| Burgersdorp | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Eastern Cape#South Africa#Africa |
| Coordinates: | -30.9922°N 26.3247°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Eastern Cape |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Joe Gqabi |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Walter Sisulu |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | 1846[1] |
| Government Type: | Local Municipality |
| Leader Party: | ANC |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Ncedo Ngoqo |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 27.9 |
| Elevation M: | 1405 |
| Population Total: | 5241 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 39.6% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 31.0% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 0.7% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 28.7% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.0% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 62.9% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | Xhosa |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 30.0% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | English |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 2.9% |
| Demographics2 Title4: | Sotho |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 1.7% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 2.5% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal Code: | 9744 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 9744 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 051 |
Burgersdorp is a medium-sized town in Walter Sisulu in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
In 1869 a Theological Seminary was established here by the Gereformeerde Kerk, but in 1905 it was moved to Potchefstroom, acting as an instrument in the formation of the PUK in 1919, then becoming the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education in 1951.
The Afrikaner Bond political party was founded in Burgersdorp in 1881.[3]
According to the 2011 census, the town of Burgersdorp proper has a population of 5,240,[4] while the adjacent townships of Mzamomhle and Tembisa have populations of 4,656 and 6,094 respectively,[5] [6] giving the urban area a population of 15,990. Of this population 78.1% described themselves as Black African, 11.98% as Coloured and 9.4% as White. 69.2% spoke Xhosa as their home language, 20.1% spoke Afrikaans, 3.3% spoke Sotho, 1.4% spoke English as their home language and 6.0% spoke some other language.
The first rail connection to Burgersdorp was opened on 19 March 1885.[7] Today Shosholoza Meyl provides passenger rail service to Burgersdorp on its Johannesburg-Bloemfontein-East London route.[8]
Burgersdorp is located on the junction of the R58 between Aliwal North and Venterstad; and the R391 leading to Hofmeyr, Molteno and Steynsburg.
Match 18 of the 1910 British Lions tour to South Africa was played in Burgersdorp.
Ten of the Eastern Cape's provincial heritage sites can be found in Burgersdorp. They include the Christ Church,[9] the Coetzee House,[10] the De Bruin House,[11] the Jubilee Fountain,[12] the Old Goal,[13] the Old Reformed Church Parsonage,[14] the Old Reformed Church Theological Seminary[15] as well as the three listed below in more detail.
This church was declared a provincial heritage site in 1996.[16]
A Second Boer War blockhouse overlooking the town, commonly known as the Sentinel was declared a provincial heritage site in 1939.[17]
See also: Afrikaans Language Monument. A monument to Dutch, built in 1893 is located in the town. The monument depicts a woman pointing her finger at a book in her hands. This monument was declared a provincial heritage site in 1937.[18]
Although the main inscription on that monument refers to the Hollandse taal (Dutch language), it can be understood to mean Afrikaans, because the Hollandse taal in South Africa was only split since 1925. But the monument is officially recognised as a monument to Dutch.
The monument was damaged during the Anglo-Boer War, and Lord Milner had it removed. It was replaced with a replica in 1907. The original was later discovered in King William's Town in 1939, and moved back to stand next to the replica in Burgersdorp.[19]
Some sources claim that Lord Milner had removed the original monument not because it was damaged, but because he was opposed to Dutch (and Afrikaans), and that the replica was built not by government but by a group of Afrikaners.[20]
Burgersdorp has 5 primary schools and 2 high schools
Mzimkhulu Primary School
Mpumelelo Mfundisi Public Primary School
Maruping Primary School
Eureka Primary School
Burgersdorp Laerskool
Ethembeni Senior Secondary School
Burgersdorp Hoerskool