Information AboutUmtata |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT MTHATHA | |
| towns in the eastern cape | |
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It was a military post for the colonial forces in 1882 , and the town itself was founded in 1883 , along the banks of the Mthatha River . Mthatha became the leading administrative centre of the area, having both an Anglican and Catholic cathedral. It also became the seat of the traditional authorities and a parliament building for this purpose known as the ''Bunga'', was erected. A branch of the University Of Fort Hare was established in the town, and after the "independence" of the Transkei in 1977 it became the University Of Transkei , which has since been integrated into the Walter Sisulu University For Technology And Science . From 1976 to 1994 , Mthatha served as the capital of the Transkei Bantustan , under the name of Umtata. Many of South Africa's black leaders — including Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela — come from this area, and the retired Mandela still lives in his home village of Qunu some miles south of Mthatha. |
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