Mthatha
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Mthatha (formerly Umtata) is the main town of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town has an airport, previously known by the name [K D Matanzima Airport] which was named after Kaiser Matanzima.
It was a military post for the colonial forces in 1882, and the town itself was founded in 1883, along the banks of the Mthatha River. The [Mthatha Dam] was constructed about eight kilometre upstream of the town. Mthatha became the leading administrative centre of the area, having both an Anglican and Catholic cathedral. It also became the seat of the traditional authorities and a parliament building for this purpose known as the Bunga, was erected.
A branch of the University of Fort Hare was established in the town, and after the "independence" of the Transkei in 1977 it became the University of Transkei, which has since been integrated into the Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science.
From 1976 to 1994, Mthatha served as the capital of the Transkei bantustan, under the name of Umtata. Mthatha has now lost its status as the home of the affluent black people. After the end of apartheid many businesses left the town leaving it destitute. Mthatha is fast becoming a ghost town. Many of South Africa's black leaders — including Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela — come from this area, and the retired Mandela still lives in his home village of Qunu some miles south of Mthatha.
Historic leaders
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