Lesseyton

Lesseyton is a town in Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, located 14 km (8.7 mi) northwest of Queenstown. Almost all residents are Xhosa speakers. Lesseyton has two schools: Lesseyton Primary School and Ndlovukazi Public High School.

Lesseyton
Lesseyton Show map of Eastern Cape Lesseyton Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 31.833°S 26.766°E / -31.833; 26.766
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
District	Chris Hani
Municipality	Enoch Mgijima
Area [1]
• Total	2.53 km^2 (0.98 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	2,715
• Density	1,100/km^2 (2,800/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	99.4%
• Indian/Asian	0.1%
• Other	0.4%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Xhosa	97.5%
• English	1.1%
• Other	1.4%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)

Lesseyton was established as a mission station of the Wesleyan Missionary Society in 1847. The people were all Thembu, who mostly retained their customary cultural and religious beliefs. In 1851, a war broke out between the Xhosas and the Cape colonial authorities, and many Thembus joined the hostilities against the colonial government. The Thembus at Lesseyton, however, remained loyal to the British, and fought the rebellion as part of the "Lesseyton Volunteers".[2]

References

1. "Main Place Lesseyton". Census 2011.
2. The Progress of His Royal Highness, Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, Through the Cape Colony, British Kaffraria, the Orange Free State, and Port Natal, in the Year 1860. S. Solomon. 1861. p. 71.