Morgenzon

Morgenzon
Morgenzon

 Morgenzon shown within South Africa

Coordinates: 26°43′59″S 29°36′55″E / 26.73306°S 29.61528°ECoordinates: 26°43′59″S 29°36′55″E / 26.73306°S 29.61528°E
Country South Africa
Province Mpumalanga
District Gert Sibande
Municipality Lekwa
Established 1912
Area[1]
 • Total 4.19 km2 (1.62 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 1,893
 • Density 450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 53.1%
 • Coloured 1.4%
 • Indian/Asian 1.6%
 • White 43.2%
 • Other 0.6%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Zulu 48.4%
 • Afrikaans 38.0%
 • English 5.5%
 • Swazi 1.9%
 • Other 6.2%
Postal code (street) 2315
PO box 2315
Area code 017

Morgenzon (Dutch for morning light) is a small farming town situated on the banks of the Osspruit River (Ox Stream) with an important agricultural school in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The town is 45 km south-west of Ermelo and 35 km south-east of Bethal.[2]

History

The town was laid out in 1912 on the farm Morgenzon and has been administered by a village council since 1920. Named after the farm, Morgenzon is Dutch for ‘morning sun’.[2] It was established around the Marnico Hotel which was built in 1912 on a wagon stopover between Standerton and Ermelo, Mpumalanga.

During the early 1990s, Morgenzon was the site of a failed attempt to set up a homeland for white South Africans. The idea originated in the early 1980s, when Hendrik Verwoerd Jr, son of the former prime minister Hendrik Verwoerd, moved to Morgenzon along with a group known as Oranjewerkers.[3]

Ultimately only 20 families followed him, as his plans required them to give up their black servants and labourers, and most of Morgenzon's whites were reluctant to perform the menial tasks that were otherwise reserved for blacks.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Main Place Morgenzon". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 315.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sly, Liz (12 March 1992). "Homeland Dream Dims For White S. Africans". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 5 January 2014.