Uitenhage, town (1991 pop. 182,551), Eastern Cape, S South Africa, on the Zwartkops River. It is an industrial center, with large railroad workshops, wool washeries, textile mills, and motor vehicle assembly plants. The town also serves as the commercial center for the surrounding agricultural region. Uitenhage was founded in 1804 and named after Jacob A. Uitenhage de Mist, commissioner-general of the Dutch-held Cape Colony. There is a technical college in the town.

Uitenhage is a South African town located near the city of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province. It is well-known for the Volkswagen factory located there, which is the biggest car factory on the African continent. The town's name is pronounced "yoo-tin-haig" by English speakers and "ay-tin-haach" (the "ch" as in "loch") in Afrikaans. The city of Port Elizabeth and the small town of Despatch are located near Uitenhage.

History

Uitenhage was founded on 25 April 1804 by landdrost (district magistrate) Jacob Glen Cuyler and named in honour of the Cape's Commissioner-General Jacob Abraham Uitenhage de Mist by the Dutch Cape Colony governor, Jan Willem Janssens. Uitenhage formed from part of the district of Graaff Reinet (shortly after its short-lived secession) and in 1877 it became a municipality.

In 1994 it was incorporated with Port Elizabeth and Despatch into the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.

Industries

Uitenhage is known for the large industries situated there. The largest of these industries being the Volkswagen and Goodyear Factories. An automotive suppler park has also been created directly next to the Volkswagen factory, thus allowing automotive component manufacturers to construct their manufacturing plants close by.

Notable People From Uitenhage

Preacher-teacher-politician Allan Hendrickse, Olympic pole vaulter Okkert Brits were born here. South Afrian cricketer Nantie Hayward, who now plays in the Indian Cricket League, was born in this city. Other very important people from Uitenhage is the musical family known as the Bala Brothers and specifically Zwai Bala and Loyiso Bala.