Information on Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Mthatha is a town along the banks of the Mthatha River in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town itself was founded in 1883, but It was originally a military post for the colonial forces in 1882. Mthatha became the leading administrative center of the area, having both Catholic and Anglican cathedrals. Mthatha  also became the seat of the traditional authorities. Mthatha served as the capital of the Transkei bantustan, under the name of Umtata from 1976 to 1994.

Many of South Africa's leaders  including Nelson Mandela  and Walter Sisulu come from this area, and the retired Mandela still lives in his home village of Qunu south of Mthatha. It is the home of one of the three Nelson Mandela Museums which collects, exhibits and interprets key aspects of the story of the life of Nelson Mandela in context. The three historical sites of the museum are all in the locality at Qunu, Mvezo and the Bunga Building in Mthatha itself. In the Bunga Building is the story of the Long Walk to Freedom and an exhibition of the many gifts received by Nelson Mandela on behalf of the South African people