Bronkhorstspruit

Bronkhorstspruit is a town 50 km east of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa along the N4 highway towards Witbank. It lies on the border between the Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces. It also consists of three townships called Zithobeni, Rethabiseng and Ekangala.

Bronkhorstspruit
The Nan Hua Temple Complex in Bronkhorstspruit
Bronkhorstspruit
Bronkhorstspruit
Coordinates: 25°48′18″S 28°44′47″E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceGauteng
MunicipalityCity of Tshwane
Area
 • Total3.11 km2 (1.20 sq mi)
Elevation
1,375 m (4,511 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total3,720
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
1020
PO box
1020
Area code013

On 18 May 2011 Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality took over the municipal administration from the abolished Kungwini Local Municipality.

History

In 1858, a group of Voortrekkers settled in the Bronkhorstspruit creek, which was originally called Kalkoenkransrivier ('Turkey Cliff River'). The town was laid out on land of the farm Hondsrivier in 1904 owned by C.J.G. Erasmus and was initially named after him.[2][3]:8 It adopted the name Bronkhorstspruit in 1935.[4]:296

On 20 December 1880 it was the scene of the Battle of Bronkhorstspruit, an important event in the early days of the First Boer War when a Boer Commando ambushed a British army column, 94th Regiment of Foot, near the present town en route from Lydenburg to Pretoria.[4]:296

There is disagreement about where the town got its name from. Some believe it was named after the farmer JG Bronkhorst, while others say that it was named after the plant, bronkors (Afrikaans for watercress), that grew in the region of the creek.[4]:296

Parks and greenspace

Ten kilometers to the south of the town lies the Bronkhorstspruit Dam.[4]:296

Suburbs
  • Erasmus
  • Masada
  • Riamar Park
  • Bester Park
  • Cultura Park
  • Bronkhorstbaai

Economy

Agriculture

Being an agricultural area, maize, sorghum, groundnuts, sunflower seeds, sheep and cattle are grown and raised.[4]:296

Mining

Fire clay is mined in the area.[4]:296

Places of interest

Cultura Park, a suburb of Bronkhorstspruit, hosts the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. Nan Hua Temple houses the South African headquarters of the Humanistic Buddhist order.

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References
  1. "Sub Place Bronkhorstspruit". Census 2011.
  2. Dictionary of Southern African Place Names
  3. van Schalkwyk, J (June 2011). "HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED UPGRADE OF ROAD R104, SILVERTON TO BRONKHORSTSPRUIT, GAUTENG PROVINCE" (PDF). South African Heritage Resources Agency. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  4. Erasmus, B.P.J. (2014). On Route in South Africa: Explore South Africa region by region. Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 401. ISBN 9781920289805.


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