Bronkhorstspruit
The Nan Hua Temple Complex in Bronkhorstspruit
The Nan Hua Temple Complex in Bronkhorstspruit
Bronkhorstspruit is located in Gauteng
Bronkhorstspruit
Bronkhorstspruit
Bronkhorstspruit is located in South Africa
Bronkhorstspruit
Bronkhorstspruit
Bronkhorstspruit is located in Africa
Bronkhorstspruit
Bronkhorstspruit
Coordinates: 25°48′18″S 28°44′47″E / 25.80500°S 28.74639°E / -25.80500; 28.74639
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceGauteng
MunicipalityCity of Tshwane
Area
[1]
 • Total3.11 km2 (1.20 sq mi)
Elevation
1,375 m (4,511 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total3,720
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
1020
PO box
1020
Area code013

Bronkhorstspruit is a town 50 km east of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa along the N4 highway towards Witbank. It also includes three townships called Zithobeni, Rethabiseng and Ekangala. On 18 May 2011, the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality took over the municipal administration from the abolished Kungwini Local Municipality, which makes Bronkhorstspruit part of Tshwane.

History

In 1858, a group of Voortrekkers settled beside the Bronkhorst Spruit creek, which was originally called Kalkoenkransrivier ('turkey cliff river'). The town was laid out on land of the farm Hondsrivier in 1904 owned by C.J.G. Erasmus and was initially named after him.[2][3]: 8  It adopted the name Bronkhorstspruit in 1935.[4]: 296 

On 20 December 1880 it was the scene of the Battle of Bronkhorstspruit, an important event in the early days of the First Boer War when a Boer Commando ambushed a British army column, 94th Regiment of Foot, near the present town en route from Lydenburg to Pretoria.[4]: 296 

There is disagreement about where the town got its name from. Some believe it was named after the farmer J.G. Bronkhorst, while others say that it was named after the plant, bronkors (Afrikaans for watercress), that grew in the region of the creek.[4]: 296 

Bronkhorstspruit was the seat of the Metsweding District Municipality as well as the Kungwini Local Municipality. Then, on the day of South Africa's 2011 general elections (18 May 2011), the entire Metsweding District ceased to be its own municipality and became part of the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.

Parks and greenspace

Ten kilometers to the south of the town lies the Bronkhorstspruit Dam.[4]: 296 

Suburbs

  • Erasmus
  • Masada
  • Riamar Park
  • Bester Park
  • Cultura Park
  • Bronkhorstbaai

Economy

Agriculture

Being an agricultural area, maize, sorghum, groundnuts, sunflower seeds, sheep and cattle are grown and raised.[4]: 296 

Mining

Fire clay is as well as coal mined in the area.[4]: 296 

Places of interest

Cultura Park, a suburb of Bronkhorstspruit, hosts the largest Buddhist temple in Africa. Nan Hua Temple houses the South African headquarters of the Humanistic Buddhist order.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sub Place Bronkhorstspruit". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ Dictionary of Southern African Place Names
  3. ↑ van Schalkwyk, J (June 2011). "HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED UPGRADE OF ROAD R104, SILVERTON TO BRONKHORSTSPRUIT, GAUTENG PROVINCE" (PDF). South African Heritage Resources Agency. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Erasmus, B.P.J. (2014). On Route in South Africa: Explore South Africa region by region. Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 401. ISBN 9781920289805.


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