Middledrift
title: "Middledrift" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-the-raymond-mhlaba-local-municipality"] topic_path: "general/populated-places-in-the-raymond-mhlaba-local-municipality" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middledrift" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Middledrift |
| other_name | Xesi |
| image_skyline | Eastern cape near middledrift - rsa.jpg |
| image_caption | Landscape near Middledrift |
| pushpin_map | South Africa Eastern Cape#South Africa#Africa |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | |
| subdivision_type1 | Province |
| subdivision_name1 | Eastern Cape |
| subdivision_type2 | District |
| subdivision_name2 | Amathole |
| subdivision_type3 | Municipality |
| subdivision_name3 | Raymond Mhlaba |
| subdivision_type4 | Main Place |
| established_title | Established |
| leader_title | Councillor |
| area_footnotes | |
| area_total_km2 | 1.84 |
| population_footnotes | |
| population_total | 2140 |
| population_as_of | 2011 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| demographics_type1 | Racial makeup (2011) |
| demographics1_footnotes | |
| demographics1_title1 | Black African |
| demographics1_info1 | 95.9% |
| demographics1_title2 | Coloured |
| demographics1_info2 | 2.1% |
| demographics1_title3 | Indian/Asian |
| demographics1_info3 | 0.3% |
| demographics1_title4 | White |
| demographics1_info4 | 0.8% |
| demographics1_title5 | Other |
| demographics1_info5 | 0.8% |
| demographics_type2 | First languages (2011) |
| demographics2_footnotes | |
| demographics2_title1 | Xhosa |
| demographics2_info1 | 86.7% |
| demographics2_title2 | Afrikaans |
| demographics2_info2 | 5.2% |
| demographics2_title3 | English |
| demographics2_info3 | 3.8% |
| demographics2_title4 | Sign language |
| demographics2_info4 | 1.0% |
| demographics2_title5 | Other |
| demographics2_info5 | 3.3% |
| timezone1 | SAST |
| utc_offset1 | +2 |
| postal_code_type | Postal code (street) |
| postal_code | 5685 |
| postal2_code_type | PO box |
| postal2_code | 5685 |
| area_code_type | Area code |
| area_code | 046 |
| :: |
| name = Middledrift | other_name = Xesi | native_name = | image_skyline = Eastern cape near middledrift - rsa.jpg | image_caption = Landscape near Middledrift | pushpin_map = South Africa Eastern Cape#South Africa#Africa | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Eastern Cape | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Amathole | subdivision_type3 = Municipality | subdivision_name3 = Raymond Mhlaba | subdivision_type4 = Main Place | established_title = Established | leader_title = Councillor | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 1.84 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 2140 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011) | demographics1_footnotes = | demographics1_title1 = Black African | demographics1_info1 = 95.9% | demographics1_title2 = Coloured | demographics1_info2 = 2.1% | demographics1_title3 = Indian/Asian | demographics1_info3 = 0.3% | demographics1_title4 = White | demographics1_info4 = 0.8% | demographics1_title5 = Other | demographics1_info5 = 0.8% | demographics_type2 = First languages (2011) | demographics2_footnotes = | demographics2_title1 = Xhosa | demographics2_info1 = 86.7% | demographics2_title2 = Afrikaans | demographics2_info2 = 5.2% | demographics2_title3 = English | demographics2_info3 = 3.8% | demographics2_title4 = Sign language | demographics2_info4 = 1.0% | demographics2_title5 = Other | demographics2_info5 = 3.3% | timezone1 = SAST | utc_offset1 = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code (street) | postal_code = 5685 | postal2_code_type = PO box | postal2_code = 5685 | area_code_type = Area code | area_code = 046
Middledrift, also known as iXesi, is a small town located 90 km north-west of East London in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated in Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in Amathole District in an area that was formerly part of the Ciskei.
The town is on the Keiskamma River, 45 km west-north-west of Qonce and 16 km east-south-east of Alice.
History
It was founded in 1853 and laid out in 1882. At first known as Beaconsfield, it was renamed after its situation at a ford (Dutch: drift) between two others. Due to corruption and mismanagement of funds it has become a wasteland and most of the residents nearby have to travel to Alice for shopping and services. The town is the birthplace of anti-apartheid activist Wilton Mkwayi and advocate Bulelani Ngcuka and author/reporter Noni Jabavu.
Notable people
- Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, politician
- Ayabonga Khaka, national female cricket team player
- Mark Joko, cricket player
- Noni Jabavu, author and journalist
- Bulelani Ngcuka, advocate
- Wilton Mkwayi, anti-apartheid activist
- Nolusindiso Booi, South African rugby union player
- Zintle Mpupha, South African cricketer and rugby union player
References
References
- "Main Place Middledrift". Census 2011.
- "New names for towns under community spotlight".
- "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council.
- "Mark Joko". ESPN Cricinfo.
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::