Free State

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Free State
Vrystaat
Foreistata

Capital

Bloemfontein

Largest city

Bloemfontein

Premier

Beatrice Marshoff (ANC)

Area
- Total

Ranked 3rd
129,480 km²

Population
- Total (2001)
- Density

Ranked 8th
2,706,776
21/km²

Languages

Sotho (62%)
Afrikaans (14%)
Xhosa (9.5%)

Ethnic composition

Black (88.0%)
Caucasian (8.8%)
Coloured (3.1%)
Asian (0.1%)

edit

This article is about the province in South Africa. For the term as it was used historically in the United States, see free state. For Ireland 1922-1937, see Irish Free State. For the form of government, see Free state (government).

The Free State is a province of South Africa. The name is a popular contraction of the previous name the Orange Free State. Its capital is Bloemfontein which is also South Africa's judicial capital. On 9 June 1995 its name was changed from Orange Free State to Free State. The current borders date from 1994 when the Bantustans were abolished and included into the provinces of South Africa.

It is situated on flat boundless plains in the heart of South Africa. The soil is rich and the climate good allowing a thriving agricultural industry. It is known locally as South Africa's bread basket, with more than 30 000 farms that produce over 70% of the country's grain consumption. It also has some of the most productive gold and diamond mines in the world.

1 District municipalities
- 1.1 Major towns
2 Language
3 See also

[edit] District municipalities

Map showing the local municipalities in the Free State

The Free State is divided into 5 district municipalities (districts). These are again subdivided into 3 to 5 local municipalities each, totalling 20 local municipalities.

The 5 districts are:

Northern Free State in the north (pale green)
Thabo Mofutsanyane in the east (blue)
Motheo in the south-east (pink)
Xhariep in the south (cyan)
Lejweleputswa in the north-west (yellow)

[edit] Major towns

The major towns include:

Bloemfontein in Motheo
Bethlehem in Thabo Mofutsanyane
Welkom and Sasolburg in Northern Free State
Kroonstad in Lejweleputswa

See also List of cities and towns in the Free State

[edit] Language

Map showing predominant home languages in the province.

Sesotho is the dominant home language in most of the province. Afrikaans dominates in the south-west and in parts of the towns. isiZulu is the major language in the eastern municipality of Phumelela. Setswana is the main langauage in Tokologo (west).