Bizana is a town in the

Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...

province of South Africa. It is the seat of the

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality (formerly Mbizana Local Municipality) is a local municipality in Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Wild Coast Region of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The name ''Mbizana'' means " ...

. Winnie Mandela, ex-wife of

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...

, was born here in 1936.

Oliver Reginald Tambo Oliver Reginald Kaizana Tambo (27 October 191724 April 1993) was a South African anti-apartheid politician and revolutionary who served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1967 to 1991. Biography Higher education Oliv ...

(popularly known as OR Tambo which the international airport in Johannesburg is named after) was also born and grew up in this town. The town has many surrounding villages. Bizana has a provincial hospital, named

St Patrick's Hospital St Patrick's University Hospital ( ga, Ospidéal Ollscoile Naomh Pádraig) is a teaching hospital at Kilmainham in Dublin. The building, which is bounded by Steeven's Lane to the east, and Bow Lane West to the south, is managed by St Patrick’ ...

. There is also a hospital called Greenville hospital in the eTyeni area of Imizizi Administrative area.

Entertainment and nature

The Wild Coast Sun casino and hotel by Sun international group is in the Bizana District, situated 56,6 kilometres from the town. The Wild Coast Sun has hosted Idols SA theatre week in 2016 and 2017. Bizana is in the Wild coast area and has beautiful beaches. One of them is silver beach where the hotel complex is located and a very beautiful and peaceful beach in the Xholobeni area. Xholobeni is also endowed with some mineral resources hence the recent fights about possible mining in the area which has led to court cases between the people and the government, as the Bizana community doesn't want their land to be touched and be left in ruins. Bizana is on the border between Kwa-Zulu Natal and Eastern cape province. The predominant race group is the Xhosa people like the rest of the Eastern Cape province as it is the homeland of the Xhosa people.

Education

Bizana has many primary and secondary schools to serve the community. Mr Clement Sandile Nteta, who is one of the unsung heroes of the struggle for liberation was a key incognito ANC operative. Nteta clandestinely ensured a safe passage for many of the ANC stalwarts into exile. During the periods of the 1970s and 1980s Clement Nteta continued his fight against apartheid by creating and instilling a culture of education in the region. He was instrumental in developing schools and an education system which delivered quality education to learners. Many of his students are prominent members of government as a consequence of the foundation he built. He was the Chairman of the Retired Teachers Association at the time of his death in 2017. He was leading the fight for teachers to be paid for their years of service and pensions they have not received since retirement. His influence has culminated in there being a new Further Education and Training institution called Ingwe TVET College (Sithetho Campus) located at Mhlanga, a small village in Bizana.

1986 bombing

On 18 April

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. **Spain and Portugal ente ...

, two people were killed and several others injured when a bomb, set up by Phumzile Mayaphi, exploded at the Wild Coast Casino near Bizana. Mayaphi was charged and convicted of murder and sabotage, and was sentenced to death on 12 May 1989. The African National Congress denied responsibility for the attack.

Culture

* Mbizana Cultural Village

Notable people

* Babalo Madikizela - Eastern Cape MEC for Public Works * Winnie Madikizela-Mandela - Anti-Apartheid Movement activist, president of the

African National Congress Women's League The African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) is an auxiliary women's political organization of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa. This organization has its precedent in the Bantu Women's League, and it oscillated from b ...

& former wife of

Oliver Tambo Oliver Reginald Kaizana Tambo (27 October 191724 April 1993) was a South African anti-apartheid politician and revolutionary who served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1967 to 1991. Biography Higher education Oliv ...

- Anti-Apartheid Movement activist & President of the African National Congress *

Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya (born 6 October 1996) is a South African soccer player who plays for South African Premier Division club Sekhukhune United, as a left-back. He joined the Kaizer Chiefs's youth system in 2016 and made his debut for the clu ...

- footballer

References

External links

{{Alfred Nzo District Municipality Populated places in the Mbizana Local Municipality