Wolmaransstad (
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 grad ...
for "Wolmarans City") is a
maize-farming
town situated on the
N12 between
Johannesburg and
Kimberley in
North West Province
North West is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Mahikeng. The province is located to the west of the major population centre of Gauteng and south of Botswana.
History
North West was incorporated after the end of Apartheid in 1994, an ...
of
South Africa. The town lies in an important
alluvial
Alluvium (from Latin ''alluvius'', from ''alluere'' 'to wash against') is loose clay, silt, sand, or gravel that has been deposited by running water in a stream bed, on a floodplain, in an alluvial fan or beach, or in similar settings. Alluv ...
diamond-mining area and it is the main town of the
Maquassi Hills Local Municipality
Maquassi Hills Local Municipality is a local municipality in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, North West Province, South Africa.
Main places
The 2001 census divided the municipality into the following main places:
Politics
The mun ...
.
Town 245 km south-west of Johannesburg and 56 km north-east of
Bloemhof
Bloemhof is an agricultural town of about 2,000 inhabitants situated on the banks of the Vaal River in North West Province of South Africa.
History
It was founded in August 1864 when diamonds were discovered in the area. The town was established ...
. 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.
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 The Volksraad was a people's assembly or legislature in Dutch or Afrikaans speaking government.
Assembly South Africa
* Volksraad (South African Republic) (1840–1902)
* Volksraad (Natalia Republic), a similar assembly that existed in the Natalia ...
councilman.
Wolmaransstad serves a large community and is an important diamond buying center.
The
Dutch Reformed church building was designed by
Gerard Moerdijk
Gerard Leendert Pieter Moerdijk (Zwaershoek farm near Nylstroom, Transvaal, 4 March 1890 – Nylstroom, 29 March 1958), also known as Gerard Moerdyk, was a South African architect
best known for designing the Voortrekker Monument in Pret ...
.
Anglo Boer war
Tourist attractions
*Broadbent Mission Station
*Digger's Diamond route
*Makwassierante Conservation Area
*Wolwespruit Dam Nature Reserve
Notable people
*
Bernardus Gerhardus Fourie
Bernardus Gerhardus Fourie (or Brand Fourie) was a South African diplomat. He served as the South African ambassador to the United States from 1982 to 1985.
Early life
Fourie was born in 1916 in Wolmaransstad.
Career
Brand Fourie joined the de ...
(also known as Brand Fourie, 19162008), 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
*
Wolmaransstad Commando, a former light infantry regiment of the South African Army based in Wolmaransstad
References
Populated places in the Maquassi Hills Local Municipality
Mining communities in South Africa
Populated places established in 1891
1891 establishments in South Africa
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