Main Place

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.
  • 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

Characteristics
Total population1,540
Young (0-14)24,9%
Working Age (15-64)70,8%
Elderly (65+)4,3%
Dependency ratio41,2
Sex ratio100,3
Population density45 persons/km2
No schooling aged 20+5,7%
Higher education aged 20+7%
Matric aged 20+9,6%
Number of households318
Average household size3,5
Female headed households46,9%
Formal dwellings94%
Housing owned/paying off67,9%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage33%
Weekly refuse removal97,2%
Piped water inside dwelling87,1%
Electricity for lighting96,9%

Place names

Camdeboo Municipality