Welkom
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| Welkom | |
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 Welkom
Welkom shown within the Free State
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Welkom
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| Coordinates: 27°58′59″S 26°43′15″E / 27.98306°S 26.72083°ECoordinates: 27°58′59″S 26°43′15″E / 27.98306°S 26.72083°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Free State |
| District | Lejweleputswa |
| Municipality | Matjhabeng |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 89.51 km2 (34.56 sq mi) |
| Population (2001)[1] | |
| • Total | 191,341 |
| • Density | 2,100/km2 (5,500/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2001)[1] | |
| • Black African | 83.6% |
| • Coloured | 4.2% |
| • Indian | 0.1% |
| • White | 12.1% |
| First languages (2001)[1] | |
| • Sotho | 58.6% |
| • Xhosa | 16.4% |
| • Afrikaans | 14.3% |
| • English | 2.8% |
| • Other | 7.9% |
| Time zone | SAST (UTC+2) |
| Postal Code | 9459 |
| Area code(s) | 057 |
Welkom is a city in the Free State province of South Africa, located 160 kilometres northeast of Bloemfontein, the provincial capital. Welkom received municipal status in 1961 and was declared a city in 1968 on the 14th of February. In the years of segregation the township of Thabong was established for blacks and the township of Bronville for colored people.
The city is the hub of the Free State gold fields, serving several gold and uranium mines. In addition to mineral ore, Welkom produces such goods as steel, lumber, and beef. The city has a technical college and a technological institute. Welkom is served by a small airport and a branch of the main railway between Johannesburg and Cape Town. The city is internationally known for the Grand Prix racing circuit located at its edge.
The city is named after the farm Welkom where gold was first found.[citation needed] The word welkom is Afrikaans and Dutch for welcome. It is now the second largest city in the Free State.
Demographics
In the 2001 census, Welkom (including the adjacent areas of Thabong and Riebeeckstad) had a population of 191,341 people in an area of 90 square kilometres (35 sq mi). 84% of the inhabitants described themselves as "Black African", 12% as "White" and 4% as "Coloured". 59% spoke Sotho as first language, 16% spoke Xhosa, and 14% spoke Afrikaans. English, Zulu and Tswana were each spoken by 3% of the population, and 1% spoke Tsonga.[2]
Famous people
- Jan Hendrik de Beer - Famous Rugby player
- Gerard Louis Brophy - Cricketer
- CJ van der Linde - Union rugby player
- Brian Mervin McMillan - Cricketer
- Wynand Olivier - Union rugby player
- Mark Richard Shuttleworth - Entrepreneur, Cosmonaut and founder of Canonical Ltd.
- Thandi Tshabalala - Cricketer
References
Template:Lesego Matlala
External links
- Phakisa Freeway Story about the world-standard motorsport venue in Welkom by Roderick Eime
- Oppenheimer golf course, designed by Robert Grimsdell in 1949.
- Pictures and history of gold exploration in Welkom
- Online Business Directory for Welkom - Accommodation, Services etc
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