Senekal

Senekal
Dutch Reformed Church in Senekal
Senekal  Senekal shown within Free State
Coordinates: 28°19′S 27°36′E / 28.317°S 27.600°ECoordinates: 28°19′S 27°36′E / 28.317°S 27.600°E
Country	South Africa
Province	Free State
District	Thabo Mofutsanyane
Municipality	Setsoto
Established	1877[1]
Government
• Type	Local Government
• Councillors	Mrs M Mthimkhulu (Ward 3); Mr S Mokuane (Ward 4); Mrs M Motsei (Ward 5); Mr M Silasi (Ward 6); Mr L Modire (Ward 7) (ANC)
Area[2]
• Total	37.1 km^2 (14.3 sq mi)
Population (2011)[2]
• Total	25,542
• Density	690/km^2 (1,800/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)[2]
• Black African	93.0%
• Coloured	0.6%
• Indian/Asian	0.4%
• White	5.9%
• Other	0.2%
First languages (2011)[2]
• Sotho	88.8%
• Afrikaans	7.3%
• Sign language	1.3%
• Other	2.6%
Postal code (street)	9600
PO box	9600
Area code	058 481
Website	http://www.senekal.biz

Senekal is a town situated on the banks of the Sand River in the eastern part of the Free State province of South Africa. It was named after Commandant FP Senekal. It is the second largest town in Setsoto Municipality after Ficksburg, the largest town and capital of Setsoto. Senekal lies on the N5 national road between Winburg on the west and Bethlehem to the east. It has two townships, Matwabeng and OR Tambo Section, the latter being the latest, largest and fastest growing.

Senekal combined with its townships have two police stations, correctional facilities, one hospital and three functioning clinics with the fourth still underway in OR Tambo Section. It has a radio station, Naledi Community radio station, which serves most parts of the Eastern Free State and small parts of Lesotho . It broadcasts on 103.9 MHz.

Farming around Senekal plays a vital role in the economy of the province and country at large. Produce includes maize, sunflower, wheat, milk and livestock.

The two most spoken official languages around Senekal are Afrikaans and Sesotho, the latter being the most widely spoken.

Places of interest in Senekal include Arizona Game Reserve, Biddulphs Mountain Resort and Willem Pretorius Game Reserve, though in Matjhabeng, falls under Setsoto Boundaries. One of the oldest churches in the Free State can be found at the centre of the town. The church is fenced with petrified wood, originally excavated from farms nearby. Though cool and charming, it is one of the most underdeveloped towns in the Free State.

Notable people from Senekal

• The first two mayors of Setsoto Municipality came from Senekal (Ms M. Molete and Mr M.S. Maduna)
• Naka Drotské (Former rugby coach of the Free State Cheetahs)
• Toks van der Linde (Former rugby player and TV personality)

References

1. "Chronological order of town establishment in South Africa based on Floyd (1960:20-26)" (PDF). pp. xlv–lii.
2. Sum of the Main Places Senekal and Matwabeng from Census 2011.