Vryheid (/Abaqulusi) 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 Chemical element, elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal i ...

mining and

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Mature female cattle are calle ...

ranching town in northern

KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN) is a Provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the government merged the Zulu people, Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu language, Zulu) and ...

, South Africa. Vryheid is the

Afrikaans Afrikaans is a West Germanic languages, West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia and to a lesser extent Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and also Argentina where there is a group in Sarmiento, Chubut, Sarmiento that speaks the Pat ...

word for "freedom", while its original name of Abaqulusi reflects the abaQulusi clan based in the local area.

History

After

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

farmers, who lived in the Vryheid area, had helped King Dinuzulu defeat his rival chief

Zibhebhu Zibhebhu kaMaphitha Zulu (c. 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 Cetshway ...

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 Umfolozi River, Black (''Imfolozi emnyama'') and White Umfolozi River, White Umfolozi ( ...

. 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 16 August 1884, ...

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

South African Republic The South African Republic (, abbreviated ZAR; ), also known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer republics, Boer republic in Southern Africa which existed from 1852 to 1902, when it was annexed into the British Empire as a result ...

, but at the end of the

Second Boer War The Second Boer War (, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics (the South African Republic and ...

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 (/Abaqulusi) is a coal mining and cattle ranching town in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Vryheid is the Afrikaans word for "freedom", while its original name of Abaqulusi reflects the abaQulusi clan based in the local area. History ...

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 miss ...

Ohlange High School Ohlange High School is a secondary school in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1901 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 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 ( BJJ) 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 Inkamana Abbey, also called Sacred Heart Abbey, Inkamana, is a Order of Saint Benedict, Benedictine abbey in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Eshowe. It belongs to the Ottilien Congregation. History The 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.

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 (American English), also spelled diarrhoea or diarrhœa (British English), is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements in a day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration d ...

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

sewage treatment Sewage treatment is a type of wastewater treatment which aims to remove contaminants from sewage to produce an effluent that is suitable to discharge to the surrounding environment or an intended reuse application, thereby preventing water p ...

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 tra ...

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

Notable residents

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

(27 September 1862 – 27 August 1919), Boer War general and first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, who represented 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 South Africa. He was an amateur artist and botanical illustrator. B ...

(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 W ...

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

Joe Pietersen Johan Christiaan Pietersen (born 18 May 1984) is a South African former rugby union player who also played as the Rugby union positions#10. Fly-Half, fly-half for the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR). Professional career He started ...

(born 18 May 1984), South African rugby player was born in Vryheid. *

Albert William Lee Albert William Lee was an Anglican bishop in the mid 20th century. Lee was ordained in 1901. Following a Curate, curacy with the Eton Mission at Hackney Wick, he emigrated to Natal Province, Zululand where he became the Archdeacon of Vryheid in 19 ...

, Anglican Bishop of Zululand lived in Vryheid from 1928-1935. * Mouritz Botha (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 an English-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. He ...

(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 Keegan Longueira (born 1 April 1991) is a South African adventurer, motivational speaker, and author. He currently resides in Witbank (eMalahleni) a coal mining town in the Province of Mpumalanga in South Africa. Longueira rose to prominence in ...

(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 British reference book published annually, listi ...

fastest man ever to cross the continent on bicycle from

Cairo Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...

Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...

. *

Danny Myburgh Danny is a masculine given name. It is related to and short for the male name Daniel.🖾🖾 People *Danny Altmann, British immunologist *Danny Antonucci, Canadian animator, director, producer, and writer *Danny Baker (born 1957), English jou ...

(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 Rolf Heinrich Stumpf (6 November 1945 – 27 October 2020) was a South African statistician who served as Vice Chancellor and Rector of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. He was a member of the Academy of Science of So ...

(1945–2020), statistician and Vice Rector.

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