Malgas

Malgas is a settlement on the right (southwest) bank of the Breede River in the Overberg region of the Western Cape. It is situated 25 kilometres north-west of the Breede River mouth at Witsand, and 30 kilometres south-east of Swellendam. The name “Malgas” is probably an adaptation of the Portuguese mangas de velludo, “velvet sleeves”, referring to the Cape gannet (Morus capensis) with its black-tipped wings. According to the 2011 census, Malgas has a population of 44 people in 20 households. It is well known for the “pont”, a man-hauled pontoon cable ferry across the Breede River, which is the last of its type in South Africa.