Harrismith is a large town situated in the Thabo Mofutsanyana region of the Free State province of South Africa. The town is situated alongside the N3 highway, next to the Wilge River, midway between Johannesburg and Durban.
Harrismith is located at the junction of the N5 highway, which continues westward towards the provincial capital Bloemfontein, about 340 km to the south-west.
Overview
| Country: | South Africa |
| Province: | Free State |
| District: | Thabo Mofutsanyana |
| Municipality: | Maluti-A-Phofung |
| Established: | 1849 |
| Named After: | Sir Harry Smith |
| Total Area: | 138.80 km² (53.59 sq mi) |
| Population: | 52,765 (2021) |
| Population Density: | 380.15/km² (984.59/sq mi) |
| Time Zone: | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal Code (street): | 9880 |
| PO Box: | 9880 |
| Area Code: | 058 |
About Harrismith
Harrismith is an important crossroads in South Africa’s land trade routes. This tranquil town was founded in 1849 by British Governor Sir Harry Smith, who tried to persuade the Voortrekkers not to abandon KwaZulu-Natal.
Intabazwe, the Zulu name for Harrismith, is translated as the mountain who’s summit looks like the plains. This is a good description of the mountain at whose base Harrismith is established, and which is also known of as the Platberg (flat mountain). The sandstone on the mountain is topped with a dolerite cap.
Initially, Harrismith was laid out by Robert Moffat about 25 km from the present location, in present-day Aberfeldy on the Elands River. Due to a deficiency in water, the town was moved to its present location. This shifting happened in 1850. It then took 24 years for the town to become a municipality.
During the diamond rush in Kimberley, Harrismith started growing busy. As a result, it became a busy staging post on the Natal transport route, and hotels, grocery stores and public building started to spring up.
The town continued growing that it became the second largest town in Orange Free State in the 1880s. Infrastructure and traffic increased in the region making fording of the Wilge River difficult. When the area received heavy rains, transport and communication were interrupted. The government opened two bridges in 1884, one six miles towards Bethlehem, and another at the current Swinburne. Usage of these bridges was taxed until 1905.
In 1892, the railway from Natal to Harrismith opened, but due to political problems, it did not go any further for some time.
Harrismith was a major base during the Anglo-Boer War. The town has a military cemetery, engineering works, and blockhouses which are the evidence of the war. The major street of the town is called Warden Street and it was named after Major Henry D. Warden. 90 km away from Harrismith is Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal, a town which was also named after Sir Harry Smith’s spanish wife, Lady Smith.
Harrismith has since progressed to become a charming and delightful town, housing several churches and public buildings. The annual Berg Marathon is held in Plattberg, which is one of the most prestigious cross country running events in South Africa.
This town has become more popular because of its beauty and an unlimited number of tourist attractions. The town has become famous for refreshment stop along the N3 highway. It offers a good place for refueling of trucks and vehicles. The town has spectacular soapstone houses which were built in the 19th century. The British influence is still evident in the town. The town has buildings of British architectural styles. An example is the Blockhouse which was built by the British near the Botanical garden.
Present day tourist attractions include comfortable accommodation, water sports at Sterkfontein dam, golf sports, hiking trails, mountain biking, climbing and excursions, and game farms. There are attractive wildlife and nature in the surrounding regions. Examples are the Royal Natal Park and Golden Gate Highlands National Park which offers wildlife adventures and bird watching.
Other tourist attractions in the town are Boer battlefields, tourist fishing, Debora Retief Garden, the Market Hall Museum, craft markets, township tours and as mentioned above, a variety of historical buildings.
Harrismith is renowned for its delicious steaks, with the town being the capital of South Africa’s top red meat producing industry. Harrismith is also the centre of one of the five wool-producing districts in Southern Africa.
For a cultural experience of note, the Intabazwe Township Tour offers an eye-opening experience into the effects of apartheid. This township has a population of over 60,000 black South Africans, smaller than many of the townships in the larger cities. Tours will include a look into the day-to-day lives at township schools, taverns and spaza shops. Local children are eager to impress, and will put on traditional dance and drum performances for your entertainment.
It’s all high grassland around Harrismith as you descend and approach the Wilge River. The road splits and you do a big loop around to the left to reach and then cross the river by a narrow causeway. This is where you begin to see the ‘giants’ castles’ sandstone bastions that loom out of the grasslands looking for all the world like the fortresses of a long-gone giant race.
In fact they are the sandstone remains of a landscape that has eroded away that once supported a thick slab of Drakensberg basalt. In between these are interspersed wetlands where you might see congregations of waterbirds in spring and summer.
Racial makeup
According to the 2011 Census, 87.1% of the population in Harrismith describes itself as Black African, 10.7% as White, 1.3% as Indian/Asian, 0.8% as Coloured, and 0.2% as other races.
Languages
According to the 2011 Census, the first language of 49.4% of the population is isiZulu, while 32.6% speak Sesotho, 10.4% speak Afrikaans, 3.7% speak English, and 3.8% speak other languages.
Townships
Intabazwe township, the oldest township, is located 5km north of Harrismith town.
Tshiame, a newer township initially created as part the Qwaqwa apartheid homeland, is located approximately 13km west of Harrismith town
