| Reitz | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Free State#South Africa |
| Coordinates: | -27.8°N 54°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Free State |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Thabo Mofutsanyane |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Nketoana |
| Subdivision Type4: | Township |
| Subdivision Name4: | Petsana |
| Subdivision Type5: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | 1890[1] |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 25.7 |
| Elevation M: | 1630 |
| Population Total: | 20183 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) (Reitz and Petsana combined) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 90.0% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 0.3% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 0.2% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 9.1% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.4% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Sotho |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 66.9% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | Zulu |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 19.9% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 9.2% |
| Demographics2 Title4: | Sign language |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 1.1% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 3.0% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal Code: | 9810 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 9810 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 058 |
Reitz is a small maize, wheat and cattle farming town located in the east of the Free State province of South Africa.
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%)
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 slaughtering between 800 000 to 850 000 chickens per week.[6]
thumb|right|VKB's grain silos at the hamlet of Daniëlsrus, some 25 km south of ReitzThe town has one of the largest maize silos in the southern hemisphere and is a major maize growing community.[7]
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]
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.
Reitz is located in the north-eastern part of the Free State province, 300km (200miles) north-east of Bloemfontein and 180km (110miles) south of Johannesburg. It lies roughly halfway between the towns of Bethlehem and Frankfort, at an elevation of 1630m (5,350feet).
The nearest settlements or towns and their respective distances are listed here:[10]
Tweeling 30 km