Bethlehem, South Africa

Bethlehem
Clockwise from Top: View of Bethlehem CBD looking west, Bethlehem town hall, Saulspoortdam, Bethlehem Dutch Reformed Church.
Coat of arms of Bethlehem
Coat of arms
Bethlehem is located in Free State (South African province)
Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is located in South Africa
Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is located in Africa
Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Coordinates: 28°13′26″S 28°18′40″E / 28.224°S 28.311°E / -28.224; 28.311
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceFree State
DistrictThabo Mofutsanyane
MunicipalityDihlabeng
Area
[1]
 • Total
27.8 km2 (10.7 sq mi)
Elevation
1,700 m (5,600 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
16,236
 • Density580/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
 • White56.0%
 • Black African32.7%
 • Coloured8.7%
 • Indian/Asian2.1%
 • Other0.5%
First languages (2011)
[1]
 • Afrikaans66.7%
 • Sotho19.4%
 • English7.2%
 • Zulu2.7%
 • Other4.0%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
9701
PO box
9700
Area code058

Bethlehem is a city in the eastern Free State province of South Africa that is situated on the Liebenbergs River (also called Liebenbergs Vlei) along a fertile valley just north of the Rooiberg Mountains on the N5 road. It is the fastest growing city in the Free State province, with its target of being the third largest city after Bloemfontein and Welkom.

It is a wheat growing area and named after the biblical Bethlehem, from Hebrew: בֵּית לֶחֶם ("Beit Lechem"), meaning "house of bread".[2]

The city lies at an altitude of 1,700 metres (5,600 ft), which contributes to its cool climate, with frosty winters and mild summers. The average annual temperature is around 14 °C (57 °F).

Bethlehem is situated approximately 240 kilometres (150 mi) north-east of Bloemfontein, 140 kilometres (87 mi) east of Kroonstad and 90 kilometres (56 mi) north-west of Harrismith. The city is strategically situated in the heart of the picturesque north-eastern Free State and originally developed as a service centre. [3]

Bethlehem is the seat of the Dihlabeng Local Municipality, which forms part of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality.

The township associated with Bethlehem is called Bohlokong in Sesotho by Basotho. It named after the hloko/bohloko grass found in the area Diheteropogon filifolius.[4]

History

Bethlehem was founded in 1864. In 1900, during the Second Boer War, Bethlehem temporarily served as the seat of the Orange Free State government.[5]

Society and culture

Museums, provincial heritage sites and memorials

See also: List of heritage sites in Free State

A number of heritage sites are located in Bethlehem:

  • 14 President Burgers Street[6]
  • A B Baartman Wagon House[7]
  • Loch Athlone Dam Wall[8]
  • Main Building of the Bethlehem Technical College[9]
  • Nederduitse Gereformeerde Mother Church[10]
  • Old Magistrates Court[11]
  • Old Nederduitse Gereformeerde Mission Church parsonage[12]
  • Old Nederduitse Gereformeerde Mission Church[13]
  • St Andrews Presbyterian Church[14]
  • St Augustine Anglican Church[15]
  • Strapps Shop[16]
  • The Seminary[17]
  • Town Hall[18]
  • Wooden Spoon Restaurant[19]

Schools

  • Villiers Combined High School
  • Tiisetsang High School
  • Ntsu Secondary School
  • Thabo-Thokoza Secondary School
  • L.K Ntlabathi Secondary School
  • Jordania Primary School
  • Truida Kestell Primary School
  • Graanveld Primary School
  • Bethlehem Comprehensive School
  • Bodikela intermediate School
  • Bethlehem Voortrekker High School
  • Bohlokong Primary School
  • Nthute Primary School
  • Motshepuwa Primary School
  • Rehopotswe Primary School
  • New Horizon College
  • Impumelelo Primary School
  • Impucuko Primary School
  • Khanyeng Intermediate School
  • Witteberg High School
  • Bethlehem Combined School

Climate

Climate data for Bethlehem, elevation 1,687 m (5,535 ft), (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1980–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37.4
(99.3) 		33.4
(92.1) 		34.1
(93.4) 		31.2
(88.2) 		29.9
(85.8) 		25.5
(77.9) 		25.2
(77.4) 		28.7
(83.7) 		31.3
(88.3) 		33.8
(92.8) 		35.7
(96.3) 		36.4
(97.5) 		37.4
(99.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27.5
(81.5) 		27.0
(80.6) 		25.6
(78.1) 		22.8
(73.0) 		20.2
(68.4) 		17.6
(63.7) 		17.6
(63.7) 		20.5
(68.9) 		24.3
(75.7) 		25.7
(78.3) 		26.4
(79.5) 		27.3
(81.1) 		23.5
(74.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 19.4
(66.9) 		19.0
(66.2) 		17.4
(63.3) 		14.1
(57.4) 		10.6
(51.1) 		7.4
(45.3) 		7.3
(45.1) 		10.2
(50.4) 		14.1
(57.4) 		16.3
(61.3) 		17.5
(63.5) 		18.9
(66.0) 		14.4
(57.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 13.3
(55.9) 		13.0
(55.4) 		11.0
(51.8) 		6.7
(44.1) 		2.0
(35.6) 		−1.5
(29.3) 		−2.0
(28.4) 		0.7
(33.3) 		4.6
(40.3) 		8.3
(46.9) 		10.3
(50.5) 		12.4
(54.3) 		6.6
(43.8)
Record low °C (°F) 0.0
(32.0) 		1.8
(35.2) 		0.0
(32.0) 		−4.0
(24.8) 		−10.0
(14.0) 		−9.3
(15.3) 		−12.5
(9.5) 		−10.2
(13.6) 		−6.8
(19.8) 		−2.9
(26.8) 		0.2
(32.4) 		1.1
(34.0) 		−12.5
(9.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 122.1
(4.81) 		109.0
(4.29) 		79.0
(3.11) 		40.5
(1.59) 		16.5
(0.65) 		11.0
(0.43) 		11.1
(0.44) 		11.8
(0.46) 		17.3
(0.68) 		72.6
(2.86) 		90.1
(3.55) 		121.3
(4.78) 		702.2
(27.65)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 13.1 11.2 11.1 6.0 2.6 1.9 1.0 2.0 2.9 8.2 11.0 13.2 84.2
Average relative humidity (%) 66.1 67.5 67.6 63.9 55.3 52.6 48.9 44.9 42.7 52.2 57.5 62.8 56.8
Source: NOAA[20]

Shopping

Bohlokong and Thorisong townships

Bethlehem has many shopping centres like any other town in the Free State. Bethlehem is the main center of the eastern Free State where people from other towns do their shopping, the main shopping malls are:

  • Dihlabeng mall
  • Sechaba Mall (Previously Metropolitan life Centre prior to November 2018)

With the shopping in this town also characterized by typical high street shopping with majority of shops situated along the Muller, Cambridge, Louw, Church, High and other surrounding streets.

Sport

Premiership and National First Division clubs Free State Stars and Super Eagles F.C. were based in Bethlehem and played their home games at Goble Park.[21] Bethlehem is also the birthplace of several notable rugby union players, including Tom van Vollenhoven,[22] Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Frans Steyn, and Bongi Mbonambi, who was born in nearby Bohlokong.

Economy

The Saulspoort Dam receives water from the As River via the Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme

Bethlehem is a retail, medical, and educational hub for the Eastern Free State. It has three private hospitals and three star Frontier hotel, Casino and Entertainment Centre located near the Dihlabeng Mall and Bethlehem Aerodrome.

Industry

Bethlehem hosts several industries including Coca-Cola, South African Breweries and Nestlé, as well as petroleum and engineering companies.

Health

  • Huisarts en Kie (Private)
  • Dihlabeng Regional Hospital (public)
  • Phekolong Hospital (Public)
  • Hoogland Medi-Clinic (Private)
  • Bethlehem Medical Centre (Semi-Private)
  • Nurture Corona Hospital (Semi-private)
  • Bethlehem Diere Hospital (Private)
  • Du Pisani Biokineticists (Private)
  • Several government clinics also in the townships of Bohlokong, Thorisong, Vuka, Phumlamqasha, Old Location, Giyani and Bakenpark.

Media

Newspapers

Radio

Transportation

Road

Bethlehem is located on the N5 to the provincial capital Bloemfontein via Senekal and Winburg to the N1. Other roads in the town are R76 to Kroonstad (north-west) and the R26 to Reitz and Fouriesburg (north-east and south) respectively, and just outside the town, the R712 and R714 to Clarens (south) and Warden (east) respectively.

Rail

Bethlehem is located on the main railway line between Bloemfontein and Durban. This railway line transports passengers and freight.[23]

Air

Bethlehem is served by a small airport (Bethlehem Airport) with chartered daily flights to Bloemfontein and Johannesburg.[24]

Bethlehem Airshow Fire Disaster

On 7 September 2024 a fire broke out at Bethlehem Air show 2024 destroying 30 vehicles.[25][26][27] The incident occurred at the Bethlehem Airfield when a spectator left a burning coal unattended.[28] The Democratic Alliance in the Free State accused the Dihlabeng municipality of negligence.[29]

Coats of arms

Municipal (1)

By 1931, the municipal council had assumed a coat of arms.[30] The arms were registered with the Orange Free State Provincial Administration in October 1958.[31]

The arms were: Party per chevron Azure and Gules, a chevron Or, in chief between two springboks couped at the neck respecting each other, proper, a mullet of the third, and in base three maize cobs, the outer ones pilewise, all proper. In layman's terms, the shield depicted a golden chevron between a gold star and two springboks' head on a blue background, and three maize cobs on a red background.

Municipal (2)

A new coat of arms was designed in the 1980s. It was registered at the Bureau of Heraldry in June 1989.[32]

The arms were: Per chevron, Azure and Gules, a chevron Or between in chief a mullet and in base two bars wavy, Argent (i.e. a golden chevron between a silver star on a blue background and two wavy silver stripes on a red background).

The crest was three golden ears of wheat with blue stalks and leaves, tied together with a red band; the motto was Conjuncti prosperamus.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ a b c d Bethlehem from Census 2011.
  2. ^ Raper, RE. Dictionary of Southern African Place Names. Human Science Research Council.
  3. ^ "Dihlabeng Local Municipality Website - About Us". dihlabeng.gov.za. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  4. ^ Rodney Moffet, Grasses of the Eastern Free State: Their descriptions and uses, UNIQWA, Phuthaditjhaba, 1997
  5. ^ "Bethlehem, Free State". South African History Online. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  6. ^ "14 President Burgers Street Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.
  7. ^ "A B Baartman Wagon House Muller and Landdros Streets Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2012-11-28.
  8. ^ "Loch Athlone Dam Wall Pretoriuskloof Nature Reserve Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2012-11-28.
  9. ^ "Main Building Technical College Bethlehem Wessels Street Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.
  10. ^ "Nederduitse Gereformeerde Mother Church Church Square Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.
  11. ^ "Old Magistrates Court Louw Street Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.
  12. ^ "Old Nederduitse Gereformeerde Mission Church parsonage President Boshoff Street Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  13. ^ "Old Nederduitse Gereformeerde Mission Church Muller Street Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2012-11-29.
  14. ^ "St Andrews Presbyterian Church 144 Cambridge Street Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.
  15. ^ "St Augustine Anglican Church 34 Louw Street Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  16. ^ "Strapps Shop 18 Church Street Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.
  17. ^ "The Seminary Wessels Street Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2012-11-28.
  18. ^ "Town Hall 20-22 Muller Street Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  19. ^ "Wooden Spoon Braairestaurant 12 Church Street Bethlehem". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  20. ^ "Global Surface Summary of the Day - GSOD". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  21. ^ Aperdia. "Goble Park • OStadium.com". OStadium.com (in French). Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  22. ^ Nauright, John. "Tom Van Vollenhoven". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. britannica.com. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  23. ^ "Bethlehem Area Information". www.leapfrog.co.za. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  24. ^ "Bethlehem Airport | FABM | Pilot info". Metar-Taf.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  25. ^ "A total of 30 vehicles were destroyed in a fire in the parking area of an airshow in Bethlehem". Arrive Alive. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  26. ^ https://centralnews.co.za/bethlehem-airshow-fire-destroys-over-30-vehicles-as-investigations-continue/
  27. ^ https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/19-vehicles-damaged-destroyed-after-fire-breaks-out-at-bethlehem-airshow-20240908
  28. ^ centra (2024-09-07). "Bethlehem Airshow Fire Destroys Over 30 Vehicles as Investigations Continue | Central News South Africa". centralnews.co.za. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  29. ^ https://fs.da.org.za/2024/09/da-will-hold-the-dihlabeng-local-municipality-accountable-in-bethlehem-air-show-fire-incident
  30. ^ The arms were depicted on a cigarette card issued in 1931.
  31. ^ Orange Free State Official Gazette 41 (10 October 1958).
  32. ^ http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za[permanent dead link‍]
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