This town is thought to have been named after a Portuguese ship (the São João),[2] which was actually wrecked at Port Edward.[2] In the mid-1800s the local Mpondo Chief, Ndamase, allowed a few white traders to settle at the mouth of the Umzimvubu River.On 17 July 1878, Chief Ndamase's oldest son Nqwiliso, reacted by ceding the western bank of the Umzimvubu River to the Cape Colony in return for being recognised as an independent ruler and he and his people were promised protection.Port St. Johns is situated on the Wild Coast on a coastline of about 270 km long.From Mthatha in the West and Flagstaff in the North the R61 road connects to Port St. Johns.