Nieu-Bethesda

Nieu-Bethesda

View of Nieu-Bethesda
Nieu-Bethesda
Nieu-Bethesda
Nieu-Bethesda

 Nieu-Bethesda shown within Eastern Cape

Coordinates: 31°52′S 24°33′E / 31.867°S 24.550°E / -31.867; 24.550Coordinates: 31°52′S 24°33′E / 31.867°S 24.550°E / -31.867; 24.550
Country South Africa
Province Eastern Cape
District Sarah Baartman
Municipality Dr Beyers Naudé
Established 1875
Government
 • Type Ward 7
 • Councillor Arthur Ronald Knottcraig
Area[1]
 • Total 34.05 km2 (13.15 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 1,540
 • Density 45/km2 (120/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 25.1%
 • Coloured 65.2%
 • Indian/Asian 0.6%
 • White 8.7%
 • Other 0.5%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Afrikaans 92.0%
 • English 6.4%
 • Xhosa 1.0%
 • Other 0.6%

Nieu-Bethesda (Dutch and Afrikaans for New Bethesda) is a village in the Eastern Cape at the foot of the Sneeuberge, approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Graaff Reinet. It was founded in 1875 as a church town, like many other Karoo villages, and attained municipal status in 1886. The name is of biblical origin (John 5:2-4) and means "place of flowing water".[2]

Originally established as congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church on the farm Uitkyk in 1875, it became a municipality about 1886. It now falls within the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality.

It is known for the Owl House, a museum dedicated to the eccentric artist Helen Martins, and the nearby Kompasberg, the highest point in the Eastern Cape province.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Nieu-Bethesda". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ Raper, P. E. (1989). Dictionary of Southern African Place Names. Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 332. ISBN 978-0-947464-04-2 – via Internet Archive.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Nieu-Bethesda.

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