Sanddrif

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name =

!Khays

| pushpin_map = South Africa Northern Cape#South Africa

| coordinates = {{coord|28|25|38|S|16|46|38|E|region:ZA|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Southern Africa

| subdivision_type1 = Province

| subdivision_name1 = Namaqualand

| subdivision_type2 = District

| subdivision_name2 = Namakwa

| subdivision_type3 = Municipality

| subdivision_name3 = Richtersveld

| subdivision_type4 = Main Place

| established_title = Established

| leader_title = Councillor

| area_footnotes = {{cite web |url=http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/363004 |title = Main Place Sanddrif |work=Census 2011}}

| area_total_km2 = 2.70

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 1854

| population_as_of = 2011

| population_density_km2 = auto

| demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011)

| demographics1_footnotes =

| demographics1_title1 = Black African

| demographics1_info1 = 17.4%

| demographics1_title2 = Coloured

| demographics1_info2 = 78.5%

| demographics1_title3 = Indian/Asian

| demographics1_info3 = 0.2%

| demographics1_title4 = White

| demographics1_info4 = 3.3%

| demographics1_title5 = Other

| demographics1_info5 = 0.6%

| demographics_type2 = First languages (2011)

| demographics2_footnotes =

| demographics2_title1 = Afrikaans

| demographics2_info1 = 78.2%

| demographics2_title2 = Xhosa

| demographics2_info2 = 12.9%

| demographics2_title3 = English

| demographics2_info3 = 1.9%

| demographics2_title4 = Tswana

| demographics2_info4 = 1.1%

| demographics2_title5 = Other

| demographics2_info5 = 5.9%

| timezone1 = SAST

| utc_offset1 = +2

| postal_code_type = Postal code (street)

| postal_code =

| postal2_code_type = PO box

| postal2_code =

| area_code_type = Area code

}}

Sanddrif is a town in Richtersveld Local Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River.{{cite web|title=Sanddrift|url=http://www.richtersveldnationalpark.com/towns_in_the_area_SANDDRIF.html|publisher=Richtersveld National Park|accessdate=29 August 2014}} It is located 57 km east of Alexander Bay.{{cite web|title=Sanddrift|url=http://www.richtersveld.net/index.php/site/town/sanddrift/|publisher=Explore the Richtersveld|accessdate=29 August 2014}}

Mining in the region began in the 1900s leading to the displacement of the indigenous Nama people. Diamond mines were again established in the 1970s, bringing a source of employment but also socio-economic upheaval, threatening the traditional Nama lifestyle. The subsequent migration of Xhosa people who came to the area to work in the mines led Sanddrif to acquire the nickname of "Rainbow Town".{{cite book|author1=François Odendaal|author2=Helen Suich|title=Richtersveld: The Land and Its People|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fgWIjT9puLMC&pg=PA129|date=2007-01-01|publisher=Struik|isbn=978-1-77007-341-8|page=129}} Sanddrif has nevertheless seen ethnic conflict between the indigenous Namas and the Xhosa migrants.{{cite book|author=Gitanjali Maharaj|title=Between unity and diversity: essays on nation-building in post-Apartheid South Africa|year=1999|publisher=Idasa|isbn=978-1-874864-90-5|page=[https://archive.org/details/betweenunitydive00maha/page/50 50]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/betweenunitydive00maha/page/50}}

The Baken diamond mine, located outside Sanddrif, was opened by Trans Hex Group in May 2001.{{cite web|title=Diamond plant throughput rises 67%|url=http://www.miningweekly.com/article/diamond-plant-throughput-rises-67-2001-06-08-1|publisher=MiningWeekly.com|accessdate=29 August 2014}}

Culture