Enoch Mgijima is a local municipality in the Chris Hani District Municipality, Eastern Cape, formed in August 2016 by merging the former Tsolwana, Inkwanca and Lukhanji local municipalities. The 2022 census recorded 297,055 people over 13,584 km², up from 250,776 in 2011. Komani (formerly Queenstown) is the seat.
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | Chris Hani District Municipality |
| Seat | Komani (Queenstown) |
| Area | 13,584 km² |
| Population (2022) | 297,055 |
Towns and Villages in Enoch Mgijima
Komani is by far the largest town and the district’s regional trade centre, followed by Whittlesea, Queensdale, Molteno, Ilinge, Sterkstroom, Tarkastad and Hofmeyr. Across the three merged former municipalities, 392 settlements are recorded.
| Place | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Queenstown | Major town | 118,599 |
| Whittlesea | Town | 33,844 |
| Queensdale | Town | 20,009 |
| Molteno | Main town / seat | 13,840 |
| Ilinge | Town | 12,806 |
| Sterkstroom | Town | 8,584 |
| Tarkastad | Main town / seat | 7,260 |
| Hofmeyr | Town | 4,410 |
The fuller list of villages and localities:
- Aandenk
- Aasvoëlkop
- Aberdour
- Airlie
- Alicedale
- Allemansvlei
- Allendale
- Alva
- Amsterdam
- Annawater
- Annex Kilvorskull
- Anniedale
- Arthurs Seat
- Artmor
- Avilion
- B.K. Mond (2)
- Bailey
- Bakenshoek
- Bakenskop
- Balinguile
- Balmoral
- Bamboeshoek
- Bandon
- Beamont
- Bede
- Bellavista
- Bellevue
- Belvior
- Bergfontein
- Blaauwater
- Blaauwskop (1)
- Blaauwskop (2)
- Blackwoods
- Blenheim
- Bloemof
- Blouboschpoortjie
- Blue Boulders
- Bonaparte
- Bonhill
- Bonnyvale
- Bossieshoek
- Bothaskraal
- Botterkop
- Braamfontein
- Branstone
- Broadlands
- Bromley
- Broughton
- Brymac
- Burnley
- Carnarvon
- Carrghmore
- Carrickmoor
- Castleton
- Cetha
- Charnwood
- Chasant
- Christiana
- Cilleria
- Clifton
- Clifton Vale
- Coldstream
- Collingham
- Combleigh
- Cuylerville
- Dagbreek
- Dalkeith
- Dalmanutha
- Damanskraal
- De Hoek
- De Hoop
- De Kuien
- De Leegte
- De Rust
- Den Haag
- Dennie Park
- Derrington
- Dickenstone
- Die Vlakte
- Diepfontein
- Doornbosch
- Doornhoek
- Doornkloof
- Doornkop
- Doornylei
- Doringrivier
- Downley
- Dragospoortjie
- Driefontein
- Driehoek
- Droëfontein
- Drummond Gate
- Duneden
- Dyamala
- Echodale
- Elandsberg
- Elandskop
- Elandsrivier Poort
- Elim
- Emtabazo
- Enqobokeni
- Erfdeel
- Esperanza
- Eveneser
- Everton (1)
- Everton (2)
- Excelsior
- Ezibeleni
- Fairfield
- Fonteinplaas
- Geluk
- Geluksvlei
- Gerluk
- Gladswood
- Glen Cave
- Glen Ewan
- Glen Rae
- Glenrock
- Goedehoop
- Goedgedag
- Goedvenwag
- Goedverwacht
- Good Hope
- Grassdale
- Grasslands
- Greystone
- Groenfontein
- Grootdam
- Grootschuur
- Gruisklip
- Haasfonteindorings
- Hackney
- Hackney and Cibini
- Halseton
- Hardop
- Harmonie
- Hartbeesnek
- Hartebeesfontein
- Hartebeesnek (1)
- Hartebeesnek (2)
- Heathfield
- Hebron
- Heilbron
- Helmekaar
- Herberg
- Highlands
- Hillcrest
- Hillcroft
- Hillside
- Home Park
- Hoogstede (1)
- Hoogstede (2)
- Hope Vale
- Hopefield
- Hopeleigh
- Hopewell
- Hopwood
- Hughenden
- Hukuwa
- Ida
- Imvani
- Ivanhoe
- Jakkals Pos
- Jakkalspoort
- Jericho
- Joewyns Park
- Kaalplaas
- Kaffersleegte (1)
- Kaffersleegte (2)
- Kalkfontein
- Kamastone
- Kareebosleegte
- Kareehoek
- Kareekloof
- Kareekloot
- Kei and Bulhoek
- Kenilworth
- Kettershoek (1)
- Keylock
- Kings Glen
- Klein Mayburgsdam
- Kleingeluk
- Kliodrift
- Klipdam
- Klipfontein
- Klipkraal
- Klipkraal (2)
- Klipplaat (1)
- Knowsley
- Kraaiplaas
- Kransplaat
- Kransvoëlleegte
- Kroonberg
- Ku-Zitungu
- KuZingqutu
- KwaKotilitye
- KwaManzikraka
- KwaTwalo
- Kwaggasvalkte
- La Motte
- Lahlangubo
- Langkloof
- Larochelle
- Leeukuil
- Leeuwkuil (1)
- Lehmansdrif
- Lesfontein
- Lesseyton
- Liebendal
- Lily Vale
- Lindesdal
- Lismore
- Lombardy
- Lonely
- Loskop
- Love Dale
- Lower Didimana
- Lower Gretna
- Luqolweni
- Luxeni
- Macibini
- Magdala
- Malfontein
- Mamre
- Manelsdam (1)
- Maraisburg Studam
- Marsden Flats
- Marshmoor
- Martindale
- Mceula
- Mecklenburg
- Meriefontein
- Merinowelk
- Meyershoek
- Mid Klipfontein
- Middelburg
- Middelplaat
- Mitford
- Modderbult
- Monderbult
- Mooipoort
- Morgenzon
- Morning Sun
- Mousa
- Mtebele
- Môreson
- Môrester
- Ndumangeni
- Ngojini
- Nkonkobe
The list above covers the 250 largest of 392 recorded settlements and localities; the remainder are small farm hamlets and rural place-names.
Geography
Enoch Mgijima spans the widest part of the Chris Hani District, from the Stormberg escarpment near Molteno and Sterkstroom in the north to the Komani basin and Tarkastad in the south. It borders Emalahleni, Intsika Yethu and Walter Sisulu within the district, and the Amathole District to the south.
Demographics
Population grew from 250,776 in 2011 to 297,055 in 2022, a rise of about 18%, driven largely by growth around Komani. Black African residents make up the large majority, with smaller Coloured, White and Asian populations concentrated in and around Komani.
Economy and Local Life
Wool and mohair farming from Angora goats and Merino sheep is long-established across the Stormberg farms around Molteno, Sterkstroom and Tarkastad, while Komani itself functions as the Chris Hani District’s main retail, education and service centre.
Getting There
Komani sits on the N6 national route between Bloemfontein/Aliwal North and East London, with the R56 running toward Cofimvaba and the R344 linking Molteno and Sterkstroom to the N6. East London’s airport is around two hours away.
FAQ
What is the seat of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality?
Komani, the former Queenstown.
When was Enoch Mgijima formed?
In August 2016, merging the former Tsolwana, Inkwanca and Lukhanji local municipalities.
How many towns and villages does Enoch Mgijima have?
GeoNames records 392, led by Komani, Whittlesea, Molteno and Ilinge.
What is the population of Enoch Mgijima?
297,055 people at the 2022 census, up from 250,776 in 2011.
What is Komani known as historically?
Queenstown — the name still in wide use alongside the official isiXhosa name Komani.