Established 1879 Area 11.5 km² Local time Wednesday 12:27 AM | Elevation 552 m (1,811 ft) Population 2,727 (2011) Area code 023 | |
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Leeu-Gamka is a small town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, located 355 kilometres (221 mi) north-east of Cape Town in the Karoo.
Contents
- Map of Leeu Gamka 6950 South Africa
- History
- Geography
- Demographics
- Government and Infrastructure
- References
Map of Leeu Gamka, 6950, South Africa
History
The town of Leeu-Gamka owes its existence to the route chosen by Prime Minister John Molteno for the Cape Government Railways's western main line, from Cape Town towards the diamond fields at Kimberley. The railway line reached the meeting-point of the Leeu and Gamka rivers in 1879, and on 11 August of that year a station was opened on that location. It was initially named "Fraserburg Road", because it was the closest station to the town of Fraserburg, 115 kilometres (71 mi) to the north-west over the Nuweveld Mountains.
A small town grew around this station, with a church and school opening in 1896, and a hotel in 1898. In 1950 the station and town were renamed to "Leeu-Gamka".
Geography
Leeu-Gamka is located where the Leeu River enters the Gamka River; both rivers are intermittent in this region. "Leeu" and "Gamka" both mean "Lion", in Afrikaans and ǀXam respectively.
The town lies at an elevation of 552 m, in the southern Karoo; to the north are the Nuweveld Mountains, and to the south the Swartberge. It is situated on the N1 national road and the Cape Town–Kimberley railway, between Laingsburg and Beaufort West; the travel distance from Cape Town is 387 kilometres (240 mi) by road and 465 kilometres (289 mi) by rail. From Leeu-Gamka the R353 road runs north-west to Fraserburg and Williston.
Demographics
The 2011 Census reported that, of the population of 2,727, some 91% described themselves as "Coloured" and 95% spoke Afrikaans.
Government and Infrastructure
Leeu-Gamka falls within the Prince Albert Local Municipality, which is part of the Central Karoo District Municipality. It has a primary school and a police station, and was served by a mobile clinic.
Recently, Leeu-Gamka established a new EMS (Emergency Medical Services) station in conjunction with the Western Cape Provincial Health Department to render support services to accident victims en route to Cape Town. Furthermore, a permanent Community Health Centre was erected, doing away with the previously used mobile clinic. The community also have a library and a newly built dam for domestic water supply.