Bronkhorstspruit

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Bronkhorstspruit
The Nan Hua Temple Complex in Bronkhorstspruit
The Nan Hua Temple Complex in Bronkhorstspruit
Bronkhorstspruit is located in Gauteng
Bronkhorstspruit
Bronkhorstspruit
Coordinates: 25°48′18″S 28°44′47″E / 25.80500°S 28.74639°E / -25.80500; 28.74639Coordinates: 25°48′18″S 28°44′47″E / 25.80500°S 28.74639°E / -25.80500; 28.74639
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceGauteng
MunicipalityCity of Tshwane
Area
[1]
 • Total3.11 km2 (1.20 sq mi)
Elevation
1,375 m (4,511 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total3,720
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
1020
PO box
1020
Area code013

Bronkhorstspruit is a town 50 km east of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa along the N4 highway towards Witbank. It lies on the border between the Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces. It also includes three townships called Zithobeni, and Ekangala. On 18 May 2011, the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality took over the municipal administration from the abolished Kungwini Local Municipality, which makes Bronkhorstspruit part of Tshwane.

History[]

In 1858, a group of Voortrekkers settled in the Bronkhorstspruit creek, which was originally called Kalkoenkransrivier ('Turkey Cliff River'). The town was laid out on land of the farm Hondsrivier in 1904 owned by C.J.G. Erasmus and was initially named after him.[2][3]:8 It adopted the name Bronkhorstspruit in 1935.[4]:296

On 20 December 1880 it was the scene of the Battle of Bronkhorstspruit, an important event in the early days of the First Boer War when a Boer Commando ambushed a British army column, 94th Regiment of Foot, near the present town en route from Lydenburg to Pretoria.[4]:296

There is disagreement about where the town got its name from. Some believe it was named after the farmer JG Bronkhorst, while others say that it was named after the plant, bronkors (Afrikaans for watercress), that grew in the region of the creek.[4]:296

Bronkhorstspruit was the seat of the Metsweding District Municipality as well as the Nokeng tsa Taemane Local Municipality. Then, on the day of South Africa's 2011 general elections (18 May 2011), the entire Metsweding District ceased to be its own municipality and became part of the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.

Parks and greenspace[]

Ten kilometers to the south of the town lies the Bronkhorstspruit Dam.[4]:296

Suburbs[]

  • Erasmus
  • Masada
  • Riamar Park
  • Bester Park
  • Cultura Park
  • Bronkhorstbaai

Economy[]

Agriculture[]

Being an agricultural area, maize, sorghum, groundnuts, sunflower seeds, sheep and cattle are grown and raised.[4]:296

Mining[]

Fire clay is mined in the area.[4]:296

Places of interest[]

Cultura Park, a suburb of Bronkhorstspruit, hosts the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. Nan Hua Temple houses the South African headquarters of the Humanistic Buddhist order.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Sub Place Bronkhorstspruit". Census 2011.
  2. ^ Dictionary of Southern African Place Names
  3. ^ van Schalkwyk, J (June 2011). "HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED UPGRADE OF ROAD R104, SILVERTON TO BRONKHORSTSPRUIT, GAUTENG PROVINCE" (PDF). South African Heritage Resources Agency. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Erasmus, B.P.J. (2014). On Route in South Africa: Explore South Africa region by region. Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 401. ISBN 9781920289805.

External links[]


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