| Phuthaditjhaba | |
|---|---|
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Phuthaditjhaba
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Free State |
| Elevation | 1,646 m (5,400 ft) |
| Time zone | SAST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | |
Phuthaditjhaba (formerly Witsieshoek) is a town in the Free State province of South Africa. The frequent snow on the Drakensberg mountain peaks surrounding the town led the San to call the region Qwa-Qwa (whiter than white). It was known as Witsiehoek to the European settlers. The area was then turned into the bantustan or homeland of QwaQwa with Phuthaditjhaba as the capital. The bantustan system was scrapped when apartheid ended. Since the apartheid system was abolished in South Africa in 1994 Phuthaditjhaba has become a vibrant big town in the Eastern Free State with inter alia a well functioning regional hospital called Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli regional hospital