What is Pondoland?
Pondoland or Mpondoland is a natural region on the South African shores of the Indian Ocean. It is located in the coastal belt of the Eastern Cape province. Its territory is the former Mpondo Kingdom of the Mpondo people.
Where Is Pondoland In South Africa
Pondoland is the traditional area of the Pondo people, one of the Xhosa-speaking peoples. Pondoland area is situated on the South African coast of the Indian Ocean, in the Eastern Cape Province.
The boundaries of Pondoland are the Mtamvuna River in the north, which is also the limit between the Eastern Cape Province and Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal Province), and the Mthatha River in the south. The Mzimvubu River divides the area into West Pondoland and East Pondoland.
Pondoland lies between the Mthatha River and the Mtamvuna River in the north along a coastal strip that is a maximum of 50 kilometers wide. The area is surrounded by mountains whose main vegetation consisted of thornveld, grassland, as well as subtropical evergreen forests in the wet coastal valleys. Pondoland’s towns are Bizana, Port St Johns, Lusikisiki, Ngqeleni, Tabankulu, and Adobe.
Pondoland was separated into seven districts. Eastern Pondoland consisted of four districts: Lusikisiki (Qaukeni) which was and is still regarded as the capital town of Eastern Pondoland, Flagstaff (Spareni), Bizana, and Ntabankulu.
Western Pondoland consisted of three districts Ngqeleni, Libode, and Port St Johns (Nyandeni), the capital town of Western Pondoland.
Where is Pondoland situated?
Eastern Cape province
Pondoland, a region on the African coast of the Indian Ocean, is located in Eastern Cape province, South Africa. It lies between the Mtamvuna and Mtata rivers, bordering the KwaZulu-Natal province in the north.