Kuruman | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 27°27′S 23°26′E / 27.450°S 23.433°E | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | Northern Cape |
District | John Taolo Gaetsewe |
Municipality | Ga-Segonyana |
Established | 1887[1] |
Area | |
• Total | 93.39 km2 (36.06 sq mi) |
Population (2011)[2] | |
• Total | 13,057 |
• Density | 140/km2 (360/sq mi) |
Racial makeup (2011) | |
• Black African | 43.7% |
• Coloured | 23.5% |
• Indian/Asian | 1.3% |
• White | 30.3% |
• Other | 1.2% |
First languages (2011) | |
• Afrikaans | 76.9% |
• Tswana | 14.9% |
• English | 4.0% |
• Other | 4.2% |
Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
Postal code (street) | 8460 |
PO box | 8460 |
Area code | 053 |
Kuruman is a small town in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It is known for its scenery and the Eye of Kuruman, a geological feature that brings water from deep underground. The abundance of water produces an unexpected swathe of green amidst the barren plains and is known as the "Oasis of the Kalahari".[3] It was at first a mission station of the London Missionary Society founded by Robert Moffat in 1821.[4] It was also the place where David Livingstone arrived for his first position as a missionary in 1841. The Kuruman River, which is dry except for flash floods after heavy rain, is named after the town.