About Mthatha

Mthatha, formerly known as Umtata, sits on the banks of the Mthatha River in the Eastern Cape and served as the capital of the former Transkei homeland, giving it a lasting role as an administrative and commercial centre for the surrounding Xhosa heartland. The town holds deep significance in South African history as the region where Nelson Mandela was born and raised nearby, in the villages of Mvezo and Qunu, and it now anchors the Nelson Mandela Museum and much of the broader Nelson Mandela heritage route. Mthatha functions today as the main urban hub of the OR Tambo District Municipality, serving as a gateway to the Wild Coast for travellers heading toward Coffee Bay and Port St Johns. Its streets carry the name of another local icon, struggle stalwart and former ANC president Oliver Reginald Tambo, whose legacy is honoured throughout the town.

Mthatha's nightlife and sport calendar runs deep into December, with 30 qualifying listings on the books. Stadium Road hosts the Umgowo Adult Jumping Castle Fun Day- Mthatha this week, while comedy fans can catch The Baby Daddy Comedy Show at the Hotel Savoy & Conference Centre on Halloween weekend. Gospel voices gather at OR Tambo Hall for the Sihlangene Gospel Festival 4th in early November, and distance runners get a second outlet with the O.R. Tambo Half Marathon Mthatha later that month. The year's social calendar wraps with the Mthatha Dance Competitions at Savoy Gardens in early December.