Sanddrif
Sanddrif is a town in Richtersveld Local Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River.[2] It is located 57 km east of Alexander Bay.[3] Mining in the region began in the 1900s leading to the displacement of the indigenous Nama people. Diamond mines were again established in the 1970s, bringing a source of employment but also socio-economic upheaval, threatening the traditional Nama lifestyle.[3] The subsequent migration of Xhosa people who came to the area to work in the mines led Sanddrif to acquire the nickname of "Rainbow Town".[4] Sanddrif has nevertheless seen ethnic conflict between the indigenous Namas and the Xhosa migrants.[5] The Baken diamond mine, located outside Sanddrif, was opened by Trans Hex Group in May 2001.[6]
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