Lusikisiki


Lusikisiki

Lusikisiki is the Capital Town of the Mpondo Kingdom in the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The name is onomatopoeic, derived from the rustling sound of reeds in the wind, named by the local AmaMpondo people. Lusikisiki is 45 kilometers inland from and north of Port St Johns. The town is positioned along the R61 leading to Kokstad.

Climate

Lusikisiki receives high levels of rainfall, ranging between 874mm - 1060mm of rain per annum. Rainfall is considered unseasonal, although Lusikisiki receives the majority of its rainfall during summer. Winter temperatures reach their lowest in July, averaging 8 degrees Celsius at night. The area lies within Forest and Indian Coastal Thicket biomes, and White Milkwood are common.

History

Pre-colonial

Before European habitation in Lusikisiki, the AmaMpondo chief's kraal occupied what is now the present town village. In 1894 European settlers started settling in Lusikisiki after Mpondoland was annexed by the Cape Colony and a magistrate took up residence there.

Apartheid era

In 1953 the South African Apartheid government made attempts to persuade the people of Lusikisiki to accept the rule of Bantu authorities which they had established. The government worked with Paramount Chief Botha Sigcau to attempt to start a rehabilitation scheme in Pondoland.The scheme was presented to the Lusikisiki community but was rejected. A few days later, the police entered the area. A man called Mngqinga led a large local group to attack the police. This was later known as the Lusikisiki Revolt.