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 | |
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NG Church in Wolmaransstad | |
Wolmaransstad Wolmaransstad | |
Coordinates: 27°13′0″S 25°58′28″E | |
Country | South Africa |
Province | North West |
District | Dr Kenneth Kaunda |
Municipality | Maquassi Hills |
Area | |
• Total | 41.68 km2 (16.09 sq mi) |
Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 3,633 |
• Density | 87/km2 (230/sq mi) |
Racial makeup (2011) | |
• Black African | 35.4% |
• Coloured | 2.6% |
• Indian/Asian | 2.8% |
• White | 57.4% |
• Other | 1.8% |
First languages (2011) | |
• 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
- "Main Place Wolmaransstad". Census 2011.
- "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 480.
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