| !Khays | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Northern Cape#South Africa |
| Coordinates: | -28.4272°N 16.7772°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Southern Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Namaqualand |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Namakwa |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Richtersveld |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 2.70 |
| Population Total: | 1854 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 17.4% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 78.5% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 0.2% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 3.3% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.6% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 78.2% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | Xhosa |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 12.9% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | English |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 1.9% |
| Demographics2 Title4: | Tswana |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 1.1% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 5.9% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
Sanddrif is a town in Richtersveld Local Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River.[2] It is located 57 km east of Alexander Bay.[3]
Mining in the region began in the 1900s leading to the displacement of the indigenous Nama people. Diamond mines were again established in the 1970s, bringing a source of employment but also socio-economic upheaval, threatening the traditional Nama lifestyle.[3] The subsequent migration of Xhosa people who came to the area to work in the mines led Sanddrif to acquire the nickname of "Rainbow Town".[4] Sanddrif has nevertheless seen ethnic conflict between the indigenous Namas and the Xhosa migrants.[5]
The Baken diamond mine, located outside Sanddrif, was opened by Trans Hex Group in May 2001.[6]
Culture