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Fochville | |
|---|---|
  Fochville  Fochville | |
| Coordinates:26°29′S27°29′E / 26.483°S 27.483°E /-26.483; 27.483 | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Gauteng |
| District | West Rand |
| Municipality | Merafong City |
| Area | |
• Total | 11.36 km2 (4.39 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 9,497 |
| • Density | 836.0/km2 (2,165/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • White | 71.7% |
| • Black African | 25.7% |
| • Coloureds | 1.2% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.4% |
| • Other | 0.9% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Afrikaans | 71.3% |
| • English | 6.8% |
| • Sotho | 6.2% |
| • Tswana | 6.0% |
| • Other | 9.7% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 2515 |
| PO box | 2515 |
| Area code | 018 |
Fochville is a farming and mining town located in theGauteng province ofSouth Africa. It is part of theMerafong City Local Municipality, which also includes Kokosi,Carletonville andKhutsong.The area surrounding Fochville containsSotho orTswana ruins.Tlokwe Ruins are the remains of Sotho-Tswana settlements on the hills surrounding Fochville that were inhabited until the 1820s.Boer War heroDanie Theron was killed 5 km north of the town. The town itself was established as an agricultural centre in 1920 (the ground was officially broken by Henning Rautenbach) and was named after theWorld War I commander-in-chief of the Allied forces inFrance,Marshal of FranceFerdinand Foch.[2]
Fochville has five primary schools and four high schools.[citation needed]
Sports, including cricket, rugby, karate and kickboxing are typically played at the Gert van Rensburg Stadium.[3] The town is also home to a bird farm and a trout hatchery.
In September 2012, the settlements near Fochville were subject to an ethnically motivated attack. Shacks were razed. Four people were killed and another six injured. The attack took place following a dispute over boundaries between two rival factions. The attackers usedknobkierries,petrol cans and traditionalspears anddaggers.[4]
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In early mining days, Western Deep Levels struck a stream ofsulphurous water, which to this day surges out of the borehole.
Renosterfontein is a farm with old Tswana kraals, a traditional African village and the ruins of a house that belonged to the brothers of PresidentAndries Pretorius.
TheTlokwe Ruins are the remains ofSotho-Tswana settlements on the hills surrounding Fochville. They were used until the inhabitants were driven away byMzilikazi in the 1820s.
Monuments can be found in the area of Fochville. The Voortrekker Plaque, located to the south-west, marks the site of an earlyVoortrekker fortification of 1842. The Theron Memorial is a memorial to Boer scoutDanie Theron, who was killed in 1900 during an engagement withMarshall's Horse.
Municipalities and communities ofWest Rand District Municipality,Gauteng | ||
|---|---|---|
District seat:Randfontein | ||
| Mogale City | .svg) | |
| Merafong City | ||
| Rand West City | ||
