Alice, Eastern Cape

Alice
Buildings of the University of Fort Hare in Alice
Nickname(s):  eDikeni
Alice Alice Alice Show map of Eastern CapeShow map of South AfricaShow map of AfricaShow all
Coordinates: 32°47′21″S 26°50′06″E / 32.78917°S 26.83500°E / -32.78917; 26.83500Coordinates: 32°47′21″S 26°50′06″E / 32.78917°S 26.83500°E / -32.78917; 26.83500
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
District	Amathole
Municipality	Raymond Mhlaba
Area [1]
• Total	9.85 km2 (3.80 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	15,143
• Density	1,500/km2 (4,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	93.0%
• Coloured	5.6%
• Indian/Asian	0.3%
• White	0.6%
• Other	0.5%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Xhosa	84.0%
• Afrikaans	7.3%
• English	3.5%
• Other	5.2%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Area code	040

Alice is a small town in South Africa that is named after The Princess Alice, daughter of the British Queen Victoria. Settled in 1824 by British colonists adjacent to the Tyhume River.

Fort Hare University[]

Began early in 1847 as a fort built to house British troops. The same fort was converted in 1916 into a black university institution. Many of the current political leaders in South Africa were educated at the University of Fort Hare, also the alma mater of former President Nelson Mandela. The university is also the repository of the archives of the African National Congress documents and houses one of the most significant collections of African art.

Victoria Hospital[]

One of the oldest sites in Alice, it still graces the town with its old charm of yesterday. Victoria Hospital is a large district hospital on the outskirts of Alice, recently (2006–2011) fully reconstructed and upgraded by the Eastern Cape Provincial Government.^[2]

History[]

Alice railway station, c. 1900

The location was named Lovedale by European missionaries who settled there in 1824. It was named after Dr. John Love of the Glasgow Missionary Society. During the Frontier War it was abandoned and the mission resettled on the west bank of the Tyhume River. On the east bank a fort was built, called Fort Hare, after Major-General John Hare, who was Lieutenant-Governor of the Eastern Cape and acting Governor of the Cape Colony. Later the name of the town was changed to Alice. Alice was the administrative and magisterial capital of the old district of Victoria East.In 1847 it was named Alice by Sir Peregrine Maitland after Princess Alice, the second daughter of Queen Victoria. Municipal status was attained in 1852.

Notable locals[]

• Looksmart Ngudle
• Ngconde Balfour
• Makhenkesi Stofile
• Sipho Burns-Ncamashe
• Thandatha Jongilizwe Mabandla
• Chief Mqalo
• Cecilia Makiwane

References[]

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