| Port St. Johns | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Eastern Cape#South Africa#Africa |
| Coordinates: | -31.6288°N 29.5369°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Eastern Cape |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | O.R. Tambo |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Port St Johns |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 8.03 |
| Elevation M: | 7 |
| Population Total: | 6441 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 94.7% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 3.5% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 0.6% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 1.1% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.1% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Xhosa |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 89.7% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | English |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 6.2% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 4.1% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal Code: | 5120 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
Port St. Johns (or Port Saint Johns) is a town of about 6,500 people on the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated at the mouth of the Umzimvubu River, 220km (140miles) northeast of East London and 70km (40miles) east of Mthatha. Port St. Johns was the birthplace of Capital Radio 604.
This town is thought to have been named after a Portuguese ship (the São João),[2] which was actually wrecked at Port Edward.[3] Later seafarers mistakenly identified the mouth of the Umzimvubu River as the site of this wreck.[2]
In the mid-1800s the local Mpondo Chief, Ndamase, allowed a few white traders to settle at the mouth of the Umzimvubu River. When Chief Ndamase died in 1876, the Mpondo Great House in Lusikisiki tried to take over the area. On 17 July 1878, Chief Ndamase's oldest son Nqwiliso, reacted by ceding the western bank of the Umzimvubu River to the Cape Colony in return for being recognised as an independent ruler and he and his people were promised protection.[4] [5] The river mouth was used as a port, however this activity was abandoned in the 1940s due to siltation, which caused the river to become too shallow for vessels.
The town was the principal port of the defunct Republic of Transkei (1976-1994).
Port St. Johns is situated on the Wild Coast on a coastline of about 270 km long. It lies at the mouth of the Mzimvubu River, a river flowing through a gorge known as the "Gates of St John" into an estuary located on the Indian Ocean. On both sides of the river ravine are high sandstone mountain peaks: Mount Thesiger (342 metre above sea level) and Mount Sullivan (304 metre), named after two British Military officers.
It is the main settlement in the Port St. Johns Local Municipality which forms part of the O.R. Tambo District Municipality in Pondoland of the former Transkei. According to the 2011 census it had a population of 6,441, of whom 90% where Xhosa-speaking.
In the area near the town, some of the most significant Travertine deposits in South Africa are found. About 10 km west of Port St. Johns, sandstone is excavated for architectural use.[6]
The climate is humid subtropical (Köppen: Cfa).
Port St. Johns is known as the centre of tourism on the Wild Coast.[2] It is known for deep sea fishing and shore angling. Near to the town are three beaches.
From Mthatha in the West and Flagstaff in the North the R61 road connects to Port St. Johns. A smaller road leads the last 5 km into town. Port St. Johns has an airstrip on top of Mount Thesiger.
The Pondoland Park is a National park and forested area 500 km2 in size, including the Umzimvubu river mouth and stretching north along the coast up to the provincial border with KwaZulu-Natal.[7]
Tours targeting world famous "sardine run" are popular as well.[8]