| Pomfret | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa North West#South Africa |
| Coordinates: | -25.8167°N 55°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | North West |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Kagisano/Molopo |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 29.79 |
| Population Total: | 1939 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 97.7% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 1.2% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 0.2% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 0.5% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.4% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Tswana |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 24.7% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | English |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 3.4% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 2.0% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 69.9% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 8619 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 053 |
Pomfret is a desert town, the site of an old asbestos mine, on the edge of the Kalahari desert in northwest South Africa. It was the administrative centre of Molopo Local Municipality before 18 May 2011,[2] when the municipality merged with Kagisano to form the Kagisano–Molopo Local Municipality. Many of its inhabitants are former members of 32 Battalion, also known as Buffalo Battalion. These ex-soldiers were predominantly Portuguese-speaking Angolans who fought on the South African government side in Angola and Namibia, and after the end of the South African Border War to police the black townships.[3] The community remains largely Portuguese-speaking.[4]
Today the town is described as depressing by those who visit. Injured 32 Battalion veterans of war live in squalid circumstances.[5]
In 2004, 60 mercenaries from Pomfret were recruited to take part in an attempted coup against the government of Equatorial Guinea, known as the Wonga coup. They were jailed for one year for their suspected involvement.[6]
A 2009 documentary film recorded South African mercenaries describing how Pomfret was a place to recruit cheap labor for mercenary activities.[7]
The presence of asbestos in the subsoil was the major reason for the creation of the town. Asbestos was mined and used in the motor industry for the making of brake pads, roofing, and water pipes. The mine is now closed, and is a tourist attraction.