Brandfort, renamed Winnie Mandela, is a small agricultural town situated in the central region of the Free State province of South Africa.
Overview
| Country: | South Africa |
| Province: | Free State |
| District: | Lejweleputswa |
| Municipality: | Masilonyana |
| Established: | 1866 |
| Named After: | Sir Johannes Henricus Brand |
| Total Area: | 27.1 km² (10.5 sq mi) |
| Population: | 3,143 (2011) |
| Population Density: | 116/km² (300/sq mi) |
| Time Zone: | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal Code (street): | 9400 |
| PO Box: | 9400 |
| Area Code: | 051 |
About Brandfort
Brandfort is located on the R30 Provincial Route and R703 Regional Route, appoximately about 62 km northeast of Bloemfontein (the Provincial Capital) in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.
The town serves the surrounding farms for supplies and amenities.
Brandfort, and specifically Majwemasweu township, is well known for once being home to the anti-apartheid stalwart and wife of Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, during her banishment. Her home has since become a tourist attraction.
Brandfort is known for Pickly Pears, of which this fruit has 24 other uses accept for being able to eat it fresh from the farm.
Vice-Admiral Weston’s home is a popular tourist attraction because the first ever aeroplane in Africa was built on his property in Brandfort.
History
The town was established in 1866 on the farm Keerom, occupied by Jacobus van Motlogeloa who was a Voortrekker elder. The community was visited by the then Orange Free State President, Johannes Brand, and the settlement was named in his honour shortly afterwards. Brandfort was proclaimed a town in 1874.
The British built a concentration camp here during the Second Anglo-Boer War to house Boer women and children as well as a separate camp for Blacks. Brandfort was also at one time home to former prime minister Hendrik Verwoerd, an architect of apartheid, who matriculated here.
Attractions
Brandfort is home to many historical sites and offers tourists loads of activities to enjoy.
Below are some of the attractions in Brandfort:
- Winnie Mandela House (In Majwemasoeu)
- Dwyersdorp Concentration Camp
- Vice-Admiral Weston Home (First aeroplane in Africa was built here)
- President Swart Farm (Former President CR Swart)
- Voortrekker Memorial
- Cyferfontein Flower Farm
- Palmietfontein Dam
