Fochville

Fochville
Fochville
Fochville
Fochville

 Fochville shown within Gauteng

Coordinates: 26°29′S 27°29′E / 26.483°S 27.483°E / -26.483; 27.483Coordinates: 26°29′S 27°29′E / 26.483°S 27.483°E / -26.483; 27.483
Country South Africa
Province Gauteng
District West Rand
Municipality Merafong City
Established 1920
Area[1]
 • Total 11.36 km2 (4.39 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 9,497
 • Density 840/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[1]
 • Black African 25.7%
 • Coloured 1.2%
 • Indian/Asian 0.4%
 • White 71.7%
 • Other 0.9%
First languages (2011)[1]
 • Afrikaans 71.3%
 • English 6.8%
 • Sotho 6.2%
 • Tswana 6.0%
 • Other 9.7%
Postal code (street) 2515
PO box 2515
Area code 018

Fochville is a farming and mining town situated in Gauteng province in South Africa and makes a part of the Merafong City Local Municipality which also includes Kokosi, Carletonville and Khutsong.

In the area surrounding Fochville are a number of Sotho or Tswana ruins. The Boer War hero, Danie Theron, was killed just 5 km north of the town. The town itself was only established as an agricultural centre in 1920 and was named after the World War I commander-in-chief of the Allied forces in France, Marshal of France Ferdinand Foch.

In September 2012, the settlements near Fochville fell victim to some ethnic violence in which shacks were razed and burned to the ground, and four people were killed along with six injured. Apparently, the conflict was waged between two rival factions following a dispute over boundaries, making the violence a turf war. The weapons used were knobkierries, petrol cans, and traditional spears and daggers.[2]

Tourist attractions

Fochville has sporting facilities at the sport Stadium called Gert van Rensburg Stadium. Sporting clubs include Cricket, Rugby, Squash, Yoga, kickboxing and more.[3]

The Borehole is the site where, in the early mining days, Western Deep Levels struck a stream of sulphurous water, which to this day surges out of the borehole.

Renosterfontein is a farm with old Tswana kraals, a traditional African village, and the ruins of a house that belonged to the brothers of President Andries Pretorius.

Fochville was proclaimed as a town on 15 November 1920] under control of a Health Committee and was named after the famous French General Foch of the First world War.[4]

The Tlokwe Ruins are the remains of Sotho-Tswana settlements on the hills surrounding Fochville. They were used until the inhabitants were driven away by Mzilikazi in the 1820s.

The Theron Memorial is a memorial to Boer scout Danie Theron who was killed in 1900 during an engagement with a British detachment. The memorial is situated 8 km west of the town on the N12.

The Voortrekker Plaque, located to the south west of the Theron Memorial, marks the site of an early Voortrekker fortification of 1842.

Fochville has two primary schools and one high school.

There is also a Bird Farm and Trout Hatchery.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Fochville". Census 2011.
  2. ↑ "A night of fire 'n fury". SundayWorld. 2012-09-03. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  3. ↑ "Index of /". Fochville.info. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  4. ↑ "Index of /". Fochville.info. Retrieved 2016-03-03.

External links

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