Vrede

Vrede is a town in the Free State province of South Africa that is the agricultural hub of a 100 km² region. Maize, wheat, mutton, wool, beef, dairy products and poultry are farmed in the region.

For other uses, see Vrede (disambiguation).
Vrede
NG church in Vrede
Vrede
Vrede
Coordinates: 27°25′48″S 29°9′36″E
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceFree State
DistrictThabo Mofutsanyane
MunicipalityPhumelela
Established1876[1]
Government
 • CouncillorMotaung (ANC)
Area
 • Total50.1 km2 (19.3 sq mi)
Elevation
1,675 m (5,495 ft)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total17,689
 • Density350/km2 (910/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African93.1%
 • Coloured0.4%
 • Indian/Asian0.5%
 • White5.7%
 • Other0.4%
First languages (2011)
 • Zulu53.4%
 • Sotho36.5%
 • Afrikaans6.0%
 • English1.1%
 • Other3.1%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
9835
PO box
9835
Area code058

History

In 1863 one J. H. Krynauw bought the farm, aptly named "Krynauwslust" located where the town of Vrede was later proclaimed in 1879. The town celebrated its centenary in 1979.

The town's Afrikaans name "Vrede" can be directly translated to "Peace" in English. This name resulted, due to a bitter feud that raged between the early settlers of the area where the town initially should have been placed. A compromise was reached and peace among the early citizens was achieved, hence the name, "Vrede".

The names Leeukop (Lionshead), Tygerspoort (Tiger's Passage), Kwaggaspoort (Zebra's Passage) still exist today. Unfortunately the folk of the earlier years were not conscious of the ecology and now only names of the game that roamed the area remain. The last known free roaming lion in the area was shot in 1865. In 1858 a sole hippo was spotted in the wetlands surrounding the district of Memel, the neighboring town.

Between 1899 and 1902 many famous battles were fought in and around Vrede and Vrede was also the setting of the stand of the Great Rebellion of 1914 when citizens were called to arms in aid of Britain in the First World War against Germany.

Notable people
  • André Brink (1935–2015), novelist, born in Vrede but moving to Lydenburg in childhood
  • Sid Kiel (1916–2007), doctor, athlete, and cricketer, born on a Vrede sheep farm but moving to Cape Town in childhood
  • Ruben Kruger (1970-2010), Springbok Rugby player, who was part of team who won the Rugby World Cup in 1995. His family still farms in the area.
  • David Louw (1987-), actor, known for Villa Rosa and Getroud met Rugby.
  • Piet van Zyl (1989-), Springbok Rugby player, now Stade Français Paris Rugby, was born in Vrede, but went to Grey College at age 14.

References
  1. "Chronological order of town establishment in South Africa based on Floyd (1960:20-26)" (PDF). pp. xlv–lii.
  2. Sum of the Main Places Thembalihle and Vrede from Census 2011.

Media related to Vrede at Wikimedia Commons

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