Bhisho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bhisho
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Bisho Massacre Memorial Site
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 Bhisho
Location in Eastern Cape
Bhisho
Location in South Africa
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| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| Municipality | Buffalo City |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.08 km2 (3.12 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 435 m (1,427 ft) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 11,192 |
| • Density | 1,385.1/km2 (3,587.5/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 98.3% |
| • Coloured | 1.0% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.2% |
| • White | 0.2% |
| • Other | 0.2% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Xhosa | 92.0% |
| • English | 4.0% |
| • Other | 4.1% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) |
5605
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| PO box |
5605
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| Area code | 040 |
Bhisho (formerly Bisho) is the capital of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The Office of the Premier, Provincial Legislature and many other government departments are headquartered in the town. The town, three kilometres from King William's Town and 70 kilometres from East London, is also part of Buffalo City.
Contents
History
Bhisho derives its name from the Xhosa word for buffalo, which is also the name of the river (Buffalo River) that runs through this town. Bhisho was named after the song by Ben Tyazashe, who wrote of his longing for his home, Bisho, his name for King William's Town however, it has also been claimed that the name was invented by Ciskei leader Lennox Sebe, after his unsuccessful bid to incorporate King William's Town into Ciskei, as Qonce (the Xhosa version of the Khoikhoi name for the Buffalo River; it means “buffalo”) was already used as the native name for King William's Town.
Capital of Ciskei
When the bantustan of Ciskei was nominally granted independence in 1981, although this was never recognised outside South Africa, Bisho served as its capital city. During the early 1980s under the leadership of Lennox Sebe, Bisho underwent a period of intense development.
Its location six kilometres north of King William's Town on the main road linking the Cape to the Transkei and Natal has been described as the result of the Ciskei government wanting to place an "economic stranglehold" upon the white community of King William's Town who united across political lines against incorporation into the homeland, in the face of a 1979 recommendation by the South African government.
In 1983, at the height Ciskei government, Bisho signed a sister-city agreement with the settlement of Ariel in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. This saw the construction of two hospitals (one on a floodplain) including Bisho Hospital and up to 10 firms around the capital by Israeli entrepreneurs and technicians. In 1985, when Bisho ended its relationship with the West Bank, there were 200 Israelis in the Ciskei.
Bhisho today
Bhisho's major structures include the Eastern Cape government offices (including office of the Premier), a branch of the University of Fort Hare, Bhisho Hospital, Bisho massacre Memorial, Bhisho Stadium and an SABC radio station known as trufm. Bhisho is dependent on the nearby King Williams Town and East London. The majority of the town's population is either employed by or servicing the government. The town of Bhisho is surrounded by residential areas; Bhisho Central, Tyutyu North, Bhisho Gardens, Balasi and Amatola View.
Climate
Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies Bhisho's climate as cool semi-arid (BSk), although it borders closely on both a hot semi-arid climate (BSh) and a humid subtropical climate (Cfa).
