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Clocolan
Clocolan, officially renamed Hlohlolwane,[2] was established in 1906, is a small town in the Free State Province of South Africa. The Basotho called the place Hlohlolwane (Hlohla-o-lwane, "get up and fight"). New inhabitants mispronounced the name and called it Clocolan. HistoryThe first to inhabit the area were the ancient Kwena people from Botswana. Soon the Basotho followed. The Bakwena, a Sotho tribe, gave Hlohloloane its name in 1800. The Bakwena Chief Motebang lived in the Northern part of Clocolan, in an area known as ‘Betang’, today a private farm. Motebang invited the neighbouring Baphuthi Zulu clan to assist his people stacking corn baskets after a successful harvest. An argument erupted when one Bakwena elder charged at the Baphuti's. The argument brought forth the slogan ‘Hlohla-o-loane’ or ‘Hlohloloane’, that translates as “Get/stand up and fight” and this may explain how the town earned its name. Boer Settlers, displaced by British administrative policies in the Cape in the early 1800s drove the Basotho out of the area. As the Boers engaged in settled agriculture the formal town of Clocolan was built as a consequence of the social and economic systems coming to the area. By the late 1800's increasing western civilization was making its mark and trading posts , schools and churches were built with a railway line laid to the town in 1907. GeographyThe town is in the Thabo Mofutsanyana region of the Free State Province in South Africa.[3] It is located along the Maloti route main road, 20 kilometers from the Caledon river, alongside the Lesotho border. Due to its location, the town trades with Lesotho, Southern parts of the Free State, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Cape.[4] LocationClocolan is situated along the R26 about 34 km from Ficksburg to the northeast and just under 70 km from Maseru to the south over the Lesotho border. The name is derived from the Hlohlolwane mountain which stands 1 820 km above sea level. Hlohlolwane means “stand-up-and-fight” which refers to an altercation between the Koena tribe and Baphuthing over a maize harvest.[5] The town was established in 1906 on the farms of Reinzi and Herold. The town grew out of the need for schools, churches and business services for the surrounding farming community. It obtained municipal status on 18 July 1910.[6] The eastern Free State cherry industry originated in the Clocolan district where the first trees were planted by Henry Pickstone in 1904 on the farm Platkop.[7] Besides cherry orchards, farming in the area predominantly consists of asparagus, wheat, maize, potatoes and cattle. Clocolan has one industrial area, situated in the eastern side of the town close to the railway line.[6] FarmingThe area is known for the cultivation of wheat, maize, cherries, large cattle and sheep herds.[8] TourismTourists can visit the following places:
Vintage Tractor and Engine FairThe Vintage Tractor and Engine Fair is an annual fair that has taken place in Clocolan since 1989. The fair started with only 29 tractors and has grown in recent years to 153 . Tractors are paraded through the small farming community. Some of its attractions are a 1902 threshold machine, the Annual National Ploughing Championships and a hand plowing with magnificent Nguni bulls.[11] In popular cultureThe name is used by recording artist Clocolan—South African-born composer Emlyn Ellis Addison.[12] See alsoReferences
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