Zastron

Zastron
Zastron is located in Free State (South African province)
Zastron
Zastron
Zastron is located in South Africa
Zastron
Zastron
Coordinates: 30°18′S 27°05′E / 30.300°S 27.083°E / -30.300; 27.083
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceFree State
DistrictXhariep
MunicipalityMohokare
Established1875[1]
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • MayorZingisa Mgauli [2] (ANC)
Area
 • Total22.7 km2 (8.8 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[3]
 • Total15,607
 • Density690/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African94.8%
 • Coloured0.6%
 • Indian/Asian0.4%
 • White4.1%
 • Other0.1%
First languages (2011)
 • Sotho69.2%
 • Xhosa22.4%
 • Afrikaans5.1%
 • Other3.3%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
9950
PO box
9950
Area code051
Farm lines: 05542

Zastron is a small agricultural town in the Free State province of South Africa, some 30 km from the border of Lesotho. It is situated at the foot of Aasvoëlberg (Vulture Mountain), named for the rare Cape vultures attracted by a feeding project a short distance out of town. The township is named "Matlakeng", Sesotho for Vultures. A curious rock formation in the mountain, Die Oog (The Eye), has been adopted as the town's unofficial emblem.

The town was founded in 1876 on the farm Verliesfontein, and named after the maiden name of President Brand's wife, Johanna Sibella Brand, née Zastron.[4]

  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. ^ Free State Tourism.org Archived January 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c d Sum of the Main Places Matlakeng and Zastron from Census 2011.
  4. ^ Raper, P.E. (2004). South African Place Names. Jonathan Ball, Jhb & Cape Town. p. 415. ISBN 1-86842-190-2.