Dewetsdorp is a small town situated along the R702 Regional Route in the Free State province of South Africa.
Overview
| Country: | South Africa |
| Province: | Free State |
| Municipality: | Mangaung |
| Established: | 1880 |
| Named After: | Jacobus de Wet |
| Total Area: | 23.05 km² (8.90 sq mi) |
| Population: | 833 (2011) |
| Population Density: | 36.1/km² (93.6/sq mi) |
| Time Zone: | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal Code (street): | 9940 |
| PO Box: | 9940 |
| Area Code: | 051 |
Dewetsdorp is located at the intersection of the R702 and R717 Regional Routes, approximately 72 km south-east of Bloemfontein, the provincial capital.
This town was originally laid out on the farm Kareefontein in 1876 and at first bore this name. Field-cornet Jacobus de Wet, father of the Second Anglo-Boer War general Christiaan de Wet, then decided, without permission from the Volksraad, that this farm would offer safety to those in war.
Applications to the Volksraad in 1876 for the establishment of a village failed, but another request in 1879 led to recognition in 1880 under the name Dewetsdorp, named after Jacobus de Wet. Municipal status was attained in 1890.
Dewetsdorp was the scene of heavy fighting in the Second Anglo-Boer War. General Christiaan de Wet successfully attacked English forces stationed there in November 1900.
In 1927, three officials died when the town hall was blown up by one Huibrecht Jacob de Leeuw in an attempt to cover up evidence of his embezzlement of town funds. The new Town Hall, built in 1928, was declared a South African Heritage Site in 1995.
The attractions in Dewetsdorp include the following:
- Centenary Festival Monument
- British Monument and War Graves (Anglo-Boer War)
- Ethopian Church (Morojaneng Township)
- Hiking and biking
- De Wet Grave
- Twins Memorial
