Kuruman
| Kuruman | |
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 Kuruman
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Kuruman
Kuruman shown within South Africa |
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| Coordinates: 27°27′35″S 23°24′45″E / 27.45972°S 23.41250°ECoordinates: 27°27′35″S 23°24′45″E / 27.45972°S 23.41250°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Northern Cape |
| District | John Taolo Gaetsewe |
| Municipality | Ga-Segonyana |
| Laid out | 1887[1] |
| Area[2] | |
| • Total | 93.61 km2 (36.14 sq mi) |
| Population (2001)[2] | |
| • Total | 9,824 |
| • Density | 100/km2 (270/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2001)[2] | |
| • Black African | 20.0% |
| • Coloured | 43.4% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.4% |
| • White | 36.1% |
| First languages (2001)[2] | |
| • Afrikaans | 80.7% |
| • Tswana | 14.8% |
| • English | 2.5% |
| • Other | 2% |
| Time zone | SAST (UTC+2) |
Kuruman is a town with 12,701 inhabitants in Northern Cape province of South Africa, famous for its scenic beauty and the Eye of Kuruman, a geological feature bringing water from deep underground to the surface in the Kalahari Desert.
The Kuruman River (which is dry except for flash floods after heavy rain (see wadi)), is named after it.
Kuruman is vastly known as the ‘the fountain of Christianity’ in Africa due to the flowing springs of the 'Die Oog' [3] and its missionary history of the 'Moffatt Mission'. Known for its 'Oasis of the Kalahari' where a vast abundance of water flows from the 'Die Oog' translated into English as the 'The Eye'. Kuruman is also known for the Moffat Mission where Robert Moffat, a Scottish missionary, was the first person to translate and print the entire Bible into the Setswana African language. Robert Moffatt helped build the Moffatt Church which was completed in 1838. Kuruman was a London Missionary Society mission station founded by Robert Moffat in 1821 and the place where David Livingstone arrived for his first position as a missionary in 1841.
Kuruman was located along the border that bounds the Northern Cape from the North West Province and is still a local town for most communities surrounding the town, including those that live were the North West Province.
Kuruman is one of the more noted Peace Corps outposts in the northern regions of the country.[4] From 2007 to 2009, it was home to former Peace Corps volunteer and published author and playwright Stefanie DeLeo.[5]
In 2010, Hilda Coetzee, now known as Hilda Williamson, was the underchairman of the A.T.K.V. in the Northern Cape area (The Afrikaans Language and Culture Association (Afrikaans: Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging)), of Kuruman, South Africa. The A.T.K.V. is a society that aims to promote the Afrikaans language and culture. [6] This society was founded in Cape Town and its membership was open to include all people sharing the same values of the Christian faith.
Kuruman has relatively mild weather patterns compared to other Northern Cape towns, such as Upington and Springbok, and is surrounded by more vegetation as compared to the Upington and Springbok, which are surrounded by desertic environments.
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Demographics [edit]
According to the 2001 census, Kuruman had a population of 9,824, of which 4,267 (43.4%) were Coloured, 3,549 (36.1%) were White and 1,969 (20.0%) were Black. The most spoken language at home was Afrikaans at 80.68%, followed by Tswana at 14.8%. Males make up 50.58% of the population and females at 49.42%.[7]
Trivia [edit]
The Kalahari Meerkat Project, made famous by the television series Meerkat Manor, is located nearby.
Kuruman is home to well-known local author and Sanusi or Zulu traditional healer, Credo Mutwa.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Raper, R.E. of Southern African Place Names Dictionary of Southern African Place Names.
- ^ a b c d "Main Place Kuruman". Census 2001.
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_of_Kuruman
- ^ Peace Corps Northern Cape
- ^ Stefanie DeLeo: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle.
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATKV
- ^ "Main Place 'Kuruman Part 2'". Census 2001. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
External links [edit]
- Visit Kuruman Travel Guide and Accommodation in Kuruman
- Kuruman on the Northern Cape Tourism Authority website
