Riebeek East

Riebeek East Riebeek-Oos
Riebeek East
Riebeek East Riebeek East
Coordinates: 33°12′S 26°09′E
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
District	Sarah Baartman
Municipality	Makana
Area
• Total	22.46 km2 (8.67 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	753
• Density	34/km2 (87/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	65.9%
• Coloured	26.6%
• Indian/Asian	0.1%
• White	7.3%
• Other	0.1%
First languages (2011)
• Xhosa	63.8%
• Afrikaans	32.3%
• English	2.9%
• Other	0.9%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	5805
PO box	5805

Riebeek East (Afrikaans: Riebeek-Oos) is a village in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, set 39 km west of Grahamstown. It is located in a hilly area, in the midst of game and sheep farming regions. It was founded in 1842, and initially named Riebeek after Jan van Riebeeck, one year after the local church was built. It was erected on a part of the farm Mooimeisjesfontein, that was subdivided and sold by the subsequent voortrekker leader Piet Retief.

A settlement appeared around the church congregation after it was established here in 1830 by the Dutch Reformed Church. Since 1826 the local farmers applied to the colonial government to form a local congregation, as they previously had to travel to Uitenhage, 130 km distant, to attend communion services.

Retief's farm house is situated just east of the village, and has been declared a National heritage site.