Brandfort is a small South African town in the central Free State Province. Brandfort lies just 50km north-northeast of Bloemfontein, and falls under the Lejweleputswa District Municipality, and the Masilonyana Local Municipality.
Brandfort is situated on the R30, between Bloemfontein and Theunissen. The R30 is a single carriageway, which expands to a four-lane section, for the 5 km portion bypassing Brandfort. The little used alternative route between Bloemfontein and Winburg, which bypasses the Verkeerdevlei toll gate on the N1 toll road, includes the section of the R30 up to Brandfort and passes through the town, on the way to Bell's Pass and Winburg.
Brandfort Origins
Voortrekker, Jacobus van Zijl, built a church on his farm, Keerom, in 1866. A little settlement was established, and the President of the Republic of the Orange Free State,Johannes Brand, visited the community. Shortly after this presidential visit, the town was named in his honour.
In front of the building of the main church in Brandfort, an angelic statue guards over the commemorative monument of the Voortrekkers' Great Trek.
The Second Anglo-Boer War
General Christiaan de Wet disbanded his Boer army command, because the burghers had become disheartened after the fall of Bloemfontein. De Wet felt that Lord Roberts' troops would remain in Bloemfontein for some time, to get some sorely needed rest, and allowed the burghers, who had been away from their families for six months, an opportunity to take breath.
General De Wet knew that he couldn't "catch a hare with unwilling dogs". So he took a chance. One possible scenario could be that none of those soldiers would return, but he knew that, if they did report back for duty, their spirits would be high, and they would fight with renewed courage.
But what does that have to do with Brandfort, you ask?
The gamble paid off, as the commandos reassembled at the railway bridge at Zand River on the 25th of March, and swelled the population of Brandfort to three times its usual size.
De Wet also reported that he had to close the hotels in Brandfort, because they supplied the men with drink, and De Wet required discipline.
A Van Gogh ends up in Brandfort
During the Second Anglo-Boer War, the sympathy and admiration of many western countries were with the Boers. The reports of bravery in a "David an Goliath" war captured many a heart and imagination. Many ordinary Germans, French, Irish, American and people from other nationalities travelled to the Zuid-Afrikaansche (South African) Republic to fight alongside the Boers.
The Dutch helped to finance and build the main railway between Johannesburg in the South Africa and Maputo in Mozambique. About six thousand Dutchmen had come to South Africa, seeking adventure and fortune. Cornelius (Cor) van Gogh, brother of the famous Dutch painter, Vincent van Gogh, was one of these men, working for the Nederlandsch Zuid-Afrikaansche Spoorweg Maatskappij in Elandsfontein near Germiston, where he built trains.
When war broke out, he took leave and joined the 'Hollanderkorps', a commando allied to Cmdt. Blignaut's commando. It is thought that he joined the Boers as an ambulance driver and was taken prisoner by the British. He fell ill and was placed in a hospital at Brandfort where he died on 14 April 1900, seven months after the start of the Anglo-Boer War.
Cornelius van Gogh (17 May 1867 - 14 April 1900), reportedly lies buried in an unmarked grave in the Brandfort churchyard. Cor was the youngest of the van Gogh children. He died young, like his brothers. Cor was listed as killed in action in the Boer forces. The name "C.V. van Gogh" is on the memorial plaque in the Dutch Reformed Church in Pretoria, which commemorates the Dutch who died in the war. But there are reports that he committed suicide like his brothers Theo and Vincent van Gogh.
Brandfort Concentration Camps
During the Second Anglo-Boer War, the British built a concentration camp just outside of Brandfort, to detain Boer women and children. 15 550 Boer women and children died in the Dwyersdorp concentration camp at Brandfort, and today, the cemetery is a silent witness to their suffering and hardship. A garden of remembrance was created in memory of all the families of Boer soldiers who were confined in absolutely shocking conditions , in the British concentration camp at Brandfort.
The archaeologist, Cobus Dreyer, discovered a tombstone believed to be of a black child, who had died in the South African War. Mr. Dreyer saw the inscribed headstone as proof of the theory that black South Africans were also detained in separate British concentration camps, during the Second Anglo-Boer war. It is believed that he had found the main cemetery of a wartime black concentration camp, also near Brandfort, in the Free State province.
Archaeologist Cobus Dreyer teamed up with the geologist, Johan Loock, both experts on the Second Anglo Boer War, to uncover the site of a wartime concentration camp for black South Africans, on the farm Nooitgedacht, just outside Brandfort. Research into primary archival holdings was linked to the actual terrain, near Brandfort, by means of surveys and oral history interviews with local residents.
The Station Commander at the Brandfort Poilice station confirmed that the tombstone found by Cobus Dreyer is still in his possession, for safekeeping. And Mr. Paul Alberts, owner of the adjacent farm, reports that this site, of the Brandfort black concentration camp and graves, has been declared a national heritage site.
Brandfort And Winnie
Winnie Madikizela Mandela, a social worker and first wife of the anti-apartheid activist who was later to become President of a democratic South Africa, Nelson Mandela, spent almost a decade living in Brandfort.
Winnie Mandela was implicated in the organisation of the Soweto Uprising, and upon conviction by the South African courts, spent six months in jail. When she was released on 16 May 1977, The South African government exiled Winnie Mandela to the small town of Brandfort, in the then Orange Free State Province. She was banned from leaving Brandfort for the next eight years, but ever defiant, Winnie Mandela admits to regularly travelling to Johannesburg, and specifically Soweto, the large township on the outskirts of the city.
Her isolation in Brandfort was designed to keep Winnie Mandela from spreading anti-government propaganda, as she did not speak the local seSotho language. Winnie, an isiXhosa speaker, was able to get around any of the languages in the Nguni group of languages, but seSotho, which is spoken in the Brandfort area, was foreign to her.
Winnie Mandela was reportedly prohibited from speaking to anyone, while she lived in Brandfort, and she tells of being arrested and appearing in court, for asking a neighbour about the price of chickens, within the first month of her stay in Brandfort.
Local interaction
With the assistance of Dr. Abu Baker Asvat, she set up a crèche, a clinic and feeding schemes for poor children of Brandfort. She used this interaction with the people to spread her political views. Her home in the Majwemasoeu location at Brandford became known as a "school" and a refuge for young children. But today it seems that this was also a place where a particularly violent form of discipline was metered out.
International interaction
Winnie Mandela was making friends and enemies, not only in Brandfort, but throughout the land, and the ANC participated actively in promoting her as the "Mother of the Nation". Ironically, her bannishment to Brandfort enforced her status as a national icon, gave her political status in the liberation movement, and ensured her a platform to access the international media.
Her house, a semi-detached house with bedroom, kitchen, lounge and garage, at no 802 Mothupi Street, Pathakahle, Majwemasoeu location, Brandfort, was like a theatre for journalists from international TV stations, and was burnt down twice during her time in Brandfort.
A long lasting impression
Her forced stay in Brandfort seems to have caused a change in Winnie Madikizela Mandela , because old friends observed that she wasn't the same woman they had known years before. She talked differently, was more hostile, and would eventually prove too independent-minded even for the ANC leadership to control. This was a far cry from the almost demure young beauty who got married to Nelson Mandela, earlier in her life.
Self release
In 1985, during the height of conflict between the black youth and the South African Police, believing that the conditions for a People's War were at hand, she released herself from her exile, and just didn't go back to Brandfort.
She took advantage of changed circumstances to stay in Johannesburg. In November, Nelson Mandela fell ill, and the first discussions about his release began to take place. In December, Winnie's restrictions were relaxed, but she was still arrested for breaking the terms of her banning to Brandfort. And in early 1986, Winnie Mandela was charged for refusing to leave Johannesburg. The international uproar that ensued is thought to have lead to the shelving of those charges some months later.
When the youth were on an absolute rampage, Winnie entered into the conflict, defied the police, defied her banning order and made a statement about youths fighting the government with matches and necklaces. The world just could not identify with that statement.
Winnie's house
Winnie's semi-detached house at no 802 Mothupi Street, Pathakahle, Majwemasoeu, Brandfort, is set to become a museum soon. This is part of the South African government and civil society's efforts to turn the rural town of Brandfort into one of South Africa's tourism meccas.
An amount of R 1.6 million has already been set aside to renovate the tiny rural home in Brandfort, and for the construction of the Winnie Mandela Museum. The BBC website reported that there are plans to buy the property next to the semi-detached house as well, because the house would be too small on its own.
It is expected that the Winnie Mandela Museum will help this little town generate much needed income, once it opens its doors. Nelson Mandela's first home has become a popular tourist attraction in Soweto, and all hopes are that the Brandfort house where Winnie Madikizela Mandela was placed under house arrest will follow suit.
Local officials hope the Winnie Mandela Museum will help to generate income and jobs in the Brandfort area, along with the other attractions in the area, and plans for tourism developments. Many mining jobs have been lost recently in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality's area, so officials hope that this will be a real boost for the local economy.
Property in Brandfort
Brandfort was to Winnie, what Robben Island was to Nelson. When interviewed in Brandfort on 13 June 1980, by the Associated Press Television News, Winnie Mandela said, "Brandfort is a living grave."
But many former residents of Bloemfontein seem to disagree with this sentiment today. Brandfort offers them the opportunity to raise their families in the small town atmosphere of Brandfort, while still being able to commute to Bloemfontein for work. Residential properties in Brandfort have become so popular, that many Bloemfontein based real estate agents have representatives in Brandfort, and some have even established satellite branches of their real estate agencies there.
As a result of the growing demand for residential property in Brandfort, house prices have increased dramatically in recent years. Some of the local residents feel that property prices have become ridiculously high, but for buyers from Bloemfontein, Brandfort properties can mean a 50% saving, compared to buying property in Bloemfontein.
Local officials and residents are optimistic about the future prospects for Brandfort. Many people predict that property in Brandfort will continue to be a stable investment.
Schools in Brandfort
Brandfort has some excellent schools and students from a wide area around Brandfort attend school here. The schools that I know of, includes:
- Brandfort Public Primary School at 570 Segalo Street, Majwemasoeu, Brandfort (tel 051 8212494),
- Monamodi Public School at 1030 Brider. Avenue, Majwemasoeu, Brandfort (tel 051 8211670), and
- Staatspresident Swart Hoërskool, at 72 Voortrekker Street, Brandfort (tel 051 8212251)
The Emily Hobhouse School Hostel is a very popular residence for students who attend Brandfort schools from afar. The Emily Hobhouse Koshuis can be contacted at tel. 051 8211043.
Farming in Brandfort
Like many of the nearby towns in the central Free State, Brandfort is an important mixed-farming centre. Maize is the most important crop for farmers in this area, but cattle and sheep are also raised in the Brandfort area.
The local farming community recently received quite a shock, when the SenWes Agricultural co-op announced that the Brandfort branch of SenWes would be closed, along with a number of other SenWes branches elsewhere, because it was not profitable enough. So, a number of Brandfort residents lost their jobs, and local business in Brandfort could expect a fall in spending in the town.
Local farmers are more likely to also do the rest of their shopping in other centra, especially Bloemfontein, when they purchase their farming provisions. Luckily, the Brandfort branch of BKB has stepped up, and seems to be trying to fill the gap left by SenWes.
Unfortunately, the SenWes property is still vacant at present. Apparently some of the improvements on the property, such as the warehouses, has been on sale by tender, but it seems as if SenWes would like to retain the property and its client value, so those improvements would have to be dismantled and removed to another property.
Recreation and Attractions
The country abode of the former president CR Swart, President Swart Farm, has been restored and is a national monument.
The Anglo-Boer War concentration camp at Brandfort has always been dear to history buffs and tourists who wanted to learn more about this aspect of the South African history. But the discovery of a concentration camp, were black South Africans were also detained by the British invaders, gives Brandfort an even wider appeal.
The planned Winnie Mandela Museum would be another draw card, but the house already exists, and interested people can easily find it. Just ask any of the residents of Majwemasoeu for directions.
The Andries Petrorius Municipal Caravan Park in Brandfort offers 20 caravan and tent sites, electrical connections, ablutions with hot and cold water, electric lights and power points.
For those folks who just love having a club in the hands, Brandfort offers an 18-hole course at the Brandfort Golf Club.
Social lives in a small town like Brandfort revolve around church life and the schools, to a great extent. And the churches and schools of Brandfort very diligently ensure that there are numerous social gatherings for local residents to participate in.
Brandfort in the news
Unfortunately, most of the news that get widely reported, is bad news. And the most recent mention of Brandfort in the news media involved a brutal murder.
Mr. Gary van Niekerk (43), a professional tennis coach, lived with Mrs. Wynona van Wyk (44), a schoolteacher at the Laer Meisieskool Oranje in Bloemfontein, in her house in Brandfort. He was convicted in the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein, for killing Mrs. Van Wyk, by stabbing her 25 times with a knife.
This awful incident left two children without a mother. Van Niekerk was sentenced to 17 years in jail, by judge J.P. Malherbe. But the incident will remain a cause of sadness to the residents of Brandfort for a long time.
Brandfort
Brandfort is a small town with an ideal location. The town is close enough to the city of Bloemfontein to have easy access to all the shopping facilities, medical care and entertainment that the city has to offer. But Brandfort is also far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city, to be able to enjoy the peace and quiet, beauty and hospitality that rural living offers.
Special thanks to the friendly people of Brandfort, for their help in confirming some of the facts in this article about Brandfort, including BKB Brandfort (tel 051 8212265), Branfort Library, Branfort South African Police Station and Mr. Paul Alberts.
