Vryheid
| Vryheid | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Vryheid Vryheid shown within South Africa
| |
| Coordinates: 27°46′01″S 30°48′00″E / 27.76694°S 30.80000°ECoordinates: 27°46′01″S 30°48′00″E / 27.76694°S 30.80000°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| District | Zululand |
| Municipality | Abaqulusi |
| Established | 1884[1] |
| Area[2] | |
| • Total | 48.71 km2 (18.81 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 47,365 |
| • Density | 970/km2 (2,500/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011)[2] | |
| • Black African | 84.5% |
| • Coloured | 1.7% |
| • Indian/Asian | 1.3% |
| • White | 12.1% |
| • Other | 0.3% |
| First languages (2011)[2] | |
| • Zulu | 79.8% |
| • Afrikaans | 10.2% |
| • English | 6.2% |
| • Other | 3.7% |
| Postal code (street) | 3100 |
| PO box | 3100 |
| Area code | 034 |
Vryheid is a coal mining and cattle ranching town in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Vryheid is Afrikaans for "freedom" or "liberty".
History
After British and Boer mercenaries had helped Dinuzulu defeat his rival Usibepu for succession of the Zulu throne, land and farming rights were granted to them along the banks of the Mfolozi River. On August 5, 1884 the mercenaries formed the Nieuwe Republiek (New Republic) with Vryheid as its capital. It was later incorporated into the South African Republic, but at the end of the Second Boer War the town and its surrounding area was absorbed into Natal. Vryheid is located along the Transnet Coaline.
Education
In 2007 Inkamana High School and Vryheid Comprehensive Secondary School were amongst several schools recognised as "historic schools". Funding of six million rand a year was earmarked for these two and Adams College, Ohlange High School and Inanda Seminary to make them academies focussing on Maths, Science and Technology.[3]
Other schools are Hoërskool Vryheid, which uses both Afrikaans and English as the medium of instruction and Hoërskool Pionier which uses just Afrikaans as medium of instruction.
References
- ↑ "Chronological order of town establishment in South Africa based on Floyd (1960:20-26)". pp. xlv–lii.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Main Place Vryheid". Census 2011.
- ↑ Ngcobo, Gabisile (10 Oct 2012). "Plea to maintain ‘historic’ schools in SA". The Witness.
Media related to Vryheid at Wikimedia Commons
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