Steelpoort

Steelpoort
Steelpoort

 Steelpoort shown within South Africa

Coordinates: 24°44′S 30°12′E / 24.73°S 30.20°ECoordinates: 24°44′S 30°12′E / 24.73°S 30.20°E
Country South Africa
Province Limpopo
District Greater Sekhukhune
Municipality Greater Tubatse
Area[1]
 • Total 3.11 km2 (1.20 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 1,105
 • Density 360/km2 (920/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 66.0%
 • Coloured 4.2%
 • Indian/Asian 1.2%
 • White 28.5%
 • Other 0.1%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Northern Sotho 34.5%
 • Afrikaans 33.3%
 • English 11.7%
 • Zulu 3.6%
 • Other 17.0%
Postal code (street) 1133
PO box 1133
Area code 013

Steelpoort is a mining town in Sekhukhune District Municipality in the Limpopo province of South Africa. It is located at the border with Mpumalanga province.[2]

Mining operations around Steelpoort include the Dwarsrivier chrome mine (30 km from Steelpoort, located in the Mpumalanga province [3]) owned by Assmang, Tweefontein chrome mine owned by Samancor, Two Rivers and Modikwe platinum mines managed by Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Minerals, as well as Mototolo platinum mine and the Lion Ferrochrome smelter, both owned by Xstrata.[2]

The name Steelpoort is derived from a hunting expedition that took place either in the late 19th century or the early 20th century. When a group of Voortrekkers from Natal under Frans Joubert had settled there, a man called Scholtz shot an elephant at dusk and on returning next morning found that the tusks had been removed. The river flowing through the poort was then called Steelpoort River (‘steel’ meaning steal).[4] An increase in the mining of chrome and magnetite led to the construction of a railway line between Steelpoort and Lydenburg in 1924.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Main Place Steelpoort". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Steelpoort at war with miners". The New Age Online. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Assmang chrome: Dvarsrivier mine
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "A Phase I Heritage Impact Assessment (hia) Study For Modikwa Platinum’s South Shaft 3 Project Area In The Steelpoort In The Limpopo And Mpumalanga Provinces Of South Africa". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Retrieved 2 January 2014.