Established 1862 Area 83.5 km² Local time Monday 3:29 AM | Municipality Tsolwana Postal code (street) 5370 Population 6,059 (2011) Area code 045 | |
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Weather 10°C, Wind NE at 3 km/h, 57% Humidity | ||
Tarkastad
Tarkastad is a small Karoo town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Tarkastad is on a plain to the north of the Winterberg mountain range. The name Tarkastad is believed to come from the Khoi-Khoi word Traka (meaning women) or the Celtic word Tarka (meaning otter) and the Afrikaans word Stad (meaning city).
Contents
Map of Tarkastad, South Africa
History
Tarkastad was established in 1862 as a church centre and became a municipality in 1864. Elands River Poort, a mountain pass located in the Karoo, 24 km to the NNW of Tarkastad, where the Battle of Elands River (1901) was fought during the Second Boer War. The grave of Lt. Sheridan, cousin of Winston Churchill, who was killed in the Battle of Elands River can be found on the Modderfontein farm just outside Tarkastad.
San rock paintings can be seen in the area. Victorian cast iron lamp posts and broekie lace adornments indicate the British colonial influence. Tarkastad's first Municipal Manager after apartheid was Mr Smilo Dayi an ex-political prisoner. The first mayor after apartheid was Mr Ntsikelelo Sampempe.