Graaff-Reinet
Graaff-Reinet | |
|---|---|
View of Graaff-Reinet Town Hall Valley of Desolation Fields near Graaff-Reinet | |
| Coordinates: 32°15′08″S 24°32′26″E / 32.25222°S 24.54056°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | Sarah Baartman |
| Municipality | Dr Beyers Naudé |
| Established | 1786 |
| Area | |
• Total | 203.62 km2 (78.62 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 750 m (2,460 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 35,672 |
| • Density | 180/km2 (450/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Coloured | 62.18% |
| • Black African | 28.19% |
| • White | 8.74% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.47% |
| • Other | 0.42% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 71.83% |
| • IsiXhosa | 17.89% |
| • English | 3.37% |
| • Other | 6.91% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 6286, 6280, 6281 |
| Area code | 049 |
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Graaff-Reinet (Afrikaans: [ˌχrɑːf.rəˈnɛt]; Xhosa: eRhafu) is a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is the oldest town in the province and the fourth oldest town in South Africa, after Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Simon's Town, Paarl and Swellendam. The town was the centre of a short-lived republic in the late 18th century. The town was a starting point for Great Trek groups led by Gerrit Maritz and Piet Retief and furnished large numbers of the Voortrekkers in 1835–1842.
Graaff-Reinet is home to more national monuments than any other town or city in South Africa. It is also known for being a flourishing market for agricultural produce, noted for its mohair industry, and sheep and ostrich farming.