Phuthaditjhaba | |
|---|---|
 Mandela Park shopping centre | |
  Phuthaditjhaba Location of Phuthaditjhaba Show map of Free State (South African province)in Free State province  Phuthaditjhaba Location of Phuthaditjhaba Show map of South Africain South Africa | |
| Coordinates:28°32′00″S28°49′00″E / 28.53333°S 28.81667°E /-28.53333; 28.81667 | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Free State |
| District | Thabo Mofutsanyana |
| Municipality | Maluti a Phofung |
| Established | 1974 |
| • Councillor | (ANC) |
| Area | |
• Total | 23.83 km2 (9.20 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,646 m (5,400 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 54,661 |
| • Density | 2,294/km2 (5,941/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 99.0% |
| • Coloured | 0.2% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.5% |
| • White | 0.1% |
| • Other | 0.2% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Sotho | 88.8% |
| • Zulu | 4.4% |
| • English | 2.0% |
| • Sign language | 1.5% |
| • Other | 3.3% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 9866 |
| PO box | 9869 |
| Area code | 058 |
Phuthaditjhaba (previouslyWitsieshoek), is a town in theFree State province ofSouth Africa. It is located in a section of theDrakensberg mountains (Maloti in the Sesotho language). It borders the province ofKwaZulu-Natal to the south east and the independent country ofLesotho to the south west. The town was capital of thebantustan, or homeland, ofQwaQwa. When apartheid ended, the town became part of the Free State province.
The frequent snow on theDrakensberg mountain peaks surrounding the town led theSan to call the region QwaQwa(whiter than white). The Afrikaners named the townWitsieshoek in honour of Oetse (also spelled Witsie and Wetsi), aMakholokoe chief who lived there from 1839 to 1856.[2] The name Phuthaditjhaba is aSesotho name that meansmeeting place of the tribes. It is located on the banks of theElands River.[3]
The area was historically inhabited bybantu clans of theSouth Sotho, namely theMakholokoe,Bataung,Bakoena and theBatlokoa.The Orange Free State government settled these people there in the 1870s after concluding a peace settlement with their leaders. In 1926 the Orange Free State government placed theBatlokoa under the authority of theBakoena but gave each group its own regional authority in 1930. In 1969 they were combined into a single territorial authority, which was replaced two years later by a legislative assembly. Qwaqwa was granted self-government in 1974.
In 1974 it became capital of thebantustan (or "homeland") of QwaQwa. When the apartheid system was abolished in South Africa in 1994, it became part of the Free State province.
The town is the formal gateway to rural QwaQwa. Service provision in the area is difficult - the land is mountainous and homes in remote areas lack access to basic services. It is the poorest area in the Free State Province. The Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital is located here.
In 2005 the formerQwaQwa National Park—and its Basotho Cultural Village—was formally incorporated intoGolden Gate Highlands National Park.[4] Today the “QwaQwa Rest Camp” offers visitors immersive tours of traditional Basotho homesteads, guided horse-rides and hiking in the iconic golden sandstone cliffs of theMaluti Mountains.[5]
The town hosts the University of the Free State’s QwaQwa Campus. Originally established in 1982 under Dr T.K. Mopeli, it became part of UFS in 2003 and now enrolls approximately 3 800 students acrossHumanities,Education, Economic & Management Sciences, andNatural & Agricultural Sciences. The campus emphasises rural-development research and community outreach.[6]
Municipalities and communities ofThabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality,Free State | ||
|---|---|---|
District seat:Witsieshoek (Phuthaditjhaba) | ||
| Setsoto | .svg) | |
| Dihlabeng | ||
| Nketoana | ||
| Maluti-a-Phofung | ||
| Phumelela | ||
| Mantsopa | ||
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