Riviersonderend | |
---|---|
Riviersonderend shown within Western Cape | |
Coordinates: 34°09′01″S 19°54′52″E / 34.15028°S 19.91444°ECoordinates: 34°09′01″S 19°54′52″E / 34.15028°S 19.91444°E | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | Western Cape |
District | Overberg |
Municipality | Theewaterskloof |
Established | 1923 |
Area | |
• Total | 5.57 km2 (2.15 sq mi) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 5,245 |
• Density | 940/km2 (2,400/sq mi) |
Racial makeup (2011) | |
• Black African | 12.6% |
• Coloured | 75.4% |
• Indian/Asian | 0.5% |
• White | 10.9% |
• Other | 0.6% |
First languages (2011) | |
• Afrikaans | 86.5% |
• Xhosa | 8.3% |
• English | 3.1% |
• Other | 2.1% |
Postal code (street) | 7250 |
PO box | 7250 |
Area code | 028 |
Riviersonderend is a village in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, South Africa, about 140 kilometres (87 mi) east of Cape Town. It is located on a loop of the Sonderend River, from which it takes its name. In the census of 2011 it was recorded as having a population of 5,245. The N2 national road passes through Riviersonderend, forming its main street; it is 161 kilometres (100 mi) by road from central Cape Town.
The village was established in 1923, when Edith S V McIntyre sold her farm, Tierhoek, to the local Dutch Reformed church council for 6000 pounds. First known as "Rivier Zonder End" (Dutch for "river without end"), the name later changed to the Afrikaans "Riviersonderend".
The name itself was originally a literal translation of the Khoi-khoi name "Kannakamkanna" ("river without end").