Molteno, Eastern Cape

Province

Molteno is a town in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province and the seat of administration of the municipality in the district of Chris Hani Inkwanca. 2011, it had 11,553 inhabitants. The town was named after Sir John Charles Molteno, the first Prime Minister of the Cape Colony.

The lying east of Molteno area of ​​the Municipality Emalahleni got its name from a Bantu language and means coal.

History

The discovery of coal deposits in Molteno offered in South Africa relatively early the basis for the construction of coal- fired power plants. In the early days of mining the coal was delivered by ox wagon to customers. This included especially the city of Kimberley with their near diamond fields. The promotion came in 1885 on a lot of 14,500 tons. Kimberley was the first city in South Africa, the generated electricity.

Molteno developed as a settlement since 1874. Vice George, a former farmer and captain of the Molteno Mounted Rangers is referred to as the father of Molteno. He discovered near the town of coal deposits. It was here that in 1864 the first coal mine in South Africa. The city was founded on September 7, 1883. Few years later, on December 10, 1899, the Battle of Stormberg was during the Second Boer War, held near the city.

Geography

Molteno is situated on the edge of the Great Karoo and in the hill country between Storm Mountain range ( Stormberg Mountains ) and Bamboesberg.

About a railway with the city of Middelburg in the West, Aliwal North and Bloemfontein in the North, Queenstown and East London is connected to the south and the east Maclear. Trunk roads lead to the same destinations. Molteno is situated on the regional road R56.

Near the city the watershed between the drainage areas of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans runs. The north of the watershed lying areas belong to the catchment area of the Orange River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.

Geology

The coal seams are embedded alternating between black stock Tonschieferschichten and underline in an easterly direction to Dordrecht and in the region of Indwe, after which the Molteno Indwe deposit received its name. It is the only coal deposits of the Eastern Cape Province, which are of economic importance. Your coal seams are tight and have a high ash content. The coal fields of the Molteno Formation in the Stormberg Group are historically recent genesis within the Karoo sequence in South Africa.

After the Molteno Formation of the same name Stormberg Group is appointed within the Karoo Supergroup.

Economy

Another resource of interest is a light gray and fine-grained sandstone. It has been mined for decades and has also been used in the construction of municipal buildings. On this stone was international interest.

Attractions

• Farm Museum
• San rock art in the area of Molteno
• Memorial sites of the Battle of Stormberg
• Coal mine
• John Meintjies Art Gallery
• City Museum ( museum Molteno )