Hankey

Hankey
View over Hankey from Vergaderingskop, with Centerton visible in the distance
Hankey Show map of Eastern Cape Hankey Show map of South Africa Hankey Show map of Africa  Hankey shown within Eastern Cape
Coordinates: 33°49′53″S 24°52′51″E / 33.83139°S 24.88083°E / -33.83139; 24.88083Coordinates: 33°49′53″S 24°52′51″E / 33.83139°S 24.88083°E / -33.83139; 24.88083
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
District	Sarah Baartman
Municipality	Kouga
Area
• Total	21.02 km2 (8.12 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	11,761
• Density	560/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	45.5%
• Coloured	51.5%
• Indian/Asian	0.1%
• White	2.3%
• Other	0.6%
First languages (2011)
• Afrikaans	55.7%
• Xhosa	39.4%
• English	2.0%
• Other	2.9%
Postal code (street)	6350
PO box	6350
Area code	042

Hankey is a small town on the confluence of the Klein and Gamtoos rivers in South Africa. It is part of the Kouga Local Municipality of the Sarah Baartman District in the Eastern Cape.

Hankey was established in 1826 and is the Gamtoos Valley's oldest town. It was named after the Rev. William Alers Hankey, (1771-1859) an ex-banker and the secretary of the London Missionary Society (LMS). He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, (though the Missionary Society's successor body's obituary gives the place of his birth as London), the natural son of the London banker, merchant, Jamaica planter and treasurer of the Foundling Hospital, Thomas Hankey of Fetcham Park, and educated, according to his father's 1793 will, at Edinburgh University. Sir Maurice Hankey, later Lord Hankey, the creator of the modern UK Cabinet Office, was William Alers Hankey's descendant.

The purpose of the establishment of the village was to grow mielies and corn for the LMS main station at Bethelsdorp and also to carry out evangelistic work. The first property was "Wagondrift" owned by the Damant Bros. And although the town was planned for 250 families it started with 25 families. The first inhabitants consisted of a large number of Khoi, a few Mfengos, a few farmers and mixed "Gamtouer" (1700) descendants.

The LMS founded the station in 1822, terminated it in 1875 and in 1876 it became independent from the LMS. It became a Congregational Church as it is today. The first trustees of the LMS were Dr John Philip and the Rev. William Alers Hankey. The first missionaries were Messrs Miles, Melville, Williams, later the Philips' (Will Enowy and Thom Durant Philip)

Dr John Philip was superintendent. Some of the residents were Windvogel, Diederich, Abraham, Stuurman, Dragoonder, Armoed, Scheepers, Mahtjies, Gerts, Matroos, Konstabel and Kettledas. The first white farmers were Messrs. Wait, Salmon Ferreira, Stefanus Ferreira and the Damant Bros.

The first irrigation scheme on the Klein Rivier was started by James Wait in 1827 and completed in 1830. It extended for 3.5 miles and he was awarded 50 cattle and the use of 50 workers.

What the papers said about the opening of the scheme on the Klein Rivier:

"......the course swung into action sending streams of water down its winding length ....."

People came from far and wide to view the spectacle and Dr Philip later declared it the greatest work of its kind ever undertaken in the Colony. Part of this irrigation scheme can still be seen today and forms part of the Hankey Golf Course.