Bethal
Bethal | |
|---|---|
  Bethal | |
| Coordinates: 26°27′S 29°27′E / 26.450°S 29.450°ECoordinates: 26°27′S 29°27′E / 26.450°S 29.450°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Mpumalanga |
| District | Gert Sibande |
| Municipality | Govan Mbeki |
| Established | 1898[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 51.94 km2 (20.05 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,660 m (5,450 ft) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 60,779 |
| • Density | 1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 84.7% |
| • Coloured | 0.9% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.8% |
| • White | 13.2% |
| • Other | 0.4% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Zulu | 66.7% |
| • Afrikaans | 13.1% |
| • S. Ndebele | 6.8% |
| • English | 3.5% |
| • Other | 10.0% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 2310 |
| PO box | 2310 |
| Area code | 017 647 |
Bethal (/bɛθʌl/) is a farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The farms in the region produce maize, sunflower seeds, sorghum, rye and potatoes. The town lies 155 km east of Johannesburg.
History[]
The town originated on an old farm called Blesbokspruit.[3]: 302 The town, established in on 12 October 1880,[4] was named after the combined names of the wives of the owners of the farm, Elizabeth du Plooy and Alida Naude.[3]: 302 It became a municipality in 1921.[3]: 302
Economy[]
Agriculture[]
Bethal is famous for its potato industry,[3]: 302 and the annual National Potato Festival was held there in early May, but discontinued in 2007. Other agriculture includes maize, sunflower seeds, sorghum, rye, oats and barley. Animal husbandry includes cattle, dairy and sheep farming.[3]: 302 Bethal was once the headquarters of , and agricultural firm, now based in Centurion but its flour mill remains in the town.[3]: 302
Mining[]
Bethal lies in South Africa's coal mining region and there are mines close by. Exxaro acquired the Total Coal South Africa in 2014 and has five mines in the area.[3]: 302 Apart from exports, the coal is used in the Eskom power stations that dot the region.
Geography[]
The Olifants River has its origin near Bethal.[5] The river eventually flows into the Limpopo River in Mozambique.
Climate[]
| hideClimate data for Bethal (1961–1990, extremes 1903–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 37.5 (99.5) |
34.4 (93.9) |
33.3 (91.9) |
30.0 (86.0) |
27.4 (81.3) |
25.2 (77.4) |
24.6 (76.3) |
28.1 (82.6) |
32.0 (89.6) |
33.0 (91.4) |
32.6 (90.7) |
34.8 (94.6) |
37.5 (99.5) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 26 (79) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
22 (72) |
20 (68) |
17 (63) |
17 (63) |
20 (68) |
23 (73) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
25 (77) |
22 (72) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 14 (57) |
13 (55) |
12 (54) |
9 (48) |
4 (39) |
1 (34) |
1 (34) |
4 (39) |
8 (46) |
10 (50) |
12 (54) |
13 (55) |
8 (46) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 4.0 (39.2) |
6.0 (42.8) |
0.5 (32.9) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
−5.9 (21.4) |
−9.2 (15.4) |
−10.6 (12.9) |
−12.5 (9.5) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
1.0 (33.8) |
1.7 (35.1) |
−12.5 (9.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 146 (5.7) |
75 (3.0) |
61 (2.4) |
48 (1.9) |
14 (0.6) |
7 (0.3) |
6 (0.2) |
13 (0.5) |
28 (1.1) |
78 (3.1) |
129 (5.1) |
106 (4.2) |
711 (28.0) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 15 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 90 |
| Source 1: South African Weather Service[6] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)[7] | |||||||||||||
Law and government[]
Bethal lies in the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality (formerly Highveld East Local Municipality) situated in the Gert Sibande District, of Mpumalanga. Secunda is the seat of the municipality.
Infrastructure[]
Roads[]
Bethal is the crossroads of three main roads. R38 leads out north-east of the town to Carolina. The R35 north leads to Middleburg 80 km away while the R35 south connects to Amersfoort 80 km away and the N11 national route. The N17 West connects the town to the southern suburbs of Johannesburg and N17 east to Ermelo and Swaziland.
Notable people[]
- Andries Coetzee – South Africa national rugby team player
- Llewellyn Herbert – 2000 Summer Olympics 400 metres hurdles bronze medal winner
- Qedani Mahlangu – Gauteng MEC for Health
- Busisiwe Mkhwebane – Public Protector of South Africa
- Josia Thugwane – 1996 Summer Olympics marathon gold medal winner. South Africa's first black athlete to win an Olympic gold medal
- Riaan Dempers - South African sprinter and former record holder in the 200 meters
References[]
- ^ "Chronological order of town establishment in South Africa based on Floyd (1960:20-26)" (PDF). pp. xlv–lii.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Sub Place Bethal". Census 2011.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Erasmus, B.P.J. (2014). On Route in South Africa: Explore South Africa region by region. Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 401. ISBN 9781920289805.
- ^ http://www.routes.co.za/mp/bethal/index.html Archived 2010-11-30 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Major rivers and streams within the Limpopo River Basin
- ^ "Climate data for Bethal". South African Weather Service. Archived from the original on 9 September 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ "Station Bethal" (in French). Meteo Climat. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
External links[]
| show Municipalities and communities of Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga |
|---|
- Populated places in the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality
- Populated places established in 1898