Keiskammahoek

Keiskammahoek
View of Keiskammahoek from the hill
Keiskammahoek Show map of Eastern Cape Keiskammahoek Show map of South Africa Keiskammahoek Show map of Africa  Keiskammahoek shown within Eastern Cape
Coordinates: 32°41′S 27°09′E / 32.683°S 27.150°E / -32.683; 27.150Coordinates: 32°41′S 27°09′E / 32.683°S 27.150°E / -32.683; 27.150
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
District	Amathole
Municipality	Amahlathi
Area
• Total	15.67 km2 (6.05 sq mi)
Elevation	670 m (2,200 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	4,429
• Density	280/km2 (730/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	97.1%
• Coloured	1.4%
• Indian/Asian	0.2%
• White	0.3%
• Other	1.0%
First languages (2011)
• Xhosa	94.6%
• Afrikaans	1.8%
• English	1.1%
• Other	2.6%
Postal code (street)	5670
PO box	5670
Area code	040

Keiskammahoek (also spelled Keiskamahoek) is a town in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. From 1981 until the end of apartheid, the town was part of the Ciskei bantustan.

Keiskammahoek is a small rural town that is situated some forty kilometers to the West of King William's Town, in the Amahlathi Local Municipality, which is one of seven local municipalities that constitute the Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape. Keiskammahoek is surrounded by a number of villages and peri urban settlements that support the town.

Keiskammahoek is situated near the headlands of the Keiskamma River catchment area. It is located in the centre of four different biomes, Albany Thicket, Grasslands, Savannah and Afromontane forest.

The town was once an important commercial centre for the timber and agricultural industries. The settlement of the area since the 1800s also led to the large scale exploitation and destruction of the natural environment. The timber industry has moved towards Stutterheim and the agricultural production has declined somewhat.

Just outside the town is St Matthew's High School, one of South Africa's historic schools. Founded as a mission school by Bishop of Grahamstown John Armstrong in 1854, the school was once a particularly thriving educational centre, and the large parish church is a local landmark. A hospital and training facility for nurses was opened at the site in 1923 and the secondary school began in 1926. Like other church schools, the Anglican Church withdrew from direct involvement in the school as a result of the 1953 Bantu Education Act. The state bought much of St Matthews’ land in 1970, and in 1976 the hospital was taken over by the Ciskei government. It closed ten years later, moving to Keiskammahoek, where it became known as the SS Gida Hospital. The high school continues as a state boarding school for girls (with male day students). A small clinic remains on the school site, and the ruins of many of the school's buildings are everywhere evident.