Mthatha
Mthatha
Umtata | |
|---|---|
Mthatha Central Business District | |
| Coordinates: 31°35′19″S 28°47′24″E / 31.58861°S 28.79000°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | O.R. Tambo |
| Municipality | King Sabata Dalindyebo |
| Area | |
• Total | 91.45 km2 (35.31 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 698 m (2,290 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 96,114 |
| • Density | 1,100/km2 (2,700/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 94.6% |
| • Coloured | 2.7% |
| • Indian/Asian | 1.2% |
| • White | 1.0% |
| • Other | 0.5% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Xhosa | 85.0% |
| • English | 8.6% |
| • Afrikaans | 1.1% |
| • Other | 5.2% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 5099 |
| PO box | 5099 |
| Area code | 047 |
| Website | www |
Mthatha (/əmˈtɑːtɑː/ əm-TAH-tah, Xhosa: [ḿ̩ˈtʰâːtʰà] ⓘ), alternatively rendered Umtata, is the main city of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa and the capital of OR Tambo District Municipality. The city has an airport, previously known as the K. D. Matanzima Airport after former leader Kaiser Matanzima. Mthatha derives its name from the nearby Mthatha River which was named after the sneezewood (umtati) trees, famous for their wood and medicinal properties.