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. “Malgas” is the Afrikaans for gannet. When split into two words, “mal gas” means mad guest in Afrikaans, so the local hotel opted to adopt the name “Malagas” instead.

The word “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.

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