Nieu Bethesda
Quick Fact ......
1,540
318
7%
87,1%
96,9%
33%
Nieu Bethesda was established by Rev. Charles Murray, the Dutch Reformed minister in Graaff-Reinet in 1875. It started out as a mission station. The name is biblical in origin: it is said that Rev. Murray, on seeing the wonderful valley, said "Laten wy deze plaats nu Bethesda noemen" (Let us now call this place Bethesda), referring to John 5:2-4. The name means 'place of flowing water'. The village erroneously became known as Nu-Bethesda (New Bethesda in English) but the name was later officially changed to Nieu-Bethesda. The town is also famous for the Owl House Museum, formally a house belonging to the sculptor Helen Martins (1897-1976). Her many sculptures are on display there. (GPS coordinates: 31.8541 S, 24.5375 E).
Character(s) left.
Reference(s)
- http://www.nieu-bethesda.com
- Raper PE. 2004. New dictionary of South African Place Names. Jonathan Ball Publishers.
- http://www.sahistory.org.za
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Key Statistics 2011
| Total population | 1,540 |
| Young (0-14) | 24,9% |
| Working Age (15-64) | 70,8% |
| Elderly (65+) | 4,3% |
| Dependency ratio | 41,2 |
| Sex ratio | 100,3 |
| Population density | 45 persons/km2 |
| No schooling aged 20+ | 5,7% |
| Higher education aged 20+ | 7% |
| Matric aged 20+ | 9,6% |
| Number of households | 318 |
| Average household size | 3,5 |
| Female headed households | 46,9% |
| Formal dwellings | 94% |
| Housing owned/paying off | 67,9% |
| Flush toilet connected to sewerage | 33% |
| Weekly refuse removal | 97,2% |
| Piped water inside dwelling | 87,1% |
| Electricity for lighting | 96,9% |