Wepener is town situated at the intersection of the R26 Provincial Route and R702 Regional Route in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in the Free State province of South Africa.
Overview
| Country: | South Africa |
| Province: | Free State |
| Municipality: | Mangaung |
| Founded: | 1867 |
| Named After: | Louw Wepener |
| Total Area: | 38.6 km² (14.9 sq mi) |
| Population: | 9,553 (2011) |
| Population Density: | 247/km² (641/sq mi) |
| Time Zone: | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal Code (street): | 9944 |
| PO Box: | 9944 |
| Area Code: | 051 |
About Wepener
Wepener is located near the border of Lesotho, approximately 110 km south-east of Bloemfontein, the Provincial Capital and Judicial Capital of South Africa.
It was founded in 1867 on the banks of Jammersbergspruit, a tributary of the Caledon River. The Jammerberg (Mountain of Sorrow) towers over the town.
The town is named after Louw Wepener, the leader of the Boers in their war with the Basotho chief Moshoeshoe I in 1865.
This town was named after Louw Wepener, a Boer leader in their war with the Basotho chief Moshoeshoe I in 1865. Louw Wepener was killed in August 1865 while trying to storm Moshoeshoe’s stronghold of Thaba Bosiu.
One of the town’s local schools is also named after Louw Wepener.
Farming activities in this region include cattle and sheep, dairy, wheat and maize crops.
Wepener offers exciting sights and activities to visitors and tourists, these include the Caledon Nature Reserve – a definite must-see for nature-lovers with its many game species and flourishing bird life. This reserve flanks the shores of the Welbedacht Dam.
Other attraction in Wepener include the following;
- San Rock Art
- Caledon River Bridge
- Dutch Reformed Church
- Historical City Hall
- Jammersdrift Battle Site
- Louw Wepener Memorial
- Knellpoort and Welbedacht Dam
- Van Rooyens’ Gate Border Post
