KwaNobuhle
KwaNobuhle is the largest township on the outskirts of Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape province of the Republic of South Africa. It was formed during the time of Forced Removals, officially opened in 1967. The meaning of KwaNobuhle is "beautiful place".
History
Early history
Long before colonial conquest, the Eastern Cape was home to Xhosa-speaking people, including the abaThembu and namaMfengu. While there is no specific archaeological or ethnographic site directly linked to KwaNobuhle, the broader region formed part of traditional Nguni / Xhosa territories.Uitenhage was founded in 1804 by the Dutch colonial government. The land was primarily used for farming or grazing, typical of peri-urban areas near colonial towns like Uitenhage. It was sparsely populated, with no dense settlements or formal housing infrastructure. Some parts were likely owned by white farmers, as per the colonial and apartheid-era land ownership patterns. Older residents of KwaNobuhle remember farm land such as kwaSaneyisi. Reference is also made to older names of lands around KwaNobuhle such as eGxamesini.
As Uitenhage industrialised in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Black and Coloured South Africans were increasingly pushed out of central areas through racist urban planning. By the 1950s, overcrowding in places like kwaLanga and eXaba led to state planning for KwaNobuhle as a “Native” township under apartheid’s Group Areas Act.
1960 - 1969
KwaNobuhle was established as a dormitory town situated approximately four kilometers south of Uitenhage, near Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape.The name KwaNobuhle translates to "a place of beauty" in English. This town traces its origins back to 1967. It was established in order to house those residents of the old Uitenhage suburbs of kwaLanga, eXaba and New Gubbs who, at that time, were being displaced from their homes by the authorities under provisions of the Group Areas Act.
1970 - 1979
There was continued expansion of KwaNobuhle to accommodate rising urban Black population. KwaNobuhle became more politically aware; youth involvement in movements also grew due to increasing frustration over lack of infrastructure, housing shortages, and oppressive local government policies.Below are the number of stands for the first sections of the township.
| Suburb Name | Suburb Number | Number of Stands | Year Developed | Developed By |
| Angola | Extension 1 | 2 500 | 1967 | Uitenhage Municipality |
| Mocambique | Extension 2 | 2 000 | 1974/5 | Uitenhage Municipality |
1980 - 1989
This is regarded as the most turbulent decade in the history of KwaNobuhle. Extensions 3, 4A, 4B were developed to manage overcrowding.| Suburb Number | Suburb Name | Number of Stands | Year Developed | Developed By |
| Example | Extension 3 | 1 815 | 1980/81 | Bantu Affairs Administration Board |
| Comfihomes | Extension 4 | 3 714 | 1984/5 | Owners |
| Tyoksville | Extension 5 | 187 | 1984/5 | Owners |
| Tyoksville | Extension 6 | 1 012 | 1986 | Owners |
| Tyoksville | Extension 7 | 2 071 | 1986 | Owners |
| Tyoksville | Extension 8 | 4 033 | 1986 | Owners |
| Other | Other | Other | Other | Other |
However, tensions rose due to poor living conditions and increased rent / service charges. In 1984, the residents embarked on a protest about rent hikes. The youth formed resistance groups like Uitenhage Youth Congress to strengthen the resistance. At the height of the political unrest, on 21 Mar 1985, police open fire on a funeral procession in Langa, killing 35 people. This is remembered as the Uitenhage Massacre.
In 1986, another mass occurrence of forced removals took place. Up to 47,000 people forcibly relocated to new areas like Tyoksville, many living in shacks. The following two years, 1987-1989 saw a surge in “black-on-black” violence, often incited by government-backed vigilante groups. ANC and PAC-aligned youth groups clashed amid infiltration by state agents. Activists were tortured, killed, or went into hiding. At this time, political funerals become flashpoints.
1990 - 1999
The early 1990s were a period when South Africa was making a transition into democracy. Around this time, KwaNobuhle experienced both relief and lingering violence tied to political tensions. After the 1994 elections that the ANC won, the Langa Massacre memorial that was vandalized in 1987 was restored in 1994 in KwaNobuhle Cemetery.- Ukwakhiwa kweChris Hani
- Kiribands
2000 - 2009
In 2000, VW workers in KwaNobuhle were dismissed following protests linked to NUMSA union leadership, highlighting labor tensions.
- VW Workers Dismissed
- Amadlozi
2010 - 2019
2020 - Present
As part of a Ford–World Vision initiative in Nelson Mandela Bay, KwaNobuhle was among communities receiving atmospheric water-from-air units, serving ~1,100 people between Nov 2019–Mar 2020. With Kouga Dam supplies hitting <5%, the municipality installed 100 water tanks at 50 sites in July 2021 and began a new pipeline connecting to the Gariep Dam via Nooitgedacht.In October 2024 Ndlambe Street began crumbling after flood damage, worsened by increased truck and taxi traffic. Ongoing closure of the Matanzima Bridge led to major congestion on Nomakhwezana Road and Ndlambe Street, with residents pleading for municipal solutions.
Cable theft at Mabandla Bridge left parts of the township dark for nearly two weeks, disrupting homes, food storage, and water pumps; electricity restoration reached ~90% by Feb 9, but some areas remained offline.
Education
Pre-Schools
Listed in alphabetical order.Primary Schools
Listed in alphabetical order.High Schools
Listed in alphabetical order.| No. | School name | Comment |
| Molly Blackburn HS | ||
| Nkululeko HS | ||
| Phaphani HS | ||
| Solomon Mahlangu HS | ||
| Thanduxolo HS | ||
| Tinarha HS | ||
| VM Kwinana HS |
Higher Education
Listed in alphabetical order.Special school and extra classes
Listed in alphabetical order.| No. | Institution Name | Comment |
| 1 | LS Ngonyama Technology Centre | |
| 2 | Mzamomhle Special School | |
| 3 | Kutlwanong Science and Mathematics Program | - |
Health
The public Laetitia Bam Day Hospital is the primary healthcare facility in KwaNobuhle. It handles outpatient consultations, maternal / child health, minor trauma, TB care, and chronic disease management. As of early 2020, the facility was undergoing major renovation, with temporary structures in place, creating challenges such as shared waiting areas and limited trauma space.There are private healthcare providers such as the:
- Blue Lite Clinic – an NGO-run private clinic based in Ward 47. Offers first-line care including family planning, basic assessments, TB outreach, and weekly visits from a government nursing sister.
- Private 'Practice' – Several practitioners, GPs, Dentists, etc., operate in the community offering fee-based services.
Economy
While formal jobs exist, many residents rely on the informal economy—spaza shops, hair salons, car repairs, and street vending—mirroring broader Eastern Cape dynamics with high underemployment and limited capital access.
Sport, Arts and Culture
Sport
- KwaNobuhle Sports Stadium / Multipurpose Centre A formal venue for cricket, soccer, and local athletics. However, in 2018, it was flagged as the most dilapidated in the metro, with cracked pavilions and safety issues—prioritising it for repairs under the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act . The stadium remains vital for youth programmes and community sports events.
- Jabavu Stadium A community sports ground used for school sports, rugby, and possibly cultural gatherings.
Arts and Culture
- Babs Madlakane Community Hall A multipurpose public hall used for music concerts, cultural performances, community meetings, and events like weddings.
- KwaNobuhle Library A public library that supports literacy, school projects, arts-based educational programmes, and reading clubs.
- LoveLife Youth Centre A flagship youth development hub, known for arts engagement, workshops, leadership growth, and community events. Highly valued by local youth as a safe and empowering space.
- KwaNobuhle Youth Services Centre Initiated by the municipality and architecture firm noh, this centre transformed a high-visibility intersection into a formal hub for youth-led street businesses and civic engagement.