Vryheid ( zu, IVryheid) is a

coal Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal is formed when dea ...

mining and

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult mal ...

ranching town in northern

KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. Vryheid is the

Afrikaans Afrikaans (, ) is a West Germanic language that evolved in the Dutch Cape Colony from the Dutch vernacular of Holland proper (i.e., the Hollandic dialect) used by Dutch, French, and German settlers and their enslaved people. Afrikaans gra ...

word for "freedom".

History

After

Boer Boers ( ; af, Boere ()) are the descendants of the Dutch-speaking Free Burghers of the eastern Cape Colony, Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. From 1652 to 1795, the Dutch East India Company controll ...

farmers, who lived in the Vryheid area, had helped King

Dinuzulu Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo (1868 – 18 October 1913, commonly misspelled Dinizulu) was the king of the Zulu nation from 20 May 1884 until his death in 1913. He succeeded his father Cetshwayo, who was the last king of the Zulus to be officially reco ...

defeat his rival chief

Zibhebhu Zibhebhu kaMaphitha Zulu (1841–1904) (also called Usibepu/Ziphewu) was a Zulu chief. After the defeat of the Zulu Kingdom by the British, he attempted to create his own independent kingdom. From 1883 to 1884, he fought the Zulu king Cetshwayo, ...

for succession of the Zulu throne, land that they occupied was given to them by cession from the Zulu king along the banks of the

Mfolozi River The Umfolozi River (also uMfolozi, Imfolozi or Mfolozi) is a river in KwaZulu-Natal, a province of South Africa. It is formed by the confluence of the Black (''Imfolozi emnyama'') and White Umfolozi (''Imfolozi emhlope'') Rivers near the southeast ...

. On August 5, 1884 the Boers formed the ''

Nieuwe Republiek The Nieuwe Republiek ("New Republic") was a small Boer republic which existed from 1884 to 1888 in present-day South Africa. It was recognised only by Germany and the South African Republic. Its independence was proclaimed on August 16, 1884, ...

'' (New Republic) with Vryheid as its capital and its sovereignty was recognized by Germany and Portugal. It was later incorporated into the

South African Republic The South African Republic ( nl, Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, abbreviated ZAR; af, Suid-Afrikaanse Republiek), also known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer Republic in Southern Africa which existed from 1852 to 1902, when it ...

, but at the end of the

Second Boer War The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the Sout ...

the town and its surrounding area was absorbed into the Natal colony by the British. Vryheid is located along the

Transnet Transnet SOC Ltd is a large South African rail, port and pipeline company, headquartered in the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg. It was formed as a limited company on 1 April 1990. A majority of the company's stock is owned by the Department ...

Coalline.

Education

In 2007

Inkamana High School Inkamana High School is in Vryheid, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. It was started in 1923 and had 200 boarding students in 2009. History Inkamana is recognised as a historic school. It is situated in the heart of the Zululand. Inkamana High Scho ...

and

Vryheid Comprehensive Secondary School Vryheid ( zu, IVryheid) is a coal mining and cattle ranching town in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Vryheid is the Afrikaans word for "freedom". History After Boer farmers, who lived in the Vryheid area, had helped King Dinuzulu defeat h ...

were amongst several schools recognised as "historic schools". Funding of six million rand a year was earmarked for these two and

Adams College Adams College is a historic Christian mission school in South Africa, associated with the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA). It was founded in 1853 at Amanzimtoti a settlement just over south of Durban by an American missio ...

Ohlange High School Ohlange High School is a secondary school in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded by John Dube and Nokuthela Dube née Mdima.

and Inanda Seminary to make them academies focussing on Maths, Science and Technology. Other schools are Hoërskool Vryheid, which uses both

and

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

as the medium of instruction and Hoërskool Pionier which uses Afrikaans as medium of instruction.

Sport

Kilian Academy, a martial arts academy instructing in the arts of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing, is situated in Vryheid. Vryheid Wrestling Academy, is one of the top wrestling clubs in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Hanami Gi-Challenge

The Hanami Gi-Challenge (commonly known as The Challenge) is a

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting (ne-waza) and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, control ...

(

BJJ Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting (ne-waza) and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, control ...

) tournament in Africa. The Hanami Gi-Challenges are hosted annually by the Hanami Martial Arts, with the first Challenge hosted in 2014 at the Indoor Speedball Club Vryheid in South Africa. In 2015, it will be held once again in Vryheid, South Africa.

Religion

The Inkamana Abbey, a Roman Catholic Benedictine abbey is located in the town.

Heritage Sites

The Dutch Reform Church in Vryheid, better known as ''Die Moeder Gemeente'' (Afrikaans for the Mother Congregation), has been added to the list of 12 Gorgeous Churches and Cathedrals in Africa, by AFK Insider.

Notable residents

Louis Botha Louis Botha (; 27 September 1862 – 27 August 1919) was a South African politician who was the first prime minister of the Union of South Africa – the forerunner of the modern South African state. A Boer war hero during the Second Boer War, ...

(27 September 1862 – 27 August 1919), Boer War general and first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa representing the district of Vryheid whilst in parliament. *

Charles Theophilus Hahn Charles Theophilus Hahn (also surnamed Headley; 1 March 1870 Wandsworth, London16 September 1930 Covent Garden, London), was an Anglican priest in South London, Yorkshire and Southern Africa. He was an amateur artist and botanical illustrator. ...

(1870-1930), Canon of St Peters in Vryheid from 1913. * Colleen De Reuck (born 13 April 1964), South African long-distance runner was born in Vryheid. * Cindy Elizabeth Eksteen (born 21 November 1977), South Africa cricketer was born in Vryheid. *

Christian du Plessis Christian du Plessis (born 2 July 1944) is a South African baritone, largely based in England, and particularly associated with the bel canto repertory. Born in Vryheid, South Africa, he studied in Johannesburg with Teasdale Griffiths and Esme We ...

(2 July 1944), famous opera singer was born in Vryheid. *

Joe Pietersen Johan Christiaan Pietersen (born 18 May 1984) is a South African rugby union player who currently plays as the fly-half for the San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby (MLR). Professional career He started his career at , playing for them in the ...

(born 18 May 1984), South African rugby player was born in Vryheid. * Albert William Lee, Anglican Bishop of Zululand lived in Vryheid from 1928-1935. *

Mouritz Botha Mouritz Botha (born 29 January 1982) is a former rugby union player who played for the Saracens and Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership. He joined English club Bedford Blues in 2006 and made 73 appearances before moving to Saracens in 20 ...

(born 29 January 1982), South African rugby player was born in Vryheid. * Thomas (Franz Xavier) Spreiter (1865 – 1944), a German missionary lived in Vryheid. *

Bob Holness Robert Wentworth John Holness (12 November 1928 – 6 January 2012) was a British-South African radio and television presenter and occasional actor. He presented the British version of '' Blockbusters''. Early life Holness was born in Vryheid, ...

(1928 – 2012), British radio and television presenter was born in Vryheid. *

Thys Lourens Matthys Johannes 'Thys' Lourens (born 15 May 1943) is a former South African rugby union Rugby player. Playing career Lourens played 168 first class provincial matches for Northern Transvaal, 91 of which were in the Currie Cup competition. H ...

(born 1943), South African rugby player was born in Vryheid. *

Ruan Combrinck Ruan Jacobus Combrinck (born 10 May 1990) is a South African rugby union player. He plays mostly as a wing. He plays for in the Top14 in France. He previously played for the in Super Rugby, the and domestically and Kintetsu Liners in the Ja ...

(born 1990), South African rugby player was born in Vryheid. * Keegan Longueira (born 1991), South African cyclist and current holder of the

Guinness World Record ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

fastest man ever to cross the continent on bicycle from

Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metro ...

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

. * Danny Myburgh (born 1965), Springbok amateur boxing champion 1985 to 1988 and Vryheid Sportman of the year 1986 and 1987. Professional South African Lightweight Champion 1993 to 1995. World Lightweight Intercontinental contender 1994 and 1995. * Rolf Stumpf (1945–2020), statistician and Vice Rector.

Water shortages

The town experienced water shortages from 2016 to 2017 due to neglect of infrastructure. Pumps and pipelines were allowed to fall into a state of disrepair, forcing many town's residents to collect water from 15 communal water tanks provided by the municipality. In its aftermath the Bhekuzulu clinic received 550 cases of

diarrhea Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements each day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Signs of dehydration often begin wi ...

a month. Other residents invested at great personal cost in boreholes, water tanks, pumps, filters and power generators. Three

sewage treatment Sewage treatment (or domestic wastewater treatment, municipal wastewater treatment) is a type of wastewater treatment which aims to remove contaminants from sewage to produce an effluent that is suitable for discharge to the surrounding envir ...

plants also stopped functioning, polluting the Besterspruit and

Klipfontein Dam MS ''Klipfontein'' was a Dutch ocean liner launched in March 1939 and delivered 29 July intended for South African service. Declaration of war in Europe, including Britain and South Africa declaring war on Germany, resulted in the ship being tran ...

. Another outbreak of diarrhea occurred in 2019, with 535 people admitted to either Bhekuzulu or Mason Clinics.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vryheid, Kwazulu-Natal Populated places in the Abaqulusi Local Municipality Mining communities in South Africa Populated places established in 1884 Populated places founded by Afrikaners Capitals of former nations