Welkom is the second largest city in the Freestate and the provincial capital. As you have probably guessed, the name means ‘welcome’ in Afrikaans. It is situated near many gold mines and owes its rapid growth to these various mines.
It is known as the ‘circle city’ because of the town's many traffic circles that cause an effortless flow of traffic, resulting in very few traffic lights and stop streets. The circles and the lack of traffic is admired by town planners all over the world. The name 'city within a garden' was given because the abundance of parks and gardens in Welkom.
Both the circles and gardens were the brainchild of William Backhouse, not only a consultant to Anglo American but also the town planner. The Sotho name Matjhakeng means 'where nations meet' and was given to the town owing to the migrant labour system which saw labourers coming from other African countries to work in the gold mines in the area.
Since the mines in Welkom are so deep, there are serious threats of flooding which means that vast quantities of salty water needs to be pumped out of the mines to the surface. The result is that massive salt pans forms where truly spectacular birds congregate.
Flamingo, sacred ibis, marsh owl, sea gulls and muscovy duck are some of the most prolific bird species found at the pans.
Welkom is South Africa’s youngest city as it only achieved city status in 1968. It is also the second largest town in the Free State. Its origins lie on the Welkom (welcome) farm on which it was laid out in 1947. It was designed by William Backhouse as a ‘garden city’ with the commercial centre laid out around a beautiful square. In fact, it is one of only a handful of cities in the world that was planned to completion before being constructed.
- Salt pans which are home to Flamingo, sacred ibis, marsh owl, sea gulls and muscovy duck.
- Underground mine tours
- Phakisa Freeway Race Track -one of the fastest in the world.
- Welkom Flea Market
- Oppenheimer Park Golf Course
- Aandenk museum
Welkom is South Africa’s youngest city as it only achieved city status in 1968. It is also the second largest town in the Free State. Its origins lie on the Welkom (welcome) farm on which it was laid out in 1947. It was designed by William Backhouse as a ‘garden city’ with the commercial centre laid out around a beautiful square. In fact, it is one of only a handful of cities in the world that was planned to completion before being constructed.
