Lusikisiki



Lusikisiki is a town in the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The name is onomatopoeic, derived from the rustling sound of reeds in the wind, named by the local Xhosa people. Lusikisiki is 45 km inland from and north of Port St Johns. The town is positioned along the R61 (future N2 Wild Coast Toll Route) leading to Mthatha to the west and Port Shepstone to the north-east.

Pre-colonial era
In this era, the AmaMpondo chief's kraal occupied what is now the present town village.

Colonial era
By 1894 European settlers started settling in Lusikisiki after Mpondoland was annexed by the Cape Colony and a magistrate took up residence there with a military camp established as well.

Apartheid era
In 1953 the South African Apartheid government made attempts to persuade the people of Lusikisiki to accept the rule of Bantu authorities which they had established. The government worked with Paramount Chief Botha Sigcau to attempt to start a rehabilitation scheme in Pondoland. The scheme was presented to the Lusikisiki community but was rejected. A few days later, the police entered the area. A man called Mngqinga led a large local group to attack the police. This was later known as the Lusikisiki Revolt.

Climate
Lusikisiki receives high levels of rainfall, ranging between 874 - 1060 mm of rain per annum. Rainfall is considered unseasonal, although Lusikisiki receives the majority of its rainfall during summer. Winter temperatures reach their lowest in July, averaging 8 C Celsius at night. The area lies within Forest and Indian Coastal Thicket biomes, and White Milkwood (Sideroxylon inerme) are common.

Attractions around Lusikisiki
The Magwa Waterfall lies in the middle of the 1800 ha Magwa tea plantation, South Africa's last remaining tea estate just outside Lusikisiki. The curtain of the Magwa Waterfall falls 144 m and drops into a narrow canyon.

Other points of interest include the Mkambati Nature Reserve which includes the Mzamba Fossil Beds estimated to be about 60 million years old, the Ntsubane Forest and Lupatana Nature Reserve.

Notable people

 * Khotso Sethuntsa – Sangoma
 * Botha Sigcau – 1st president of the Bantustan of Transkei
 * Stella Sigcau – 1st female prime minister of the Bantustan of Transkei & South African national minister
 * Nkosi Ntsikayezwe Sigcau – traditional leader of Lwandlolubomvu Traditional Council.

H.H.T.N Bubu -  Minister of Education   Republic of Transkei
 * Simphiwe Dana – musician
 * Mpho Mbiyozo – rugby union player

Crime
As of 2021, Lusikisiki has ranked number 1 in South Africa in terms of the national crime rate; these crimes include domestic robbery and sexual harassment.