last 2 decades and has won many of the South African National School's Choir Competitions.

There is a vibrant social life with many church denominations and other social activities.

However, according to Statistics South Africa, the area still has a very high unemployment rate.

Resources are limited. The Buffalo City Metro, according to a report by Cogta MEC Zolile Williams, has 17 fire trucks of which seven are operational. The municipality needs an additional five firetrucks.

References

• History of Queenstown and Surrounds
• SA Education Department