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Reitz, Free State

Coordinates: 27°48′S 28°26′E / 27.800°S 28.433°E / -27.800; 28.433
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Reitz
Reitz is located in Free State (South African province)
Reitz
Reitz
Reitz is located in South Africa
Reitz
Reitz
Coordinates: 27°48′S 28°26′E / 27.800°S 28.433°E / -27.800; 28.433
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceFree State
DistrictThabo Mofutsanyane
MunicipalityNketoana
TownshipPetsana
Established1890[1]
Area
 • Total25.7 km2 (9.9 sq mi)
Elevation
1,630 m (5,350 ft)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total20,183
 • Density790/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) (Reitz and Petsana combined)
 • Black African90.0%
 • Coloured0.3%
 • Indian/Asian0.2%
 • White9.1%
 • Other0.4%
First languages (2011)
 • Sotho66.9%
 • Zulu19.9%
 • Afrikaans9.2%
 • Sign language1.1%
 • Other3.0%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
9810
PO box
9810
Area code058

Reitz is a small maize, wheat and cattle farming town located in the east of the Free State province of South Africa.

Town and township

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The original town, Reitz, lies upon the northwestern hillside. On the opposite hill lies the town's township, Petsana.

The population data of Reitz (as of the 2011 Census):[3]

    Population = 3362
    Population group:
    White (54.1%)
    Black African (43%)
    Other (1.6%)
    Indian or Asian (0.7%)
    Coloured (0.62%)
    First language:
    Afrikaans (55.24%)
    Sesotho (31.96%)
    isiZulu (5.45%)
    English (2.88%)
    Other (1.39%)
    isiXhosa (1.01%)
    Setswana (0.76%)
    Sign language (0.76%)
    Sepedi (0.25%)
    isiNdebele (0.25%)
    Xitsonga (0.03%)

Petsana's population data (as of the 2011 Census)[4] is:

    Population = 16,821
    Population group:
    Black African (99.44%)
    Coloured (0.22%)
    Other (0.12%)
    Indian or Asian (0.12%)
    White (0.10%)
    First language:
    Sesotho (73.42%)
    isiZulu (22.56%)
    Sign language (1.14%)
    isiXhosa (1.05%)
    Afrikaans (0.61%)
    English (0.48%)
    Other (0.32%)
    isiNdebele (0.15%)
    Setswana (0.11%)
    Xitsonga (0.10%)
    Sepedi (0.05%)
    Siswati (0.01%)

Local economy

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Petsana is a mainly residential area with schools and small shops and businesses, but very few industrial work sites. Most of the working population either goes out daily to work on farms in the area or they work in town. Reitz has an industrial area, most notably the steel and farming equipment construction company, Van Zyl's Staalwerke. Reitz is also home to the headquarters of the co-op group, VKB. The VKB Group is a modern, dynamic agricultural enterprise that has, since its establishment in 1919, continuously focused on accomplishing solutions for the changing and diverse needs of agricultural producers and related stakeholders. It addresses the basic needs for agricultural inputs, mechanization, handling and marketing of grain, financing and insurance.[5] Another company that employs a lot of local workers is Grain Field Chickens. A subsidiary of VKB Agriculture (Pty) Ltd, Grain Field is a technologically advanced abattoir, Currently between 800 000 and 850 000 chickens are slaughtered per week.[6]

Agriculture

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VKB's grain silos at the hamlet of Daniëlsrus, some 25 km south of Reitz

The town has one of the largest maize silos in the southern hemisphere and is a major maize growing community.[7]

Tjheseho Skills Development Centre

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On 30 April 2024 Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Prof Blade Nzimande and Free State MEC Mr Makalo Mohale launched a Community Education Infrastructure Programme at Tjheseho Skills Development Centre in Reitz. The Community College which is set to open its doors in January 2025 will admit 5000 learners.

The Tjheseho Skills Development Centre will serve as a multifaceted hub for skills enhancement, with a primary focus on agricultural simulation. Training will also be provided in sectors such as agriculture, business, transport, trade, manufacturing, and community services.[8][9]

Leifo-Iziko School

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In August 2024 Leifo-Iziko High School became champions of the Kay Motsepe League, becoming the second school to do so from Nketoana Local Municipality after Ikaheng-Zakheni from Mamafubedu won it in 2023.[10] Leifo-Iziko will now represent South Africa in Singapore in the global netball stage for high schools.[11][12]

History and name

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Founded in 1889,[7] the town was previously known as Singer's Post, its name was changed to Amsterdam, and again to its current name Reitz after the Orange Free State president, Francis William Reitz.Like many other towns in the Free State, the first inhabitants of the area was the Basotho.

Location

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Reitz is located in the north-eastern part of the Free State province, 300 kilometres (190 mi) north-east of Bloemfontein and 180 kilometres (110 mi) south of Johannesburg. It lies roughly halfway between the towns of Bethlehem and Frankfort, at an elevation of 1,630 metres (5,350 ft).

Nearby towns

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The nearest settlements or towns and their respective distances are listed here:[13]

Notable people from Reitz

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References

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  1. ^ Robson, Linda Gillian (2011). "Annexure A" (PDF). The Royal Engineers and settlement planning in the Cape Colony 1806–1872: Approach, methodology and impact (PhD thesis). University of Pretoria. pp. xlv–lii. hdl:2263/26503.
  2. ^ a b c d Sum of the Main Places Reitz and Petsana from Census 2011.
  3. ^ "Census 2011: Main Place: Reitz".
  4. ^ "Census 2011: Main Place: Petsana".
  5. ^ "COMPANY INFO". www.vkb.co.za. Archived from the original on 2016-06-13.
  6. ^ https://www.vkb.co.za/index.php/en/agri-processors/grain-field-chickens
  7. ^ a b "Accommodation in Reitz, Free State".
  8. ^ "Minister Blade Nzimande launches DHET Community Colleges Infrastructure Programme in Reitz, 30 Apr | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  9. ^ "FS CET College - COMMUNITY EDUCATION IN ACTION". fs.cetc.edu.za. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
  10. ^ https://kaymotsepe.com
  11. ^ https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/2024-08-19-paarl-gymnasium-leifo-crowned-champs-and-will-represent-sa-in-singapore/
  12. ^ https://centralnews.co.za/fs-leifo-iziko-school-secure-win-at-kay-motsepe-netball-championship-earn-singapore-trip/
  13. ^ http://pagenation.com/world/Reitz%20(Free%20State)_28.43_-27.79.map
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