Maletswai, previously known as Aliwal North, is a town in central South Africa, situated on the banks of the Orange River in the Eastern Cape Province.
Location of Eastern Cape Province in South Africa
It is a medium-sized commercial centre in the northernmost part of the Eastern Cape, forming part of the MALETSWAI municipal area that also includes Jamestown.
Geographically, Aliwal North is the gateway to the Eastern Cape from the Free State, sitting right next to the Orange River in the Eastern Cape Province.
It forms the heart of business activity in the Eastern Cape Highlands and is the main economic node and centre for trade, services and agricultural support to the north eastern part of the Eastern Cape Province.
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Historical Background
One of the first European settlers in this area was Pieter Jacobus de Wet, who built a house near Buffelsvlei around 1828.
Sir Harry Smith, Governor of the Cape Colony from 1847 to 1852, formally founded the small town of Aliwal North in 1850.
He named the town "Aliwal North" in memory of his victory over the Sikhs at the Battle of Aliwal during the First Sikh War in India in 1846.
The town was laid out in 1849 on ground acquired by the government.
The park in the middle of Maletswai, the Juana Square Gardens, was named after Smith's wife Juana María de los Dolores de León.
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The railway line reached Maletswai on September 2, 1885, connecting it to Molteno.
On 8 January 1901, following the evacuation of Smithfield during the Second Boer War, Major Kendal Pretyman Apthorp established the Aliwal North concentration camp, which at its height housed approximately 2,000 Boer refugees.
The Battle of Aliwal (1846)
The Battle of Aliwal was fought on 28 January 1846 between the British and Sikh forces in northern India (now Punjab, India).
The British were led by Sir Harry Smith, while the Sikhs were led by Ranjodh Singh Majithia.
The First Anglo-Sikh War began six years after the death of Ranjit Singh, who had established the Sikh Empire in the Punjab.
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On 21 December and 22 December 1845, the army of the British East India Company commanded by Sir Hugh Gough and the Governor-General of Bengal, Sir Henry Hardinge, fought the bloody Battle of Ferozeshah.
On 16 January 1846, Smith recovered two outposts which the Sikhs had seized at Fategarh and Dharmkot.
Harry Smith first intended to attack Runjodh Singh's army at Buddowal.
After the initial artillery salvoes, Smith determined that Aliwal was the Sikh weak point and sent two of his four infantry brigades to capture the village, from where they could enfilade the Sikh centre.
A British and Indian cavalry brigade, led by the 16th Lancers, charged and dispersed them as the Sikhs tried to swing back their left, pivoting on Bhundri, some of their cavalry presented a threat to the open British left flank.
Unlike most of the battles of both Anglo-Sikh Wars, when the Sikhs at Aliwal began to retreat, the retreat quickly turned into a disorderly rout.
When the Sikh soldiers fled across the fords, they abandoned most of their guns, either on the river bank or in the fords, along with all baggage, tents and supplies.
Infrastructure and Amenities
Transportation
The settlement of the area and its development into a town probably is connected to the presence of good water, thermal springs and a good fording place ('drift') across the Orange River, just below its confluence with the Kraai River.
The Frere Bridge was opened in 1880 and later replaced with the General Hertzog Bridge on the N6, leading to Bloemfontein, 206 km to the north.
The town is connected to neighbouring towns via a good roads system, and serve as a thoroughfare for tourists en route to resorts in the Eastern Cape Drakensberg.
Although the railway station is now closed, the town has a good airfield.
Suburbs
The central business district is surrounded by the following suburbs: Dukathole, Hilton, Joe Gqabi, the Springs (where the well-known Aliwal Spa is situated) and Arborsig.
Education
Maletswai has many schools for young people to learn and grow, including 10 primary schools and 6 high schools.
Commercial Infrastructure
Aliwal North has good commercial infrastructure that include a variety of banks, supermarkets, furniture and clothing stores, restaurants and car dealerships.
The business area is concentrated in the heart of the town, and the standard is comparable with that in cities and bigger towns.
The visitor need have no fear of not being able to obtain her requirements from the comprehensive range of stores.
Aliwal Spa, In DEVELOPMENT again. A REVIEW for 2024
Aliwal Spa and Tourism
MALETSWAI has a unique and untapped potential in the form of the Aliwal Spa holiday resort (natural hot springs), which, in its heyday, was one of the largest resorts in South Africa, and is in the process of being upgraded to be one of the country’s best.
The main attractions in Maletswai are its two hot mineral springs.
The thermal springs resort, called Aliwal Spa, is located within the municipal area.
It was rebuilt between 2010 and 2014 and reopened to the public in 2015.
Climate
Maletswai has a climate that is called a subtropical highland climate (Cwb).
Living in Aliwal North
In a climate of all-the-year-round geniality, the town is a recreational venue for the enjoyment of outdoor pastimes, like bowls, tennis and golf.
The town also offers a number of imposing churches.
The people are friendly and serious crime is minimal.
The town is attractive for residential purposes because of its geographical location, comparatively low cost of living, educational institutions of good standard, and modern urban amenities.
Aliwal North is indeed an attractive town to those who desire to establish a home.
The town is a mixture of modern and old residential properties.
Real Estate
Seeff Aliwal North offers an exclusive collection of properties, in and around town, ranging from vacant stands, family homes or small holding and farming properties, and can assist with all your property needs.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River |
| Original Name | Maletswai |
| Founded | 1850 by Sir Harry Smith |
| Named After | Battle of Aliwal (India, 1846) |
| Main Attractions | Aliwal Spa (thermal springs resort) |
| Climate | Subtropical highland climate (Cwb) |
| Economic Activity | Commercial center, trade, services, agricultural support |
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