Malgas
Place in Western Cape, South Africa From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Malgas (or Malagas[2]) is a settlement on the right (southwest) bank of the Breede River in the Overberg region of the Western Cape. It is situated 25 kilometres north-west of the Breede River mouth at Witsand, and 30 kilometres south-east of Swellendam.
Malgas | |
|---|---|
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  Malgas  Malgas | |
| Coordinates: 34.3°S 20.583°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Western Cape |
| District | Overberg |
| Municipality | Swellendam |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.77 km2 (0.30 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 44 |
| • Density | 57/km2 (150/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 11.4% |
| • Coloured | 50.0% |
| • White | 38.6% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 74.4% |
| • English | 18.6% |
| • S. Ndebele | 2.3% |
| • Xhosa | 2.3% |
| • Other | 2.3% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
"Malgas" is the Afrikaans for gannet. The word "malgas" is probably an adaptation of the Portuguese: mangas de velludo, lit. 'velvet sleeves', referring to the Cape gannet (Morus capensis) with its black-tipped wings.[3] According to the 2011 census, Malgas has a population of 44 people in 20 households.[1]
It is well known for the "pont", a man-hauled pontoon cable ferry across the Breede River, which is the last of its type in South Africa.[4] The man-hauled ferry has been replaced by a motor driven ferry, a yellow steel pontoon with a massive diesel engine.
Breede River crossing on the Malgas Pont
The old Malgas cable ferry on the Breede River
Boarding the Malgas Pont
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