Uitenhage

Uitenhage was founded on 25 April 1804 by landdrost (district magistrate) Jacob Glen Cuyler and named in honour of the Cape's Commissioner-General Jacob Abraham Uitenhage de Mist by the Dutch Cape Colony governor, Jan Willem Janssens.{{cite web|url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/chronology/thisday/1804-04-25.htm|title=Uitenhage is founded|publisher=sahistory|access-date=14 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015081530/http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/chronology/thisday/1804-04-25.htm|archive-date=15 October 2009}} Uitenhage formed part of the district of Graaff Reinet (shortly after its short-lived secession).

The Cape Colony received a degree of independence when "Responsible Government" was declared in 1872. In 1875, the Cape government of John Molteno took over the rudimentary Uitenhage railway site, incorporated it into the Cape Government Railways (CGR), and began construction of the lines connecting Uitenhage to Port Elizabeth and the Southern African interior. Two years later in 1877, Uitenhage was declared a municipality.Burman, Jose (1984), Early Railways at the Cape. Cape Town: Human & Rousseau, p.66. {{ISBN|0-7981-1760-5}}

Nearly a hundred years later, as part of the Republic of South Africa, Uitenhage became a centre for resistance against apartheid. In 1985, police opened fire on a funeral procession in Uitenhage, killing a number of unarmed people, in an event that became notorious as an example of police oppression in South Africa under apartheid.{{cite journal|jstor=645077|pages=217–236|last1=Thornton|first1=R. J.|title=The Shooting at Uitenhage, South Africa, 1985: The Context and Interpretation of Violence|volume=17|issue=2|journal=American Ethnologist|year=1990|doi=10.1525/ae.1990.17.2.02a00020|s2cid=73539066}}{{cite web | url=http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/hrvtrans/uiten/bucwa.htm | title=Justice/Home }}

In 2001 it was incorporated with Port Elizabeth and Despatch into the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. On 23 February 2021, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa approved and gazetted the decision to rename Uitenhage to Kariega along with the neighbouring city of Port Elizabeth, which was renamed Gqeberha.{{Cite web |date=23 February 2021 |title=It is Official, Port Elizabeth Has a New Name — Gqeberha |url=https://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2021-02-23-breaking-it-is-official-port-elizabeth-has-a-new-name-gqeberha/ |access-date=2021-02-24 |website=HeraldLIVE |language=en-ZA}}

Kariega is situated on the banks of the Swartkops River, approximately 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) north-west of Gqeberha. Kariega, along with the city of Gqeberha, the neighbouring town of Despatch, the adjoining township of KwaNobuhle and surrounding areas, form the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.{{Cite web|title=Distance Port-Elizabeth, Nelson-Mandela-Bay, Eastern-Cape, ZAF > Uitenhage, Nelson-Mandela-Bay-Metropolitan-Municipality, Eastern-Cape, ZAF - Air line, driving route, midpoint|url=https://www.distance.to/Port-Elizabeth,Nelson-Mandela-Bay,Eastern-Cape,ZAF/Uitenhage,Nelson-Mandela-Bay-Metropolitan-Municipality,Eastern-Cape,ZAF|access-date=2020-08-09|website=www.distance.to|language=en-us}}{{Cite web |title=Port Elizabeth Map {{!}} South Africa Google Satellite Maps |url=http://www.maplandia.com/south-africa/eastern-cape/peddie/port-elizabeth/ |access-date=2020-08-09 |website=www.maplandia.com}}

Kariega also lies at the start of the Mohair Route which leads along Route 75 towards Graaff-Reinet (the centre for mohair farming in South Africa), 228 kilometres to the northwest via Jansenville on Route 75.

{{Weather box

|width = 100%

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|location = Uitenhage (normals 1993-2022, elevation: 157m)

| Jan mean C =22.7

| Feb mean C =22.9

| Mar mean C =21.7

| Apr mean C =19.3

| May mean C =16.9

| Jun mean C =14.9

| Jul mean C =14.3

| Aug mean C =14.8

| Sep mean C =16.1

| Oct mean C =18.0

| Nov mean C =19.2

| Dec mean C =21.1

| year mean C =

| precipitation colour =

| Jan precipitation mm =60.1

| Feb precipitation mm =33.5

| Mar precipitation mm =31.6

| Apr precipitation mm =53.0

| May precipitation mm =18.5

| Jun precipitation mm =35.2

| Jul precipitation mm =12.4

| Aug precipitation mm =36.7

| Sep precipitation mm =49.8

| Oct precipitation mm =50.1

| Nov precipitation mm =72.4

| Dec precipitation mm =119.7

| year precipitation mm =

| source 1 = Climate Charts{{Citation |title=Uitenhage, South Africa, Years: 1993-2022 |last=Zepner |first=Laura |url=https://climatecharts.net/ |work=ClimateCharts.net – an interactive climate analysis web platform |publisher=International Journal of Digital Earth |last2=Karrasch |first2=Pierre |last3=Wiemann |first3=Felix |last4=Bernard |first4=Lars |no-pp=y |doi=10.1080/17538947.2020.1829112 |access-date=20 March 2024}}

}}

Kariega is known for the large industries situated there. The largest of these industries are the Volkswagen of South Africa and Goodyear factories. An automotive supplier park, Alexander Park Industrial, has also been created directly next to the Volkswagen factory, thus allowing automotive component manufacturers to construct their manufacturing plants close by. Other industries of note are the food processing giant, Sovereign Foods, located in Kruisrivier industrial area and The Nelson Mandela Bay Logistics Park which hosts several other industries, including Fauricia. These industries are heavily interlinked.

The R75 highway, also known as Route 75, bypasses Kariega to the east, heading north–south from Graaff-Reinet to Gqeberha with interchanges at the M19, M6, R334 and Graaff-Reinet Road. The R334 connects Kariega with Coega to the east and with KwaNobuhle and the R102 (near Van Stadens Pass) to the south-west.

The town is also intersected by metropolitan routes such as the M6 (Caledon Street; Union Avenue) to Despatch in the east, the M10 (Durban Street; Algoa Road) to Bethelsdorp in the south-west, the M19 (Botha Street) to Despatch and the M22 (Marconi Street; Mel Brooks Avenue) to KwaNobuhle in the south.

The main streets through the CBD, known as Uitenhage Central, include Cuyler Street, Caledon Street in Upper Central and Durban Street in Lower Central.

• Loyiso Bala, South African R&B singer; part of Bala Brothers ground and TKZee{{cite web|url=http://www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za/Content.aspx?objID=473|title=Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality : Loyiso Bala|work=nelsonmandelabay.gov.za}}
• Mihlali Mosi, professional Rugby Player from Muir College Boys' High School
• Linky Boshoff, South African tennis player from Riebeek College Girls' High School
• Okkert Brits, Olympic pole vaulter
• Joseph Petrus Hendrik Crowe, British Army officer who was awarded the Victoria Cross
• Deshun Deysel, member of the 1996 South African Everest Expedition{{cite news |last=Combrinck |first=Heilie |date=30 June 2016 |title=First local TEDx conference hosts famous guests |url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Local/UD-News/first-local-tedx-conference-hosts-famous-guests-20160629 |newspaper=UD News |location=Uitenhage |access-date=30 August 2016 }}
• Carel Fourie, Springbok rugby wing; from Die Brandwag Hoërskool
• Nantie Hayward, South African cricketer who now plays in the Indian Cricket League
• Allan Hendrickse, preacher-teacher-politician during the apartheid era{{cite news |last=McGregor |first=Liz |date=21 March 2005 |title=Obituary: The Rev Allan Hendrickse |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/mar/21/guardianobituaries.southafrica |newspaper=UD News |location=Uitenhage |access-date=30 August 2016 }}

• Mcebisi Jonas, former deputy Finance Minister, active member of ANC's Uitenhage branch{{Cite news|url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/1494366/details-mcebisi-jonas-make-political-comeback/|title=Details: How Mcebisi Jonas could make his political comeback|last=Reporter|first=Citizen|work=The Citizen|access-date=2018-03-02|language=en}}
• Deon Kayser, rugby player{{cite news |last=Biyela |first=Lunga |date=3 April 2014 |title=Kayser happy to share |url=http://www.news24.com/archives/witness/kayser-happy-to-share-20150430 |newspaper=The Witness |location=Durban |access-date=7 October 2017 }}
• Johann van der Merwe, Springbok rugby centre 1969/70 British tour; from Die Brandwag Hoërskool
• Bicks Ndoni, former mayor of Uitenhage and ANC politician
• Smuts Ngonyama, ANC National Spokesman during Thabo Mbeki's Era. Recently appointed South African Ambassador to Spain
• Anrich Nortje, South African cricketer{{cite web |last1=Moonda |first1=Firdose |title=Anrich Nortje |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/481979.html#profile |website=ESPNcricinfo |publisher=ESPN Sports Media Limited |access-date=16 October 2020}}
• Charles Robert Redcliffe, Labour Party politician, community leader and anti-apartheid activist
• Christo van Rensburg, South African tennis player, ATP-ranked{{Cite web|url=http://www.atptour.com/en/players|title=Players | ATP Tour | Tennis|website=ATP Tour}}
• Enoch Sontonga, composer of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika which is now part of the national anthem
• James Wide, double leg amputee railway signalman and owner of Jack the signal-baboon[https://books.google.com/books?id=0M9BAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Uitenhage+Railway+Station%22 Illustrated Guide to the Southern African Coast], AA the Motorist Publications, 1988, page 164
• Garth Wright, Springbok rugby scrum-half from Muir College{{Cite web|url=http://www.thecaptainstable.co.za/saaus07.html|title=The Captain's Table: Panel: Garth Wright}}
• Lee-Roy Wright, South African actor and television presenter{{cite web|url=http://www.tvsa.co.za/actorprofile.asp?actorid=8147|title=Lee-Roy Wright|work=tvsa.co.za}}
• Lloyiso , South African singer-songwriter (born 1999)

• Jack – a chacma baboon trained to assist signalman James Wide, who had both legs amputated.

• Masjid al-Qudama (1849), is one of the oldest mosques in the country.{{cite journal |last=Schalk |first=le Roux |date=June 2007 |title=The First Mosque: Caledon Street, Uitenhage |url=http://www.repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/5330/LeRoux_First(2007).pdf |journal=Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Kultuurgeskiedenis (South African Journal of Cultural History) |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=59 | access-date=24 June 2017 |quote=it is deduced that the mosque in Caledon Street was a completed building by March 1849}}
• Cuyler Manor, historic house museum

Drostdy — In 1804, the Cape colonial government assigned the shield of Jacob Abraham Uitenhage de Mist's arms to the new Uitenhage drostdy. The arms were Sable, a cross moline Argent, i.e. a silver cross moline on a black shield. An anchor was placed behind the shield.Pama, C. (1965) Lions and Virgins. The British authorities discontinued the drostdy seals in 1814, and replaced them with the royal coat of arms.Cape Town Gazette 418 (15 January 1814).

Municipality — In 1881, the Uitenhage municipal council adopted the De Mist arms, complete with a crest consisting of a cross moline issuing from a gold coronet.The arms were depicted on a [http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Category:UTC_South_African_town_arms cigarette card] issued in 1931. The arms were registered with the Cape Provincial Administration in September 1956Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette 2833 (28 September 1956). and at the Bureau of Heraldry in June 1994.{{Cite web|url=http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300dl|title=National Archives of South Africa (NASA) Database Selection|website=www.national.archsrch.gov.za}}

Divisional council — The Uitenhage divisional council (the local authority for the rural areas outside the town) assumed a coat of arms in 1968. The arms were granted by the provincial administrator in August 1968Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette 3470 (9 August 1968). and registered at the Bureau of Heraldry in June 1972.

On the arms were stated: "Or, a triple crowned tree Vert, the trunk entwined with the Batavian tricolour; on a chief wavy Sable a cross moline between dexter a pickaxe and hammer in saltire, handles downwards and sinister two scrolls in saltire, Argent." In layman's terms, the design was a golden shield displaying, from top to bottom, a crossed pickaxe and hammer, a cross moline and two crossed scrolls on a black horizontal strip with a wavy edge, and a triple-crowned tree with a Batavian Republic flag wrapped around it.

The crest was an elephant, and the motto Per laborem ad honorem.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Sellick|first=W.S.J.|title=Uitenhage, past and present : souvenir of the Centenary, 1804-1904|year=1904|url=https://archive.org/details/uitenhagepastpre00sell}}

{{commons category|Uitenhage}}

{{EB1911 poster|Uitenhage}}

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Uitenhage

|North = Kirkwood 54 km

|Northeast = Addo 45 km

|East = Despatch 9 km, Coega

|Southeast = Port Elizabeth 31 km

|Northwest = Baviaanskloof

|West = Hankey 73 km

|Southwest = Humansdorp 88 km

|South = Skoenmakerskop 44 km
Note: Distances by tarred road as per [http://www.saexplorer.co.za/south-africa/distance/uitenhage_distance.asp SA Explorer – Uitenhage Distances]

}}

{{Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Populated places in Nelson Mandela Bay

Category:Populated places established in 1804