Uitenhage Central, Uitenhage

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 part of the district of Graaff Reinet (shortly after its short-lived secession).

The Cape Colony received a degree of independence when "Responsible Government" was declared in 1872. In 1875, the Cape government of John Molteno took over the rudimentary Uitenhage railway site, incorporated it into the Cape Government Railways (CGR), and began construction of the lines connecting Uitenhage to Port Elizabeth and the Southern African interior. Two years later, in 1877, Uitenhage was declared a municipality.
 

Nearly a hundred years later, as part of the Republic of South Africa, Uitenhage became a centre for resistance against apartheid. In 1985, police opened fire on a funeral procession in Uitenhage, killing a number of unarmed people, in an event that became notorious as an example of police oppression in South Africa under apartheid.

In 2001 it was incorporated with Port Elizabeth and Despatch into the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. On 23 February 2021, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa approved and gazetted the decision to rename Uitenhage to Kariega

Uitenhage is located 30 km north-west of Port Elizabeth. Its neighbouring town of Despatch, the city of Port Elizabeth and other surrounding areas form the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.

Neighbouring towns include Despatch in the south-east and KwaNobuhle in the south.

Uitenhage is also located at the beginning of the Mohair Route which stretches to Graaff-Reinet (considered the centre for mohair farming) via Jansenville on Route 75.

Uitenhage is at the junction of regional and metropolitan routes and has access to many roads. Roads intersecting or running through Uitenhage include the R75, M19, R334 and M10.

• The R75 links to Despatch, Gqeberha in the south and Jansenville and Graaff-Reinet in the north.
• The M19 links to Despatch, Ibhayi and Swartkops.
• The R334 links to Motherwell and Coega to the east and KwaNobuhle and the R102 which also connects to the N2 to Humansdorp and Cape Town.
• The M10 links to Despatch, Bethelsdorp and Port Elizabeth.

• Allan Hendrickse - Preacher-teacher-politician from apartheid politics^[12]
• Anrich Nortje - South African cricketer^[13]
• B. J. Vorster - South African Prime Minister 1966 - 1978
• Bicks Ndoni - former mayor of Uitenhage and ANC politician
• Carel Fourie - Springbok rugby wing; from Die Brandwag Hoërskool.^{[citation needed]}
• Charles Robert Redcliffe - Labour Party politician, community leader and anti-apartheid activist.
• Christo van Rensburg - South African tennis player, ATP-ranked^[14]
• Deshun Deysel - international business coach and mountaineer.^[15]
• Deon Kayser - rugby player.^[16]
• Enoch Sontonga - composer of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika which is now part of the national anthem.
• Garth Wright - Springbok rugby scrum-half from Muir College^[17]
• James Wide - Double leg amputee railway signalman and owner of Jack the signal-baboon.
• Joseph Petrus Hendrik Crowe - British Army officer who was awarded the Victoria Cross
• Johann van der Merwe - Springbok rugby centre 1969/70 British tour; from Die Brandwag Hoërskool.^{[citation needed]}
• Lee-Roy Wright - South African actor and television presenter^[18]
• Linky Boshoff - South African tennis player from Riebeek College Girls' High School.
• Loyiso Bala - South African R&B singer; part of Bala Brothers ground and TKZee^[19]
• Mcebisi Jonas, former deputy Finance Minister, active member of ANC's Uitenhage branch^[20]
• Nantie Hayward - South African cricketer who now plays in the Indian Cricket League
• Okkert Brits - Olympic pole vaulter
• Sean Burke - musician, composer currently based in Randburg, Gauteng^[21]
• Smuts Ngonyama - ANC National Spokesman during Thabo Mbeki's Era. Recently appointed South African Ambassador to Spain
• The Invaders^[22] - popular South African music group from the 1960s