QUEENSTOWN, DIOCESE of. - It is situated in the eastern part of the Union of South Africa and was erected as a mission sui iuris on 20 February 1929, with territory detached from the apostolic vicariate of the Cape of Good Hope, eastern district, Port Elizabeth (v.).
On 29 March 1938 it was raised to an apostolic prefecture, on 9 April 1948 to a vicariate, and with the establishment of the hierarchy in the Union of South Africa on 11 January 1951 it became a diocese. It is entrusted to the Soc. dell'Apost. cattolico (Pallottini).
It has an area of 28,160 sq. km., with a population of approximately 250,000 inhabitants, almost all indigenous. Catholics: 2,794 indigenous persons, 711 coloured persons, and 827 Europeans. Catechumens: 624. Pagans approximately 185,000; missionaries 23, brothers 18, foreign sisters 89, native sisters 8, catechists 9. Churches 33. Elementary schools 24, middle schools 3, vocational schools 1, secondary schools 2. Hospitals 4. Two periodicals are published there, and various pious associations and associations of Catholic Action flourish there.