Sterkstroom

Sterkstroom is a settlement in Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality of the Chris Hani District in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.Village on the Hex River, at the southern foot of the Stormberg, 272 km north-west of East London. It was founded in 1875 and became a municipality in 1878. Afrikaans for ‘strong current or stream’, the name refers to the Hex River.Coal miningThe former colliery village was situated partly on town's land and has contributed to the town's development. The coal was of low quality and, like almost all other coal mines in the North-Eastern Cape, was closed after Unification in 1910, because the Cape Colony was then able to source coal from other provinces. Nevertheless, Sterkstroom gradually evolved and livestock farming, for which the area is perfect, continued to expand.Municipal infrastructureSterkstroom's water scheme was completed around 1976. The town was established in 1928 with electricity and in 1966 the electricity scheme was modernized in total at a cost of R280,000. Electrical power was bought in bulk from Queenstown, with Molteno again obtaining its power in bulk from Sterkstroom.By the mid-1970s, all the streets in the town was constructed and for 4.8 km thereof, surface draining was provided. At that time, a new industrial area with railway sidings was also laid out. The town later boasted a public library, a municipal market where weekly auctions were held and a clinic. The town council had made ample provision for recreational opportunities like rugby, cricket, athletics, tennis, equestrian, golf, badminton and rollerskating. There was also a caravan park and a playground for children.