Frankfort, Free State

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Frankfort | image_skyline = Nywerheidpersele, Frankfort, Vrystaat.jpg | image_caption = Industrial buildings in Frankfort | pushpin_map = South Africa Free State#South Africa | coordinates = {{coord|27|17|S|28|31|E|region:ZA|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = South Africa | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Free State | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Fezile Dabi | subdivision_type3 = Municipality | subdivision_name3 = Mafube | subdivision_type4 = Main Place | established_title = Established | established_date = 1878<ref name=established>{{cite thesis |last=Robson |first=Linda Gillian |title=The Royal Engineers and settlement planning in the Cape Colony 1806–1872: Approach, methodology and impact |date=2011 |type=PhD thesis |publisher=University of Pretoria |chapter=Annexure A |chapter-url=https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/26503/05back.pdf?sequence=6&isAllowed=y#page=31 |url=https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/26503 |hdl=2263/26503 |pages=xlv–lii}}</ref> | leader_title = Councillor | area_footnotes = <ref name=census2011>Sum of the Main Places [https://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/479006 Namahadi] and [https://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/479007 Frankfort] from Census 2011.</ref> | area_total_km2 = 20.9 | elevation_m = 1530 | population_footnotes = <ref name=census2011 /> | population_total = 26144 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_density_km2 = auto  | demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011) | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name=census2011 /> | demographics1_title1 = Black African | demographics1_info1 = 91.0% | demographics1_title2 = Coloured | demographics1_info2 = 0.5% | demographics1_title3 = Indian/Asian | demographics1_info3 = 0.2% | demographics1_title4 = White | demographics1_info4 = 8.2% | demographics1_title5 = Other | demographics1_info5 = 0.2%  | demographics_type2 = First languages (2011) | demographics2_footnotes = <ref name=census2011 /> | demographics2_title1 = Sotho | demographics2_info1 = 61.8% | demographics2_title2 = Zulu | demographics2_info2 = 22.3% | demographics2_title3 = Afrikaans | demographics2_info3 = 9.0% | demographics2_title4 = Xhosa | demographics2_info4 = 1.9% | demographics2_title5 = Other | demographics2_info5 = 5.0%   | timezone1 = SAST | utc_offset1 = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code (street) | postal_code = 9830 | postal2_code_type = PO box | postal2_code = 9830 | area_code_type = Area code | area_code = 058 }} '''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.<ref>[http://www.freestatetourism.org/about-the-free-state/fezile-dabi-frankfort/index.html http://www.freestatetourism.org/about-the-free-state/fezile-dabi-frankfort/index.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090919014218/http://www.freestatetourism.org/about-the-free-state/fezile-dabi-frankfort/index.html |date=2009-09-19 }}</ref> The town later received municipality status in 1896.<ref>{{cite book|last = Raper|first = P.E.|title = South African Place Names|publisher = Jonathan Ball, Jhb & Cape Town|year = 2004|isbn = 1-86842-190-2|page = 105}}</ref>

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.) Sir Johannes Brand visited the town during 1883 and laid the cornerstone of the Dutch Reformed Church. This church was burnt down by the British troops during the Second Boer War (1899–1902). After the war the church was rebuilt and inaugurated in 1918. The Second Boer War was disastrous for the town; according to one contemporary source there were ′not a house or tree′ remaining after the destruction.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Latest Intelligence - Lord Milner´s tour |date=6 December 1902 |page=7 |issue=36944}}</ref>

==Namahadi township== '''Namahadi''' is a township named after the river that runs next to the town by Basotho, also known as Wilge River by Afrikaans speaking people because of the massive Willow trees on the banks of the river.

== Sports history == {{unreferenced section|date=June 2023}} This town has produced notable soccer players like Paul Motaung (former Kaizer Chiefs defender) and Chris Motaung (former Swallows midfielder), Thabo Motsoeneng (former Bloemfontein Celtics player) other professional football players including 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 are former Lesedi FM anchors. The first black Comrades Marathon winner, Mr Tshabalala, also comes from this town. Lungisani Ndlela also hails from this town, he is a former South African Football Association striker for Premier Soccer League club Moroka Swallow and the South African national soccer team. The famed professional hunter, Harry Selby, was born here, although he was mainly based elsewhere for the rest of his life.

==Power generation== Various solar power facilities around the town are owned by farmers, businesses and town residents.<ref name="cor1">{{cite news |last1=Cornelissen |first1=Christel |title=Rural gooi sy sonkrag weg soos Eskom vra |url=https://maroelamedia.co.za/nuus/sa-nuus/rural-gooi-sy-sonkrag-weg-soos-eskom-vra/ |access-date=8 May 2023 |agency=Maroela Media |publisher=maroelamedia.co.za |date=4 May 2023}}</ref> Their combined power production is distributed by Rural Maintenance, a utility which concluded a 25 year contract for power distribution on behalf of the Mafube Municipality. Rural's competitive advantage during daylight hours has led to legal wrangles with Eskom.<ref name="cor1"/>

==Notes== {{reflist}}

Category:Populated places in the Mafube Local Municipality Category:Populated places founded by Afrikaners Category:Populated places established in 1878 Category:1878 establishments in the Orange Free State