Senekal

Senekal is a town situated on the banks of the Sand River in the eastern part of the Free State province of South Africa. It was named after Commandant FP Senekal. It is the second largest town in Setsoto Municipality after Ficksburg, the largest town and capital of Setsoto. Senekal lies on the N5 national road between Winburg on the west and Bethlehem to the east. It has two townships, Matwabeng and OR Tambo Section, the latter being the latest, largest and fastest growing.

For other uses, see Senekal (surname).
Senekal
Dutch Reformed Church in Senekal
Senekal
Senekal
Coordinates: 28°19′S 27°36′E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceFree State
DistrictThabo Mofutsanyane
MunicipalitySetsoto
Established1877[1]
Government
 • TypeLocal Government
 • CouncillorsMrs M Mthimkhulu (Ward 3); Mrs M Motsei (Ward 5); Mr M Silasi (Ward 6); Mr L Modire (Ward 7) (ANC)
Area
 • Total37.1 km2 (14.3 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total25,542
 • Density690/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African93.0%
 • Coloured0.6%
 • Indian/Asian0.4%
 • White5.9%
 • Other0.2%
First languages (2011)
 • Sotho88.8%
 • Afrikaans7.3%
 • Sign language1.3%
 • Other2.6%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
9600
PO box
9600
Area code058 481
Websitehttp://www.senekal.biz

Senekal combined with its townships have two police stations, correctional facilities, one hospital and three functioning clinics with the fourth still underway in OR Tambo Section. It has a radio station, Naledi Community radio station, which serves most parts of the Eastern Free State and small parts of Lesotho . It broadcasts on 103.9 MHz.

Farming around Senekal plays a vital role in the economy of the province and country at large. Produce includes maize, sunflower, wheat, milk and livestock.

The two most spoken official languages around Senekal are Afrikaans and Sesotho, the latter being the most widely spoken.

Places of interest in Senekal include Arizona Game Reserve, Biddulphs Mountain Resort and Willem Pretorius Game Reserve, though in Matjhabeng, falls under Setsoto Boundaries. One of the oldest churches in the Free State can be found at the centre of the town. The church is fenced with petrified wood, originally excavated from farms nearby. Though cool and charming, it is one of the most underdeveloped towns in the Free State.

Notable people from Senekal
  • Gibson Gift Phoofolo, the freedom fighter.
  • The 1st Executive Chairman(Speaker) of the Transitional Local council of Senekal/Matwabeng in 1994-1999 and re-elected unopposed up to 2000, where he decided to pass the baton to other cadres of the ANC and continued to strengthen the ANC as the Regional Chairperson of the ANC in Thabo Mofutsanyane.
  • He was born in Senekal and relocated to Vereeniging Sebokeng Zone 13 at the age of 2, where he was initiated as cadre at age 14, the youngest member of Self Defence Unit in Z13.
  • Relocated to Senekal in 1988 and recruited underground under the leadership of UDF Chairperson, Terror Mosiuoa Lekota.
  • 1st Mayor after dispensation is Cllr P Mzizi, before amalgamation of 4 towns (Senekal,Marquard,Clocolan and Ficksburg) Petrus Mzizi led the council as ANC member.
  • The first two mayors of Setsoto Municipality came from Senekal (Me. Maditlhare Molete and Mr. Mbothoma.S. Maduna).
  • Naka Drotské (former rugby coach of the Free State Cheetahs).
  • Toks van der Linde (former rugby player and TV personality).
  • Dante Weinhold (cricket player that played for the Free State cricket team in 2010,2011,2012 and 2014).
  • Louw Gertenbach, the biggest hunter in Africa, was born and raised in this town in the Eastern Free State. There is a rumour that he shot 8 lions with his kettie when the lions attacked his slave.
  • Serame Letsoaka - Free State Stars FC coach.
  • E.E Monese, who the secondary school and the community hall is named after, was one of the longest serving, dedicated teachers and a principal who played a very vital role in community of Senekal

References
  1. "Chronological order of town establishment in South Africa based on Floyd (1960:20-26)" (PDF). pp. xlv–lii.
  2. Sum of the Main Places Senekal and Matwabeng from Census 2011.


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