Wolmaransstad

Wolmaransstad (Afrikaans for "Wolmarans City") is a maize-farming town situated on the N12 between Johannesburg and Kimberley in North West Province of South Africa. The town lies in an important alluvial diamond-mining area and it is the main town of the Maquassi Hills Local Municipality.

Wolmaransstad
NG Church in Wolmaransstad
Wolmaransstad Show map of North West (South African province) Wolmaransstad Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 27°13′0″S 25°58′28″E
Country	South Africa
Province	North West
District	Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Municipality	Maquassi Hills
Area [1]
• Total	41.68 km^2 (16.09 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	3,633
• Density	87/km^2 (230/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	35.4%
• Coloured	2.6%
• Indian/Asian	2.8%
• White	57.4%
• Other	1.8%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Afrikaans	71.6%
• Tswana	13.0%
• English	8.2%
• Sotho	2.5%
• Other	4.7%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	2630
PO box	2630
Area code	018

Town 245 km south-west of Johannesburg and 56 km north-east of Bloemhof. It was laid out on the farms Rooderand and Vlakfontein in 1888, and proclaimed a town in 1891. Named after Jacobus M. A. Wolmarans, then member of the Executive Council.[2]

Wolmaransstad originated in 1891 on the banks of the Makwasi River (San word for a type of wild spearmint) and takes its name from J. M. A. Wolmarans, a volksraad councilman.

Wolmaransstad serves a large community and is an important diamond buying centre.

The Dutch Reformed church building was designed by Gerard Moerdijk.

Tourist attractions

• Broadbent Mission Station
• Digger's Diamond route
• Makwassierante Conservation Area
• Wolwespruit Dam Nature Reserve

Notable people

• Bernardus Gerhardus Fourie (also known as Brand Fourie, 1916–2008), born in Wolmaransstad, South African politician
• Wim Erasmus, South African singer
• Nel-marie Nolan, née Erasmus, Wim's daughter, and wife of Riaan Nolan

See also

• Wolmaransstad Commando, a former light infantry regiment of the South African Army based in Wolmaransstad

References

1. "Main Place Wolmaransstad". Census 2011.
2. "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 480.