Ogies

Ogies is a settlement in Nkangala District Municipality in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. It is a coal-mining town 29 km south-west of Witbank and 70 km north-east of Springs.

Ogies
Ogies
Ogies
Coordinates: 26°3′2″S 29°3′9″E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceMpumalanga
DistrictNkangala
MunicipalityEmalahleni
Area
 • Total1.95 km2 (0.75 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total1,230
 • Density630/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African76.7%
 • Coloured3.4%
 • Indian/Asian2.3%
 • White15.4%
 • Other2.2%
First languages (2011)
 • Zulu33.1%
 • Afrikaans17.0%
 • English9.6%
 • Sotho9.5%
 • Other30.7%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
2230
PO box
2230
Area code013

History

It was laid out in 1928 on the farm Oogiesfontein, 'fountain with many "eyes" or springs'. The name is derived from that of the farm.[2] The town developed around train station built there in 1928.[3]:303 The original name of the town was Oogies but that changed to the current version in 1939.[3]:303

Economy

Mining

African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation built its first coal mine at Vlakfontein, near Ogies, which was completed in January 2011. It mostly supplies coal to the nearby Kendal Power Station.[4]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Ogies is an important railway junction on the Springs to Witbank rail-line, a line that connects to the Port of Richards Bay.[3]:303 It has several branches of tracks that service the coal mines close to the town.[3]:303

Roads

The town is connected by two main roads, the R555 and the R545 to Kriel. The R545 North connects the town to the N12 freeway which links Johannesburg to Witbank.

References
  1. "Main Place Ogies". Census 2011.
  2. "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 345.
  3. Erasmus, B.P.J. (2014). On Route in South Africa: Explore South Africa region by region. Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 401. ISBN 9781920289805.
  4. "AEMFC readies for second mine as losses mount". Mining MX. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
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