Matatiele

rdf:langString Matatiele

rdf:langString Matatiele

rdf:langString Matatiele

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rdf:langString Matatiele's Central Business District.png

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rdf:langString South Africa Eastern Cape#South Africa

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rdf:langString Matatiele is a town located in the northern part of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. According to the South African National Census of 2011, its 12,466 residents (1,113.44 per km²) and 4,107 households (366.83 per km²) make Matatiele the largest populated town in the Matatiele Local Municipality. Once dominated by wetlands and marshes, Matatiele derives its name from a portmanteau word of the Sotho language words “matata”, meaning wild ducks, and “ile”, meaning gone and the Phuthi language words "mati" meaning water and "ayile" meaning dried out. When taken together, Matatiele conveys a message that “ducks have flown” because of a "dried out wetlands and marshes". In Phuthi language, the town name is pronounced “Matatiyela”. The common informal name for the town in any of the languages mentioned, including English, is “Matat”. And those born here call it “Sweet Matat”. Matatiele's area of 11.20 square kilometres (4.32 sq mi) – tucked in the shadows of the Matatiele Mountains – is predominantly farmland, where 100% organic red meat is on offer, and tourism is a primary source of income. As one of the top 12 towns among South Africa’s popular tourist attractions Route 56, Matatiele provides many activities for fishers, hikers, bikers, bird watchers, etc. Moreover, the Matatiele Museum (a former Dutch Reformed Church that opened in 1993) – displays dinosaur fossils, San peoples (also known as the Bushmen), missionaries, and town's history from its 19th century gun runners and smugglers to a quaint town filled with friendly locals serving authentic Xhosa people cuisine. The majority of the town's inhabitants speak a dialect of Xhosa called Hlubi. Matatiele is held in high regard for having some of the best schools in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, King Edward High School, which performs well academically and in terms of sport and was founded in 1890s. Students from all over Alfred Nzo District Municipality come to King Edward High School, which is very selective about the students it admits. The town also has other schools held in high regard like Saint Monica's Diocesan School and Bergview College. Alfred Nzo District Municipality, due to large swathes of it having been a part of the impoverished Transkei, is generally quite poor but Matatiele, having been a white town during Apartheid, is wealthier than the district. Matatiele is also the biggest town in the district, with over 200,000 people in Matatiele Local Municipality. Matatiele is popular with upscale families looking to live in a small town with renowned schools and facilities. Matatiele is also a gateway to the Kingdom of Lesotho, which is less than a thirty minutes away from the town.

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