Cradock, Eastern Cape
Encyclopedia
Cradock is a town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
, in the upper valley of the Great Fish River
, 292 kilometres (181.4 mi) by rail northeast of Port Elizabeth. The town is the administrative seat of the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality
in the Chris Hani District
of the Eastern Cape. The estimated population in 2005 is 28,689. It is one of the Cape's chief centres of the wool
industry, and also produces beef, dairy, fruit, lucerne
, and mohair
. Due to its hot sulphur springs
, the town enjoys a reputation as one of the best health resorts in the province. It stands at an altitude of 871 metres (2856 ft). 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of the town are sulphur baths (temp 38°C (100°F)) used for the treatment of rheumatism
. In the neighbouring district a few herds of mountain zebra
s survive, now protected by game law
s. The town was founded on 27 August 1818 when a Dutch Reformed
church was built; it is named after Sir John Cradock
, governor of the Cape from 1811 to 1813. Interestingly, the design of the Dutch Reformed Church building is based on that of St Martin-in-the-Fields
in London.
The town's other attractions include the Victoria Manor Hotel and the "tuishuise", a collection of restored Victorian era craftsmen’s houses in Market Street.
Three Security Branch policemen, a Sergeant Faku, Sergeant Mgoduka, and one Sakati who participated in the killing of the activists were later killed in a car bomb blast at Motherwell in 1989.
Two inquests were held following the killing of the Cradock activists. During the second inquest in 1994, evidence was presented which pointed to the involvement of the then South African Defence Force in the killing of the activists. This evidence related to a signal which was allegedly sent by Colonel Lourens du Plessis on behalf of Brigadier van der Westhuizen to Major General van Rensburg, in which the 'permanent removal' from society of the deceased was recommended.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, in the upper valley of the Great Fish River
Great Fish River
The Great Fish River is a river running through the South African province of the Eastern Cape, it originates east of Graaff-Reinet and runs through Cradock, just south of this the Tarka River joins it...
, 292 kilometres (181.4 mi) by rail northeast of Port Elizabeth. The town is the administrative seat of the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality
Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality
Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality, formerly known as Cradock Local Municipality, is a local municipality in Chris Hani District Municipality, Eastern Cape...
in the Chris Hani District
Chris Hani District Municipality
Chris Hani is one of the 7 districts of Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The seat of Chris Hani is Queenstown. The majority of its 810 274 people speak Xhosa , although Afrikaans speaking people predominate in the far west of the district...
of the Eastern Cape. The estimated population in 2005 is 28,689. It is one of the Cape's chief centres of the wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
industry, and also produces beef, dairy, fruit, lucerne
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
, and mohair
Mohair
Mohair usually refers to a silk-like fabric or yarn made from the hair of the Angora goat. The word "mohair" was adopted into English before 1570 from the Arabic: mukhayyar, a type of haircloth, literally 'choice', from khayyara, 'he chose'. Mohair fiber is approximately 25-45 microns in...
. Due to its hot sulphur springs
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
, the town enjoys a reputation as one of the best health resorts in the province. It stands at an altitude of 871 metres (2856 ft). 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of the town are sulphur baths (temp 38°C (100°F)) used for the treatment of rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
. In the neighbouring district a few herds of mountain zebra
Mountain Zebra
The Mountain Zebra, Equus zebra, is a threatened species of equid native to south-western Angola, Namibia and South Africa. It has two subspecies, the Cape Mountain Zebra and Hartmann's Mountain Zebra , though it has been suggested these should be considered separate species.-Taxonomy:In 2004,...
s survive, now protected by game law
Game law
Game laws are statutes which regulate the right to pursue and take or kill certain kinds of fish and wild animal . Their scope can include the following: restricting the days to harvest fish or game, restricting the number of animals per person, restricting species harvested, and limiting weapons...
s. The town was founded on 27 August 1818 when a Dutch Reformed
Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
church was built; it is named after Sir John Cradock
John Cradock, 1st Baron Howden
General John Francis Cradock, 1st Baron Howden GCB was a British peer, politician and soldier.-Life:He was son of John Cradock, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin....
, governor of the Cape from 1811 to 1813. Interestingly, the design of the Dutch Reformed Church building is based on that of St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields is an Anglican church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. Its patron is Saint Martin of Tours.-Roman era:Excavations at the site in 2006 led to the discovery of a grave dated about 410...
in London.
The town's other attractions include the Victoria Manor Hotel and the "tuishuise", a collection of restored Victorian era craftsmen’s houses in Market Street.
Cradock Four
The Cradock Four — Matthew Goniwe, Sparrow Mkhonto, Fort Calata and Sicelo Mhlauli — were abducted while travelling from Port Elizabeth to Cradock in 1985. They were then taken to Olifantshoek Pass and later to Port Elizabeth, where they were assaulted, killed and their bodies and the vehicle in which they were travelling burnt on June 27, 1985.Three Security Branch policemen, a Sergeant Faku, Sergeant Mgoduka, and one Sakati who participated in the killing of the activists were later killed in a car bomb blast at Motherwell in 1989.
Two inquests were held following the killing of the Cradock activists. During the second inquest in 1994, evidence was presented which pointed to the involvement of the then South African Defence Force in the killing of the activists. This evidence related to a signal which was allegedly sent by Colonel Lourens du Plessis on behalf of Brigadier van der Westhuizen to Major General van Rensburg, in which the 'permanent removal' from society of the deceased was recommended.