Schweizer-Reneke
| Schweizer-Reneke | |
|---|---|
  Schweizer-Reneke Schweizer-Reneke shown within South Africa
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| Coordinates: 27°11′S 25°20′E / 27.183°S 25.333°ECoordinates: 27°11′S 25°20′E / 27.183°S 25.333°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | North West |
| District | Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati |
| Municipality | Mamusa |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 22.75 km2 (8.78 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 41,226 |
| • Density | 1,800/km2 (4,700/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011)[1] | |
| • Black African | 92.5% |
| • Coloured | 2.4% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.5% |
| • White | 4.3% |
| • Other | 0.4% |
| First languages (2011)[1] | |
| • Tswana | 86.2% |
| • Afrikaans | 5.8% |
| • Sotho | 2.2% |
| • English | 1.8% |
| • Other | 4.0% |
| Area code | 053 |
Schweizer-Reneke, sometimes referred to as "Schweizer" is a town of approximately 33,000 people in the North West Province of South Africa. It is the administrative centre of Mamusa Local Municipality.[2]
History
Schweizer-Reneke was formerly part of the old Transvaal province. Founded on October 1, 1888, the town is situated on the banks of the Harts River, with six regional roads exiting the town. The town is named after Captain C.A. Schweizer and Field Cornet C.N. Reneke. Both men distinguished themselves and were among the ten soldiers killed while storming the stronghold of the Khoi Koi Koranna Khoe and their chief David Massouw on the nearby Mamusa Hill on December 2, 1885 during an action to put an end to cattle rustling in the area. The remains of the stone fortifications of Chief David Massouw can still be seen on Mamusa Hill.
Mamusa means: place of the black rock kopjes or little hills. Also refers to a type of thorn tree.
Economy
The principal crops of the region around Schweizer-Reneke are mainly maize, sorghum, groundnuts and sunflower seeds. In addition, cattle and sheep farming is practiced in the region on a relatively large scale on the grasslands where the soil is unsuitable for cultivation. Schweizer-Reneke is rich in diamond deposits. This led to large scale private diamond mining in the area.
Wenzel Dam, just north of the town on the Harts River, has been developed into a holiday resort.
Demographics
According to the 2001 census, the town of Schweizer-Reneke proper has a population of 2,601,[3] while the adjacent township of Ipelegeng has a population of 30,053,[4] giving the urban area a total population of 32,654.
91.5% of the people in the urban area described themselves as "Black African", 5.6% as "White", 2.5% as "Coloured", and 0.4% as "Indian or Asian". 69.8% of the people of the town proper described themselves as "White", whereas 98.4% of the people of Ipelegeng township described themselves as "Black African".
85.6% of the people in the urban area speak Tswana as their first language, while 7.3% speak Afrikaans, 3.5% speak Sotho and 1.7% speak Xhosa.
Education
The town has public secondary schools:
Hoërskool Schweizer Reneke
Ipelegeng High School
Itshupeng Secondary Schooland
Reabetswe Secondary School
It also has public primary schools:
Laerskool Schweizer Reneke
Kolong Primary School
Ikgomotseng Primary School
Kgatontle Primary School
Tshwaraganelo Primary School
Mamusa Primary School,and
Charon Primary School.
Famous people
- Wynand Claassen, former Springbok rugby captain was born there.
- Elisabeth Eybers - Poet
- Irma Stern - Artist
- Essop Pahad, Politician
- Themba Maruping, Transport Planner, Provincial Table Tennis Player
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Main Place Schweizer-Reneke". Census 2011.
- ↑ Municipal Demarcation Board : Municipal Profiles 2003 : Contact Information for Mamusa Local Municipality Retrieved 15 April 2010
- ↑ "Main Place Schweizer-Reneke". Census 2001. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ↑ "Main Place Ipelegeng". Census 2001. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
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