Frankfort, Free State

Frankfort is a small farming town situated on the banks of the Wilge River in the Free State province of South Africa. The town was laid out in 1869 on the farm Roodepoort, and named Frankfurt (after Frankfurt-am-Main in Germany) by Albert van Gordon.[3] The town later received municipality status in 1896.[4]

Frankfort
Industrial buildings in Frankfort
Frankfort Frankfort
Coordinates: 27°17′S 28°31′E
Country	South Africa
Province	Free State
District	Fezile Dabi
Municipality	Mafube
Established	1878[1]
Area [2]
• Total	20.9 km^2 (8.1 sq mi)
Elevation	1,530 m (5,020 ft)
Population  (2011)[2]
• Total	26,144
• Density	1,300/km^2 (3,200/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [2]
• Black African	91.0%
• Coloured	0.5%
• Indian/Asian	0.2%
• White	8.2%
• Other	0.2%
First languages (2011) [2]
• Sotho	61.8%
• Zulu	22.3%
• Afrikaans	9.0%
• Xhosa	1.9%
• Other	5.0%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)	9830
PO box	9830
Area code	058

Frankfort is now the capital town to Villiers, Cornelia and Tweeling, called the Mafube Municipality. The main street is 'Brand Street', named after the 4th president of the Orange Free State, Sir Johannes Brand. The name has since changed to J.J Hadebe. During 1883, he visited the town and laid the cornerstone of the Dutch Reformed Church. This church was burnt down by the British troops during the Anglo-Boer War. After the war it was rebuilt and inaugurated in 1918.

This town has produced notable soccer like Paul Motaung (former Kaizer Chiefs defender) and Chris Motaung (former Swallows midfielder),Thabo Motsoeneng (former Bloemfontein Celtics) other professional football players include Thomas Mofokeng, Ernest Nkosi and Dlangamandla. Frederich Lombaard a former Cheetah and Springbok rugby player, and academics like Professor M.J Lenake and Dr Mahlathini Tshabalala, who is now based in Gauteng and the renowned Motloung brothers Paul and Michael who are based in Botshabelo and Bloemfontein respectively. Mamontha Modise and Sophie Mokoena former Lesedi FM anchors. The first black comrade marathon winner, Mr Tshabalala, also comes from this town.

Notes

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 Namahadi and Frankfort from Census 2011.
3. http://www.freestatetourism.org/about-the-free-state/fezile-dabi-frankfort/index.html Archived 2009-09-19 at the Wayback Machine
4. Raper, P.E. (2004). South African Place Names. Jonathan Ball, Jhb & Cape Town. p. 105. ISBN 1-86842-190-2.