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Grahamstown was established in 1812 as a military outpost. In the 1820s, large numbers
of farming settlers migrated into the area, and within 40 years Grahamstown had grown
to be what was then the second largest city in South Africa, after Cape Town.
Jay O’Keeffe
7
WATERSUPPLYANDSANITATIONIN
GRAHAMSTOWN: AHISTORICAL
PERSPECTIVE
The city gradually became a centre of learning and education
with the establishment of both private and public schools and
later the Rhodes University was founded.
Port Shepstone
Durban
Richards Bay
Kokstad
Queenstown
Middelburg
De Aar
Beaufort West
Mossel Bay
Worcester
Cape Town
Saldanha
Vanrhynsdorp
Calvinia
Upington
Mafikeng
Kroonstad
Kimberley
Bloemfontein
Vryburg
Veereniging
Pretoria
Johannesburg
Ladysmith
Germiston
Ulundi
Polokwane
Nelspruit
Thohoyandou
Port Nolloth
Umtata
East London
Port Elizabeth
Grahamstown
LESOTHO
NAMIBIA
BOTSWANA
SWAZILAND
ZIMBABWE
Grahamstown and some surrounding smaller urban areas are
served by Makana Municipality, which is responsible, among other
things, for the provision of water and sanitation services in the area.
POPULATION GROWTH
The 2001 national census estimated Grahamstown’s population
at about 76 000 (Makana 2004), while the municipality
reported a higher figure of more than 132 000 (Makana 2007).
7. This article is based on documents, advice, suggestions and help from the
following, to whom I am deeply grateful: Lorraine Mullins, Helen Barber,
Nikki Kohly, Nelson Mabece, Michael Whisson, and Roger Rosewell.