Brandfort

Brandfort
Brandfort  Brandfort shown within Free State
Coordinates:
Country	South Africa
Province	Free State
District	Lejweleputswa
Municipality	Masilonyana
Established	1875
Area
• Total	29.9 km2 (11.5 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	12,899
• Density	430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	87.1%
• Coloured	1.2%
• Indian/Asian	0.3%
• White	11.2%
• Other	0.2%
First languages (2011)
• Sotho	55.3%
• Xhosa	16.6%
• Afrikaans	13.5%
• Tswana	9.1%
• Other	5.5%
Postal code (street)	9400
PO box	9400
Area code	051

Brandfort is a small town in the Free State province of South Africa. Jacobus van Zijl, a Voortrekker elder, established a church on his farm Keerom in 1866. The community was visited by Orange Free State president Brand and, shortly afterwards, the town was named in his honour. The British built a concentration camp here during the Boer War to house Boer women and children. For many years during Apartheid, Winnie Mandela, the ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, was exiled there. Also Cardiff City F.C. midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi was born in Brandfort. Brandfort was also home to former prime-minister H.F. Verwoerd, who matriculated there.