Tarkastad

Tarkastad
The main street in Tarkastad, 2012
Tarkastad Show map of Eastern Cape Tarkastad Show map of South Africa Tarkastad Show map of Africa  Tarkastad shown within Eastern Cape
Coordinates: 32°01′S 26°16′E / 32.017°S 26.267°E / -32.017; 26.267Coordinates: 32°01′S 26°16′E / 32.017°S 26.267°E / -32.017; 26.267
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
District	Chris Hani
Municipality	Tsolwana
Established	1862
Area
• Total	83.5 km2 (32.2 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	6,059
• Density	73/km2 (190/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	84.7%
• Coloured	10.5%
• Indian/Asian	0.1%
• White	3.9%
• Other	0.8%
First languages (2011)
• Xhosa	80.5%
• Afrikaans	14.0%
• English	3.3%
• Other	2.2%
Postal code (street)	5370
PO box	5370
Area code	045

Tarkastad is a small Karoo town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Tarkastad is on a plain to the north of the Winterberg mountain range. The name Tarkastad is believed to come from the Khoi-Khoi word Traka (meaning women) or the Celtic word Tarka (meaning otter) and the Afrikaans word Stad (meaning city).

Tarkastad was established in 1862 as a church centre and became a municipality in 1864. Elands River Poort, a mountain pass located in the Karoo, 24 km to the NNW of Tarkastad, where the Battle of Elands River (1901) was fought during the Second Boer War. The grave of Lt. Sheridan, cousin of Winston Churchill, who was killed in the Battle of Elands River can be found on the Modderfontein farm just outside Tarkastad.

San rock paintings can be seen in the area. Victorian cast iron lamp posts and broekie lace adornments indicate the British colonial influence. Tarkastad's first Municipal Manager after apartheid was Mr Smilo Dayi an ex-political prisoner. The first mayor after apartheid was Mr Ntsikelelo Sampempe.