| Saldanha | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Western Cape#South Africa |
| Coordinates: | -32.9978°N 17.9456°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Western Cape |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | West Coast |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Saldanha Bay |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 17.36 |
| Population Total: | 28142 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 29.9% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 65% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 1.4% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 13.5% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.9% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 70.3% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | Xhosa |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 19.6% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | English |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 7.0% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 3.1% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal Code: | 7395 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 7395 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 022 |
Saldanha (in Afrikaans sal'dana/), also known as Saldanha Bay, is a town of 21,636 people, located 110km (70miles) north of Cape Town on the northern shore of Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its situation as a natural sheltered harbour has led to development as a port for the export of iron ore from Sishen in the Northern Cape, which is transported on the Sishen–Saldanha railway line. The port is one of the largest exporting ports of ore in the whole of Africa, and it is able to handle ships as large as 200 000 tons deadweight.[2]
'Agoada de Saldanha' was the early Portuguese name for Table Bay, but later given to the present location by Joris van Spilbergen, meaning 'watering place of Saldanha'.[3]
Bartolomeu Dias was the first recorded European to set eyes on what is now Saldanha.[4]
Saldanha Bay is ultimately named after António de Saldanha, captain of a vessel in Albuquerque's fleet which visited South Africa in 1503.
The port has handling facilities for both bulk iron ore and crude oil.[5] Ore vessels up to 21.5 metre draft are handled, as well as large crude oil carriers up to 20.5 metre draft.[5]
| Gender | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 14,264 | 50.69 |
| Female | 13,878 | 49.31 |
| Total | 28,142 | 100 |
| Race | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 8,404 | 29.9 |
| White | 3,811 | 13.5 |
| Coloured | 15,286 | 54.3 |
| Asian | 391 | 1.4 |
| Other | 250 | 0.9 |
| Total | 28,142 | 100 |
| First language | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Afrikaans | 18,524 | 70.3 |
| Xhosa | 5,176 | 19.6 |
| English | 1,059 | 7.0 |
| Southern Sotho | 1,835 | 0.78 |
| Tswana | 170 | 0.65 |
| Other | 1,360 | 1.67 |
| Total | 28,142 | 100 |