Sterkspruit is a town in Joe Gqabi District Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The Intabamnyama peak some 40 km east-south-east of Sterkspruit. Derived from Xhosa, the name means ‘black mountain’. Located on the R392. The R393 is a Regional Route in South Africa that connects Sterkspruit via the Lesotho border to the R58 near Elliot.
The town is located about 51 km,s south-east of Zastron, 84 km north-east of Aliwal North, and 24 km from the Lesotho border. It takes its name from the Sterkspruit, the watercourse on which it is situated. The name is Afrikaans and means ‘strong stream’.
Besides the assortment of shops and many businesses to be found in town, it also houses the Empilisweni District Hospital, a public government funded and managed district hospital. It is a level 1 hospital with 93 usable beds. As it is situated close to the Lesotho and Free State borders, it also renders health services to cross-border citizens visiting Sterkspruit.
Return to the Eastern Cape Towns/Cities Page HERE
Key Statistics 2011
| Total population | 1,893 |
| Young (0-14) | 22,7% |
| Working Age (15-64) | 75,6% |
| Elderly (65+) | 1,7% |
| Dependency ratio | 32,3 |
| Sex ratio | 100,7 |
| Population density | 471 persons/km2 |
| No schooling aged 20+ | 2,5% |
| Higher education aged 20+ | 35% |
| Matric aged 20+ | 28,4% |
| Number of households | 609 |
| Average household size | 2,5 |
| Female headed households | 45% |
| Formal dwellings | 80,7% |
| Housing owned/paying off | 35,5% |
| Flush toilet connected to sewerage | 54,6% |
| Weekly refuse removal | 73,7% |
| Piped water inside dwelling | 58,5% |
| Electricity for lighting | 80,8% |
