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 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
Heilbron | |
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  Heilbron  Heilbron | |
| Coordinates: 27°17′1″S 27°58′15″E / 27.28361°S 27.97083°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Free State |
| District | Fezile Dabi |
| Municipality | Ngwathe |
| Established | 1872[1] |
| • Councillor | (ANC) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.7 km2 (6.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,540 m (5,050 ft) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 27,407 |
| • Density | 1,500/km2 (4,000/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 88.2% |
| • Coloured | 5.5% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.3% |
| • White | 5.6% |
| • Other | 0.3% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Sotho | 74.9% |
| • Afrikaans | 12.2% |
| • Zulu | 7.2% |
| • Xhosa | 1.6% |
| • Other | 4.1% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 9650 |
| PO box | 9650 |
| Area code | +27 (0) 58 |
| Website | http://www.heilbron.info/ |
Heilbron is a small farming town in the Free State province of South Africa which services the cattle, dairy, sorghum, sunflower and maize industries. Raw stock beneficiation occurs in leisure foods, dairy products and stock feeds. It also serves as a dormitory town for the Gauteng metropolis.
Game farming in the district grew to the extent that it is believed that game numbers reached an all-time high, evident in visiting tourist numbers. Due to its close proximity to Gauteng (60 km) the town became ever more popular to weekend tourists and city dwellers in need of a relaxing weekend filled with peace, quiet and fresh air. Popular activities are horse riding, off-road cycling, fishing, game drives, utilizing both motor vehicles and quad bikes, historical tours and affordable sporting facilities.
The neighboring township of Phiritona is home to former Orlando Pirates player Thandani Ntshumayelo, former Mamelodi Sundowns player Ramodiehi "Papi" Mbele and former Free State Stars player Tshiliso Mosikili.
The township boasts one of the oldest black-only High Schools in the Free State, Phiritona High School.
Heilbron is divided into three parts. Heilbron a historically white only area, Sandersville historically Colored only area, and Phiritona a historically black only area. This is symbolic of the settlement patterns that were enforced by the apartheid government. Sandersville came about when the factories were developed and colored labor brought to the town. It is named after Oom Sanders, one of the first prominent colored community members of that time.[3]
- ^ Robson, Linda Gillian (2011). "Annexure A" (PDF). The Royal Engineers and settlement planning in the Cape Colony 1806–1872: Approach, methodology and impact (PhD thesis). University of Pretoria. pp. xlv–lii. hdl:2263/26503.
- ^ a b c d Sum of the Main Places Phiritona, Sandersville and Heilbron from Census 2011.
- ^ "DA demands answers on stalled Heilbron Bridge Project". Democratic Alliance - Free State. Retrieved 7 June 2024.