Vrede | |
|---|---|
 NG church in Vrede | |
  Vrede  Vrede | |
| Coordinates: 27°25′48″S 29°9′36″E / 27.43000°S 29.16000°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | Free State |
| District | Thabo Mofutsanyane |
| Municipality | Phumelela |
| Established | 1876[1] |
| Government | |
| • Councillor | Motaung (ANC) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 50.1 km2 (19.3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,675 m (5,495 ft) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 17,689 |
| • Density | 350/km2 (910/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 93.1% |
| • Coloured | 0.4% |
| • Indian/Asian | 0.5% |
| • White | 5.7% |
| • Other | 0.4% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • Zulu | 53.4% |
| • Sotho | 36.5% |
| • Afrikaans | 6.0% |
| • English | 1.1% |
| • Other | 3.1% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 9835 |
| PO box | 9835 |
| Area code | 058 |
Vrede is a town in the Free State province of South Africa that is the agricultural hub of a 100 km² region. Maize, wheat, mutton, wool, beef, dairy products and poultry are farmed in the region.
In 1863 one J. H. Krynauw bought the farm, aptly named "Krynauwslust" located where the town of Vrede was later proclaimed in 1879. The town celebrated its centenary in 1979.
The town's Afrikaans name "Vrede" can be directly translated to "Peace" in English. This name resulted, due to a bitter feud that raged between the early settlers of the area where the town initially should have been placed. A compromise was reached and peace among the early citizens was achieved, hence the name, "Vrede".
The names Leeukop (Lionshead), Tygerspoort (Tiger's Passage), Kwaggaspoort (Zebra's Passage) still exist today. Unfortunately the folk of the earlier years were not conscious of the ecology and now only names of the game that roamed the area remain. The last known free roaming lion in the area was shot in 1865. In 1858 a sole hippo was spotted in the wetlands surrounding the district of Memel, the neighboring town.
Between 1899 and 1902 many famous battles were fought in and around Vrede and Vrede was also the setting of the stand of the Great Rebellion of 1914 when citizens were called to arms in aid of Britain in the First World War against Germany.
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