Bloemfontein
Encyclopedia
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State
Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town
, the legislative capital, and Pretoria
, the administrative capital.
Bloemfontein is popularly and poetically known as "the city of rose
s", owing to the abundance of these flowers and the annual rose festival held there. The city's Sesotho name is Mangaung, meaning "place of cheetah
s" and it has been included in the Mangaung Local Municipality since 2000 .
Bloemfontein is situated on dry grassland at 29°06′S 26°13′E, at an altitude of 1,395 metres above sea level. The city is home to 369,568 residents, while the Mangaung Local Municipality has a population of 645,455. Bloemfontein is served by Bloemfontein Airport
.
settlement, Bloemfontein was officially founded in 1846 as a fort by British army major Henry Douglas Warden
as a British outpost in the Transoranje region, at that stage occupied by various groups of peoples including Cape Colony
Trek Boers, Griqua and Basotho
.
Although modern day Bloemfontein has a reputation for its flowers in an otherwise arid region, the origin of the city's name is unclear. Popular legends include an ox named "Bloem" owned by one of the pioneer farmers that was taken by a lion near a fountain on his property, while another story names Jan Blom (1775–1858), a Korana KhoiKhoi
leader who inhabited the area. Bloemfontein literally means fountain of flowers or flower spring in Dutch
.
With colonial policy shifts, the region changed into the Orange River Sovereignty
(1848–1854) and eventually the Orange Free State
Republic (1854–1902). From 1902–1910 it served as the capital of the Orange River Colony
and since that time as the provincial capital of the Free State
. In 1910 it became the Judicial capital of the Union of South Africa
.
.
Bloemfontein was the original farm of Johannes Nicolaas Brits born 21 February 1790, owner and first inhabitant of Bloemfontein. Johann – as he was known – sold the farm to Maj Warden.
As the capital of the Orange Free State Republic the growth and maturing of the Republic resulted in the growth of the town. Numerous public buildings that remain in use today were constructed. This was largely facilitated by the excellent governance of the Republic (which acquired the term model republic) and the compensation from the British for the loss of the diamond rich Griqualand area.
A railway line was built in 1890 connecting Bloemfontein to Cape Town
.
The writer J. R. R. Tolkien
was born in the city on 3 January 1892, though his family left South Africa following the death of his father, Arthur Tolkien, while Tolkien was still a child (1895). He recorded that his earliest memories were of "a hot country."
, which failed to prevent the outbreak of the Second Boer War
. The conference was a final attempt to avert a war between Britain
and the South African Republic
. With its failure the stage was set for war, which broke out on 11 October 1899.
The rail line from Cape Town
provided a centrally located railway station
, and proved critical to the British in occupying the city later.
On 13 March 1900, following the Battle of Paardeberg
, British forces captured the city and built a concentration camp nearby to house Boer
women and children. The National Women's Memorial, on the outskirts of the city, pays homage to the 26,370 women and children as well as 1,421 old men (Also 14,154 black people, though some sources feel that the records are unsatisfactory, and that this number could be as high as 20,000) who died in these camps in various parts of the country.
(formerly the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court) and is therefore generally regarded as the judicial capital. It is also an administrative centre with many private hospitals and educational institutions.
, which was upgraded from a Local Municipality
in 2011.
at an elevation of 1400 metres (4,593.2 ft), bordering on the semi-arid region of the Karoo
. The area is generally flat with occasional hills (koppies in Afrikaans
) and the general vegetation is Highveld
grassland. Bloemfontein experiences a semi-arid climate, with hot summer days (Jan: max:32 °C min:19 °C; frequent afternoon thunderstorm
s) and cooler, dry winters, often with frosts (July: max:14 °C min:-3 °C). Snow is uncommon but as recently as August 2006 it snowed in the city, with snowfalls occurring again at the airport on 26 July 2007.
, Fichardtpark, Fleurdal, Gardeniapark, Generaal De Wet, Hospitaalpark, Kiepersol, Langenhoven Park, Lourierpark, Park West, Pellissier, Uitsig, Universitas
, Westdene, Wilgehof and Willows
to the south of the city. To the north of Bloemfontein, you will find Langenhovenpark, Arboretum, Bayswater, Dan Pienaar
, Helicon Heights, Heuwelsig
, Hillsboro, Hillside, Hilton, Naval Hill, Navalsig, Noordhoek, Pentagon Park, Panorama Park,Waverley. The predominantly black suburbs are; Rocklands, Phahameng, Phelindaba, Bloemanda, Bochabela and the most historic Batho where the Maphikela House (where the African national Congress – ANC started) is situated.
and the surrounding sports complex is the main sports venue in the city and province. The venue was the hosting stadium of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa matches played in Bloemfontein. There are several other sports venues in the city, however, including facilities belonging to the university, schools and sports clubs.
Bloemfontein is joint home (together with nearby Botshabelo) to Premier Soccer League
team Bloemfontein Celtic
. Some of the matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
were played at the Free State Stadium, including the historic 4–1 defeat of England by Germany in the round of 16.
is home to two rugby union
teams; the Central Cheetahs
franchise who compete in the Super 15 and the Free State Cheetahs
who play in the domestic Currie Cup
. The Free State Cheetahs won the Currie Cup in 2005 against the Blue Bulls
, they drew the final with the Blue Bulls
in 2006 and retained the Currie Cup
title in 2007 by beating the Golden Lions
resulting in the Free State Cheetahs
remaining Currie Cup
champions until 2008 when the failed to make the final for the first time since 2004. 2009 saw the Cheetahs return to the Currie Cup final but they were unable to beat the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
representing the Free State and Northern Cape in various series is located at OUTsurance Oval, part of the Free State Stadium
complex. Bloemfontein features as a regular venue for touring international and local cricket teams.
communities in South Africa and the world is using the New Tempe Airport north of Bloemfontein.
track run by the Bloemfontein Off Road Club, as well as a go-kart
circuit (M&F Raceway), which is run by Bloemfontein Kart Club.
, English or Sesotho.
The largest tertiary institutions in Bloemfontein are the of University of the Free State
and the Central University of Technology
.
Private Colleges include Damelin, Boston City Campus, and the Qualitas Career Academy.
Visitors to Bloemfontein have the unique opportunity to interact with cheetahs, lions, leopards, and tigers, as well as with other animals that have been rescued at the Cheetah Experience in the suburb of Bainsvlei, only 5mins from the centre of Bloemfontein. Touching of animals is allowed and coming face to face with these creatures outside of a zoo environment is a once in a lifetime experience not to be missed.
One can also enjoy a day or a sleep over at the Bloemfontein Zoo. Zoo Snoozes are only one of the activities arranged by Friends of the Bloemfontein Zoo.
Boyden Observatory
, a unique astronomy
research and educational centre outside the city, offers public open evenings on certain nights during the year, arranged by the Friends of Boyden Observatory. Groups can also visit the observatory for exclusive evenings on appointment.
Atop Naval Hill is the Franklin Game Reserve. It was named after John Franklin, South African Senator, attorney and Mayor of Bloemfontein in the 1930s.
Free State
The Free State is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Orange Free State Boer republic and later Orange Free State Province. The current borders of the province date from 1994 when the Bantustans...
Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, the legislative capital, and Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, the administrative capital.
Bloemfontein is popularly and poetically known as "the city of rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
s", owing to the abundance of these flowers and the annual rose festival held there. The city's Sesotho name is Mangaung, meaning "place of cheetah
Cheetah
The cheetah is a large-sized feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. The cheetah is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, most notable for modifications in the species' paws...
s" and it has been included in the Mangaung Local Municipality since 2000 .
Bloemfontein is situated on dry grassland at 29°06′S 26°13′E, at an altitude of 1,395 metres above sea level. The city is home to 369,568 residents, while the Mangaung Local Municipality has a population of 645,455. Bloemfontein is served by Bloemfontein Airport
Bloemfontein Airport
Bloemfontein Airport is located in Bloemfontein, a city in the Free State province of South Africa. The runways are shared with AFB Bloemspruit.In 2004, the airport served 225,636 passengers Bloemfontein Airport is located in Bloemfontein, a city in the Free State province of South Africa. The...
.
History
Though historically a predominantly AfrikanerAfrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
settlement, Bloemfontein was officially founded in 1846 as a fort by British army major Henry Douglas Warden
Henry Douglas Warden
Henry Douglas Warden was the British Resident of the Orange River Sovereignty from 1848-1852, bought the farm Bloemfontein from Johannes Nicolaas Brits Bloemfontein.-Bibliography:...
as a British outpost in the Transoranje region, at that stage occupied by various groups of peoples including Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
Trek Boers, Griqua and Basotho
Basotho
The ancestors of the Sotho people have lived in southern Africa since around the fifth century. The Sotho nation emerged from the accomplished diplomacy of Moshoeshoe I who gathered together disparate clans of Sotho–Tswana origin that had dispersed across southern Africa in the early 19th century...
.
Although modern day Bloemfontein has a reputation for its flowers in an otherwise arid region, the origin of the city's name is unclear. Popular legends include an ox named "Bloem" owned by one of the pioneer farmers that was taken by a lion near a fountain on his property, while another story names Jan Blom (1775–1858), a Korana KhoiKhoi
Khoikhoi
The Khoikhoi or Khoi, in standardised Khoekhoe/Nama orthography spelled Khoekhoe, are a historical division of the Khoisan ethnic group, the native people of southwestern Africa, closely related to the Bushmen . They had lived in southern Africa since the 5th century AD...
leader who inhabited the area. Bloemfontein literally means fountain of flowers or flower spring in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
.
With colonial policy shifts, the region changed into the Orange River Sovereignty
Orange River Sovereignty
The Orange River Sovereignty was a short-lived political entity between the Orange and Vaal rivers in southern Africa. In 1854, it became the Orange Free State, and is now the Free State province of South Africa.-History:...
(1848–1854) and eventually the Orange Free State
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
Republic (1854–1902). From 1902–1910 it served as the capital of the Orange River Colony
Orange River Colony
The Orange River Colony was the British colony created after this nation first occupied and then annexed the independent Orange Free State in the Second Boer War...
and since that time as the provincial capital of the Free State
Free State
The Free State is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Orange Free State Boer republic and later Orange Free State Province. The current borders of the province date from 1994 when the Bantustans...
. In 1910 it became the Judicial capital of the Union of South Africa
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
.
Founding and early days
Warden originally chose the site largely because of its proximity to the main route to Winburg, the spacious open country, and the absence of horse sicknessAfrican Horse sickness
African horse sickness is a highly infectious, and deadly disease. It commonly affects horses, mules, and donkeys. It is caused by a virus of the genus Orbivirus belonging to the family Reoviridae. This disease can be caused by any of the nine serotypes of this virus...
.
Bloemfontein was the original farm of Johannes Nicolaas Brits born 21 February 1790, owner and first inhabitant of Bloemfontein. Johann – as he was known – sold the farm to Maj Warden.
1854–1898
A railway line was built in 1890 connecting Bloemfontein to Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
The writer J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
was born in the city on 3 January 1892, though his family left South Africa following the death of his father, Arthur Tolkien, while Tolkien was still a child (1895). He recorded that his earliest memories were of "a hot country."
Second Anglo-Boer War/South African War
In 1899, the city was the site of the Bloemfontein ConferenceBloemfontein Conference
The Bloemfontein Conference was a meeting that took place in Bloemfontein, capital of the Orange Free State from May 31 until June 5, 1899. The main issue dealt with the status of British migrant workers called "Uitlanders", who mined the gold fields in Transvaal.The conference was initiated by...
, which failed to prevent the outbreak of the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. The conference was a final attempt to avert a war between Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
and the South African Republic
South African Republic
The South African Republic , often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Not to be confused with the present-day Republic of South Africa, it occupied the area later known as the South African...
. With its failure the stage was set for war, which broke out on 11 October 1899.
The rail line from Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
provided a centrally located railway station
Bloemfontein railway station
Bloemfontein railway station is a railway station located in Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa.The first railway line connected Bloemfontein to Cape Town in 1890, resulting in a centrally located station site on the corner of Maitland and Harvey streets, east of Kings Park...
, and proved critical to the British in occupying the city later.
On 13 March 1900, following the Battle of Paardeberg
Battle of Paardeberg
The Battle of Paardeberg or Perdeberg was a major battle during the Second Anglo-Boer War. It was fought near Paardeberg Drift on the banks of the Modder River in the Orange Free State near Kimberley....
, British forces captured the city and built a concentration camp nearby to house Boer
Boer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
women and children. The National Women's Memorial, on the outskirts of the city, pays homage to the 26,370 women and children as well as 1,421 old men (Also 14,154 black people, though some sources feel that the records are unsatisfactory, and that this number could be as high as 20,000) who died in these camps in various parts of the country.
Recent history
Until 1994, the city was the sole judicial capital of South Africa. It remains the seat for the Supreme Court Of AppealSupreme Court of Appeal of South Africa
The Supreme Court of Appeal is an appellate court in South Africa; it is the highest appeal court except in constitutional matters, which are ultimately decided by the Constitutional Court...
(formerly the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court) and is therefore generally regarded as the judicial capital. It is also an administrative centre with many private hospitals and educational institutions.
Government
Bloemfontein forms part of the Mangaung Metropolitan MunicipalityMangaung Metropolitan Municipality
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality which governs Bloemfontein and surrounding towns in the Free State province of South Africa. Mangaung is a Sesotho name meaning "place of leopards"...
, which was upgraded from a Local Municipality
Local municipality (South Africa)
In South Africa, a local municipality or Category B municipality is a type of municipality that serves as the third, and most local, tier of local government...
in 2011.
Geography and climate
Bloemfontein is located in central South Africa on the southern edge of the HighveldHighveld
The Highveld is a high plateau region of inland South Africa which is largely home to the largest metropolitan area in the country, the Gauteng City Region, which accounts for one-third of South Africa's population.-Location and description:...
at an elevation of 1400 metres (4,593.2 ft), bordering on the semi-arid region of the Karoo
Karoo
The Karoo is a semi-desert region of South Africa. It has two main sub-regions - the Great Karoo in the north and the Little Karoo in the south. The 'High' Karoo is one of the distinct physiographic provinces of the larger South African Platform division.-Great Karoo:The Great Karoo has an area of...
. The area is generally flat with occasional hills (koppies in Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
) and the general vegetation is Highveld
Highveld
The Highveld is a high plateau region of inland South Africa which is largely home to the largest metropolitan area in the country, the Gauteng City Region, which accounts for one-third of South Africa's population.-Location and description:...
grassland. Bloemfontein experiences a semi-arid climate, with hot summer days (Jan: max:32 °C min:19 °C; frequent afternoon thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
s) and cooler, dry winters, often with frosts (July: max:14 °C min:-3 °C). Snow is uncommon but as recently as August 2006 it snowed in the city, with snowfalls occurring again at the airport on 26 July 2007.
Suburbs
Bloemfontein suburbs include Heidedal to the east and southeast, Bainsvlei, Woodland Hills Wildlife Estate, Bayswater, Brandwag, Ehrlichpark, FaunaFauna, Bloemfontein
Fauna is a suburb of the city of Bloemfontein in South Africa....
, Fichardtpark, Fleurdal, Gardeniapark, Generaal De Wet, Hospitaalpark, Kiepersol, Langenhoven Park, Lourierpark, Park West, Pellissier, Uitsig, Universitas
Universitas
Universitas is a Latin word meaning "the whole, total; the universe, the world". It may refer to:*Universitas 21, an international network of research-intensive universities....
, Westdene, Wilgehof and Willows
Willows, Bloemfontein
Willows is a suburb of Bloemfontein. It housed the first post office which was built in Bloemfontein. The post office was built in King Edward Drive, and most young people would know it as King Edward Cafe, however due to communication gaps, King Edward Cafe was demolished in 2006, to make space...
to the south of the city. To the north of Bloemfontein, you will find Langenhovenpark, Arboretum, Bayswater, Dan Pienaar
Dan Pienaar
Major General Daniel Hermanus Pienaar CB, DSO & Bar was a South African World War II military commander.Pienaar joined the artillery branch of the Natal Police in 1911, and transferred to the Union Defence Forces when they took over the NP in 1913...
, Helicon Heights, Heuwelsig
Heuwelsig
Heuwelsig is a suburb of Bloemfontein.It can be accessed via two roads, and...
, Hillsboro, Hillside, Hilton, Naval Hill, Navalsig, Noordhoek, Pentagon Park, Panorama Park,Waverley. The predominantly black suburbs are; Rocklands, Phahameng, Phelindaba, Bloemanda, Bochabela and the most historic Batho where the Maphikela House (where the African national Congress – ANC started) is situated.
Stadia
The Free State StadiumFree State Stadium
The Free State Stadium , also known as Vodacom Park, is a stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, used mainly for rugby union and association football...
and the surrounding sports complex is the main sports venue in the city and province. The venue was the hosting stadium of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa matches played in Bloemfontein. There are several other sports venues in the city, however, including facilities belonging to the university, schools and sports clubs.
Football
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
team Bloemfontein Celtic
Bloemfontein Celtic
Bloemfontein Celtic is a South African football club based in Bloemfontein, founded in 1969 as Mangaung United, and renamed in 1984 to its current name. The club currently compete in Premier Soccer League, and selected Seisa Ramabodu Stadium as their home venue...
. Some of the matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
were played at the Free State Stadium, including the historic 4–1 defeat of England by Germany in the round of 16.
Rugby
Bloemfontein's Free State StadiumFree State Stadium
The Free State Stadium , also known as Vodacom Park, is a stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, used mainly for rugby union and association football...
is home to two rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
teams; the Central Cheetahs
Central Cheetahs
The Central Cheetahs, known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs, is a South African rugby union team that entered the Super Rugby competition in 2006. The franchise area encompasses the Free State and Northern Cape. In terms of Currie Cup unions, the Cheetahs draw from Free State...
franchise who compete in the Super 15 and the Free State Cheetahs
Free State Cheetahs
The Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
who play in the domestic Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
. The Free State Cheetahs won the Currie Cup in 2005 against the Blue Bulls
Blue Bulls
The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by their Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
, they drew the final with the Blue Bulls
Blue Bulls
The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by their Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
in 2006 and retained the Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
title in 2007 by beating the Golden Lions
Golden Lions
The Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
resulting in the Free State Cheetahs
Free State Cheetahs
The Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
remaining Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
champions until 2008 when the failed to make the final for the first time since 2004. 2009 saw the Cheetahs return to the Currie Cup final but they were unable to beat the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
Cricket
The Eagles cricket teamEagles cricket team
The Chevrolet Knights is the name used by the combined Free State cricket team and Griqualand West first class cricket teams in South Africa. The team previously competed as the Diamond Eagles...
representing the Free State and Northern Cape in various series is located at OUTsurance Oval, part of the Free State Stadium
Free State Stadium
The Free State Stadium , also known as Vodacom Park, is a stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, used mainly for rugby union and association football...
complex. Bloemfontein features as a regular venue for touring international and local cricket teams.
Soaring
One of the most active soaringGliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
communities in South Africa and the world is using the New Tempe Airport north of Bloemfontein.
Motor sports
Bloemfontein has a motocrossMotocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
track run by the Bloemfontein Off Road Club, as well as a go-kart
Go-kart
thumb|A [[Kart racing|racing kart]] at the [[Commission Internationale de Karting|CIK-FIA]] European Championship 2008A go-kart is a small four-wheeled vehicle...
circuit (M&F Raceway), which is run by Bloemfontein Kart Club.
Education
Bloemfontein offers many institutions of learning, from pre-schools to Universities and colleges. Classes are taught in different schools in different languages, some schools even teaching all classes in two languages. These languages are mostly AfrikaansAfrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
, English or Sesotho.
Primary education
- Grey College Primary SchoolGrey College, BloemfonteinGrey College is a public school for boys located in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa, one of the 23 elite, historically significant and prestigious Milner Schools...
- Bloemfontein Primary School
- Laerskool Universitas (TJOKKIES)
- Willem Postma Primary School
- Laerskool Sentraal Primary
- Rutanang Primary School
- Brebner Primary School
- Fichardt Park Primary School
- Jim Fouché Primary School
- Gonyane primary
- Morafe primary
- Legae primary
- Rekgonne primary
Secondary education
- St. Andrew's SchoolSt. Andrew's School, BloemfonteinSt. Andrew's School, established in 1863 is a public school for boys located in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa.The years of study are from pre-primary to grade 12...
- Grey College Secondary SchoolGrey College, BloemfonteinGrey College is a public school for boys located in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa, one of the 23 elite, historically significant and prestigious Milner Schools...
- Eunice High SchoolEunice High School (Bloemfontein)Eunice High School is a girls' boarding schools in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The language of instruction is English.-History:Originally named the Oranje Vrij Staat Dames Instituut, the school was founded in 1875 on the initiative of the Dutch Reformed Church. The name Eunice is a biblical...
- Bloemfontein High School
- CVO Skool Dankbaar in Bain's Vlei is a private Calvinist school, affiliated with the BCVOBCVOThe BCVO is an educational organisation in South Africa, committed to providing primary and secondary education in the Calvinist tradition and Afrikaans language...
- Hoërskool Fichardtpark in Fichhardtpark
- Technical High School Louis Botha
- Hoërskool Jim Fouché
- Hoërskool Sand du Plessis
- St. Michael's SchoolSt. Michael's School, BloemfonteinSt. Michael's School, established in 1874 by the Community of St Michael and All Angels, is a public school with a boarding option for girls located in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa....
- Hoërskool Sentraal
- C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje
- Brebner High School
- Tsoseletso High School
- Kaelang Secondary School
- Heatherdale Secondary School
- Atlehang Senior Secondary School
Tertiary education
There is a Further Education and Training College called Motheo FET College which comprises three main campuses(Thaba N'chu, Hillside view and Bloemfontein)and the satellite campuses in Zastron,Philippolis and Botshabelo.The largest tertiary institutions in Bloemfontein are the of University of the Free State
University of the Free State
The University of the Free State is situated in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State, South Africa. The university also has a satellite campus in Qwaqwa that was, until 2003, part of the University of the North.-Academic Divisions:...
and the Central University of Technology
Central University of Technology
Central University of Technology, Free State or Central University of Technology is a University of Technology in Bloemfontein in the Free State province of South Africa. It was established in 1981 as "Technikon Free State". As part of the South African government's restructuring of tertiary...
.
Private Colleges include Damelin, Boston City Campus, and the Qualitas Career Academy.
Recreational
One can also enjoy a day or a sleep over at the Bloemfontein Zoo. Zoo Snoozes are only one of the activities arranged by Friends of the Bloemfontein Zoo.
Boyden Observatory
Boyden Observatory
Boyden Observatory is a South African astronomical research observatory and science education centre.-History:The observatory was originally founded in 1889 by the Harvard University at Mount Hardvard near Lima, Peru, but relocated to Arequipa, Peru in October 1890.Significant work done at Arequipa...
, a unique astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
research and educational centre outside the city, offers public open evenings on certain nights during the year, arranged by the Friends of Boyden Observatory. Groups can also visit the observatory for exclusive evenings on appointment.
Atop Naval Hill is the Franklin Game Reserve. It was named after John Franklin, South African Senator, attorney and Mayor of Bloemfontein in the 1930s.
Radio
- OFMOFM (South Africa)OFM is a commercial radio station based in Bloemfontein, with satellite offices in Potchefstroom South Africa.It was originally a split of Radio Highveld only broadcasting in the evenings, and began broadcasting under the name Radio Oranje on the 1st of July, 1985.In 1985, Radio Oranje started...
- Lesedi FMLesedi FMLesedi FM is a South African radio network owned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation....
- Motheo FM
- Med FM
- Radio RosestadRadio RosestadRadio Rosestad is a community-based radio station in Bloemfontein, South Africa.Formed in 1995 as Radio Vryheid, it subsequently changed its name to Radio Rosestad. It mainly broadcasts for the general Afrikaans community on 100.6 FM....
- Radio Suid Afrika
Famous people
Many famous persons are associated with Bloemfontein; these include:- Allan DonaldAllan DonaldAllan Anthony Donald is a former South African cricketer and one of their most successful pace bowlers.In his prime, he was one of the best fast bowlers ever seen in Test cricket, reaching the top of the ICC Test rankings in 1998 and peaked with a top ICC ranking of 895 points the next year, the...
, South African cricketCricketCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er - Francois SteynFrançois SteynFrancois Steyn is a South African rugby union player, who plays for the South African national team; and Racing Métro 92 in Paris. He was a member of the South African team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup...
, rugbyRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player - Hansie CronjeHansie CronjeWessel Johannes "Hansie" Cronje was a South African cricketer and captain of the South African national cricket team in the 1990s...
, controversial South African cricketCricketCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
captain - J. R. R. TolkienJ. R. R. TolkienJohn Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
was born in Bloemfontein on 3 January 1892. Tolkien is famous for his fantasy epics The HobbitThe HobbitThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again, better known by its abbreviated title The Hobbit, is a fantasy novel and children's book by J. R. R. Tolkien. It was published on 21 September 1937 to wide critical acclaim, being nominated for the Carnegie Medal and awarded a prize from the New York Herald...
, The Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
and The SilmarillionThe SilmarillionThe Silmarillion is a collection of J. R. R. Tolkien's mythopoeic works, edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, with assistance from Guy Gavriel Kay, who later became a noted fantasy writer. The Silmarillion, along with J. R. R...
. When aged 3, Tolkien left South Africa for England. - Juan SmithJuan SmithJuan Hugo Smith is a South African rugby union footballer. His usual position is at blindside flanker, although he has also played number eight, he plays for the Springboks. He plays for the Vodacom Cheetahs in the international Super 14 competition as well as the Free State Cheetahs in the...
, rugbyRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player - Leon SchusterLeon SchusterLeon Ernest "Schuks" Schuster is a South African filmmaker, comedian, actor, presenter and singer.- Early life :Schuster was drawn to the filmmaking process at an early age...
, filmmaker, comedian and musician, born and schooled in Bloemfontein - Magna Kruger - fantasty novelist
- Morne van WykMorne van WykMorne Nico van Wyk is a South African cricketer who has played six One Day Internationals. He made his ODI debut at Lords in 2003 scoring 17 in a very low scoring game. He is also the brother of fellow Eagles player Divan van Wyk. On the 9th of January 2011 in a Twenty20 International match...
played for South Africa Proteas Cricket team - Os du RandtOs du RandtJacobus Petrus du Randt, better known as Os du Randt , is a former South African rugby union loosehead prop who retired as the most-capped forward in the history of the Springboks...
, rugbyRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player - Ryk NeethlingRyk NeethlingRyk Neethling is a South African swimmer. He won an Olympic gold medal in the 4×100 m freestyle relay at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He is the former joint owner of the 4×100 m freestyle relay world record and holds several South African records...
, Olympic gold medalist swimmer - Shaun MorganShaun MorganShaun Morgan Welgemoed is a South African musician known as the lead singer and the lead/rhythm guitarist of the post-grunge rock/alternative metal band Seether.-Early life:...
and Dale StewartDale StewartDale William Stewart is a South African musician, best known as the bass guitarist of the post-grunge band Seether.-Seether:Studio albums*Fragile *Disclaimer *Karma and Effect...
, musicians and founding members of the band SeetherSeetherSeether is a post-grunge/alternative metal band from Pretoria, South Africa, formed in 1999. The band is currently signed to Wind-up Records... - Zola BuddZola BuddZola Pieterse, better known by her maiden name of Zola Budd , is a former Olympic track and field competitor who, in less than three years, twice broke the world record in the women's 5000 metres and twice was the women's winner at the World Cross Country Championships...
, international long distance athlete, born in the city and attended Sentraal High School - Willem JacksonWillem JacksonWillem Jackson is a South African footballer playing as defender for Platinum Stars of the Premier Soccer League.He played mostly for Bloemfontein Celtic and Orlando Pirates....
, played for South Africa Bafana Bafana soccer team - Cobus Potgieter, drummer
- Kareem Salman, Humanitarian born in Bloemfontein
- Tony Kgoroge, South African actor, performances in movies including Hotel RwandaHotel RwandaHotel Rwanda is a 2004 American drama film directed by Terry George. It was adapted from a screenplay written by both George and Keir Pearson. Based on real life events which took place in Rwanda during the spring of 1994, the film stars Don Cheadle as hotelier Paul Rusesabagina, who attempts to...
, Blood DiamondBlood Diamond (film)Blood Diamond is a 2006 political thriller film co-produced and directed by Edward Zwick and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou...
, InvictusInvictus (film)Invictus is a 2009 biographical sports drama film directed by Clint Eastwood starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.The story is based on the John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation about the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World...
, Lord of WarLord of WarLord of War is a 2005 French-German-American action drama film written and directed by Andrew Niccol and starring Nicolas Cage. It was released in the United States on September 16, 2005, with the DVD following on January 17, 2006 and the Blu-ray Disc on July 27, 2006.Cage plays an illegal arms...
and SkinSkin (2009 film)Skin is a British-South African 2008 biographical film directed by Anthony Fabian, about Sandra Laing, a South African woman born to white parents who was classified as "coloured" during the apartheid era. Skin premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2008. The film was...
. - Gerrit BadenhorstGerrit BadenhorstGerrit Badenhorst is a world champion powerlifter and professional strongman competitor from South Africa. Gerrit was 8 times South Africa's Strongest Man...
, (born 10 Oct. 1962) is a powerlifter and strongman competitor from South Africa. He was seven times South Africa’s Strongest Man and participated in the World's Strongest ManWorld's Strongest ManThe World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
finals on seven occasions, coming second in 1995. - Lucas Maree, Afrikaans musician and songwriter
- Coenie de VilliersCoenie de VilliersCoenie de Villiers , born 11 October 1956, is a South African singer/songwriter, piano player, pop artist who sings in his mother tongue, Afrikaans...
, Afrikaans musician and songwriter - Maretha Maartens, Afrikaans author
Religion
Bloemfontein has a large and diverse Christian population. The city houses several churches and denominations:- It is the seat of the Anglican Diocese of the Free StateAnglican Diocese of the Free StateThe Anglican Diocese of the Free State is a diocese in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.-History:The first service North of the Orange River to be taken by an Anglican clergyman was conducted in 1850 by Robert Gray, the first Bishop of Cape Town. In 1863, Edward Twells was consecrated the...
- Afrikaans Baptist Church (Afrikaans: Afrikaanse Baptiste Kerk)
- Dutch Reformed ChurchDutch Reformed ChurchThe Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
(Afrikaans: Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk) - Sacred HeartSacred HeartThe Sacred Heart is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity....
Cathedral in Bloemfontein is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bloemfontein - Seventh-day Adventist ChurchSeventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
, Southern African headquarters. - Christian Revival Church (CRC), is the largest church in bloemfontein with over 30 000 members. It has 40 daughter churches across South Africa, Europe, America & Australia. The church is led by Pastor At BoshoffAt BoshoffAt Boshoff is a well-known South African religious leader. He is an executive member of the International Federation of Christian Churches , and the pastor of the second largest and fastest growing church in South Africa.-Early life:...
, together with his wife Nyretta . - New Covenant Ministries InternationalNew Covenant Ministries InternationalNew Covenant Ministries International is Christian ministry team.an Ephesians 4:11-13 -based trans-local team of men and women working together for the benefit of advancing the 'Kingdom of God' through working with local autonomous churches throughout the world whether they 'relate' to the NCMI...
led by Chris Gerber. Is a vibrant New Testament Church known by the name Fountainhead Church International.
Community Service Organizations
- Round Table 25 Bloemfontein Round TableRound Table (club)Round Table is a social networking and charitable organisation for men in their 20s, 30s and early 40s, founded in Norwich, England, in 1927. It is open to all men aged between 18 and 45...
is a non-political, non-racial association of young men between the ages of 18 and 40, embracing representatives of nearly every profession and occupation. Its objects are the encouragement of high ethical standards, the promotion of social inter-action and fellowship among young professional and business men and the quickening of individual interest in everything affecting the public welfare. - Round Table 158 Bloemfontein The first Round TableRound Table (club)Round Table is a social networking and charitable organisation for men in their 20s, 30s and early 40s, founded in Norwich, England, in 1927. It is open to all men aged between 18 and 45...
was formed in NorwichNorwichNorwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, England in 1927. The founder, Louis MarchesiLouis MarchesiEminio William Louis Marchesi founded the Round Table, an international fellowship and community charitable organisation for young businessmen....
, was a young member of Norwich Rotary Club who felt a need existed for a club where the young business men of the town could gather on a regular basis. At their meetings they could exchange ideas, learn from the experiences of their colleagues and play a collective part in the civic life of Norwich. From a very early stage it was agreed that Round Table would be a non-religious, non-political club and this has continued to this day. - Child Welfare Bloemfontein Child Welfare Bloemfontein & Childline Free State is a non-profit organisation that was founded in 1914 by a group of volunteers who identified a need for welfare services among the community. In 2004, Child Welfare Bloemfontein celebrated its 90th birthday. Over the past 90 years, many community programmes have been successfully implemented.
- Arrive Alive South Africa Official Road Safety Website Our vision was " To develop an effective road safety information portal that will enhance awareness of road safety and save lives", the web site is currently owned by Adv. Johan Jonck & was developed by a local Bloemfontein web site company Chillies.co.za & this partnership achieved massive milestones has now been endorsed by the RTMC & Department of Roads South Africa as the only Official Road Safety web site for South Africa.
- http://www.masoniclodges.co.za/index.php FREEMASONS – The Masonic Centre, Bloemfontein, was built during the 1970s when all the Masonic Lodges in Bloemfontein, sold their individual properties. The Centre was erected to facilitate all Masonic activities in Bloemfontein and surrounding areas. All four Constitutions that is active in South Africa, gather at the Centre. The Lodges that has ownership of the Centre is Lodge Unie (est. 1864); the Rising Star Lodge (est. 1865); Thistle Lodge (est.1903); Emerald Lodge (est. 1905); Lodge Dagbreek (est. 1932) & Lodge Oranje (est. 1964). Various side degrees are catered for at the Centre which includes the Mark, Ark, the Royal Arch & Rose Croix. Bloemfontein has a rich Masonic history especially in the Anglo Boer War (1899–1902), with members such as Lord Kitchener, Rudyard Kipling and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, visiting Lodges in Bloemfontein.
- http://www.petactiongroup.co.za The Pet Action Group is a Non Profit Animal Welfare Organisation started in 2000. Their aim is to make a difference in the lives of animals in poverty stricken areas in and around Bloemfontein.
External links
- Bloemfontein City Guide | Mangaung info
- Bloemfontein The official Mangaung Local Municipality website
- http://www.bloempages.com Bloemfontein Online Directory & Live Help Desk