Vrede

Vrede
Vrede
 Vrede shown within Free State
Vrede
Vrede (South Africa)
Vrede
Vrede (Africa)
Coordinates: 27°25′48″S 29°9′36″E / 27.43000°S 29.16000°E / -27.43000; 29.16000Coordinates: 27°25′48″S 29°9′36″E / 27.43000°S 29.16000°E / -27.43000; 29.16000
Country South Africa
Province Free State
District Thabo Mofutsanyane
Municipality Phumelela
Established 1876[1]
Government
 • Councillor Motaung (ANC)
Area[2]
 • Total 50.1 km2 (19.3 sq mi)
Elevation 1,675 m (5,495 ft)
Population (2011)[2]
 • Total 17,689
 • Density 350/km2 (910/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[2]
 • Black African 93.1%
 • Coloured 0.4%
 • Indian/Asian 0.5%
 • White 5.7%
 • Other 0.4%
First languages (2011)[2]
 • Zulu 53.4%
 • Sotho 36.5%
 • Afrikaans 6.0%
 • English 1.1%
 • Other 3.1%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street) 9835
PO box 9835
Area code 058

Vrede is a town in the Free State province of South Africa that is the agricultural hub of a 100 km² region. Maize, wheat, mutton, wool, beef, dairy products and poultry are farmed in the region.

History

The town lies 60 km south of Standerton and 216 km south-east of Johannesburg. It was founded on the Krynauwslust farm in 1863 and proclaimed a town in June 1879. The name is Afrikaans for ‘peace’, which refers to the settlement of a dispute over the proposed site of the town.[3]

Education among the youth (even from poorer background) of Vrede is on the rise, especially due to high schools such as Katleho and Evungwini.

Notable people

  • André Brink (1935–2015), novelist, born in Vrede but moving to Lydenburg in childhood
  • Sid Kiel (1916–2007), doctor, athlete, and cricketer, born on a Vrede sheep farm but moving to Cape Town in childhood

References

  1. ↑ "Chronological order of town establishment in South Africa based on Floyd (1960:20-26)" (PDF). pp. xlv–lii.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Sum of the Main Places Thembalihle and Vrede from Census 2011.
  3. ↑ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 463.
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