Wolmaransstad

Wolmaransstad
NG Church in Wolmaransstad
Wolmaransstad
 Wolmaransstad shown within North West
Wolmaransstad
Wolmaransstad (South Africa)
Wolmaransstad
Wolmaransstad (Africa)
Coordinates: 27°13′0″S 25°58′28″E / 27.21667°S 25.97444°E / -27.21667; 25.97444Coordinates: 27°13′0″S 25°58′28″E / 27.21667°S 25.97444°E / -27.21667; 25.97444
Country South Africa
Province North West
District Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Municipality Maquassi Hills
Area[1]
 • Total 41.68 km2 (16.09 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 3,633
 • Density 87/km2 (230/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 35.4%
 • Coloured 2.6%
 • Indian/Asian 2.8%
 • White 57.4%
 • Other 1.8%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • 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

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.

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 (AKA 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

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Wolmaransstad". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 480.


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