Modjadjiskloof Explained

Modjadjiskloof
Native Name:Duiwelskloof
Pushpin Map:South Africa Limpopo#South Africa
Coordinates:-23.7°N 38°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:South Africa
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Limpopo
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Mopani
Subdivision Type3:Municipality
Subdivision Name3:Greater Letaba
Subdivision Type4:Main Place
Established Title:Established
Leader Title:Councillor
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:2.99
Elevation M:875
Population Total:1815
Population As Of:2011
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Racial makeup (2011)
Demographics1 Title1:Black African
Demographics1 Info1:47.4%
Demographics1 Title2:Coloured
Demographics1 Info2:0.5%
Demographics1 Title3:Indian/Asian
Demographics1 Info3:2.8%
Demographics1 Title4:White
Demographics1 Info4:47.9%
Demographics1 Title5:Other
Demographics1 Info5:1.5%
Demographics Type2:First languages (2011)
Demographics2 Title1:Afrikaans
Demographics2 Info1:43.7%
Demographics2 Title2:Northern Sotho
Demographics2 Info2:23.3%
Demographics2 Title3:English
Demographics2 Info3:12.3%
Demographics2 Title4:Tsonga
Demographics2 Info4:9.7%
Demographics2 Title5:Other
Demographics2 Info5:11.0%
Timezone1:SAST
Utc Offset1:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code (street)
Postal Code:0835
Postal2 Code Type:PO box
Postal2 Code:0835
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:015

Modjadjiskloof (formerly Duiwelskloof) is a small town situated at the foot of the escarpment in the Limpopo province of South Africa.

The town is 18 km north of Tzaneen. Surveyed in 1919 and proclaimed in 1920, it was administered by a village management board. The Sunland Baobab tree, that was located nearby, lost a large chunk of its main stem early in 2017 and the rest of the tree fell into pieces in April 2017.

The town was named in honour of Rain Queen Modjadji, hereditary ruler of the Balobedu people, the indigenous people of the area and at some stage the only ruling queen in South Africa.

Name change

The former name Duiwelskloof, Afrikaans for "Devil's ravine", was possibly given by virtue of the rugged, awe inspiring aspect, or because of the difficulty with which laden wagons trekked through it in the rainy season. Duiwelskloof was renamed Modjadjiskloof on 14 June 2004. Unlike most name changes, Duiwelskloof kept the Afrikaans suffix "-kloof" (meaning valley) in its new name.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Main Place Modjadjiskloof . Census 2011.