Early mining activity

Prospecting pit of Arthur Megson circa 1904

The first prospecting in the area was done by the Englishmen Mr Donaldson and Mr Hinds on a portion of the farm Zoeten-Inval in 1896. The men discovered a small outcrop which seemed to be a conglomerate pebble reef, but they failed to raise interest among mining companies who at that stage did not believe that there was gold to be discovered south of the Vaal River. They returned to England to test the samples they had extracted, but died before reaching their destination when their ship sank in the Bay of Biscay.

Prospector Arthur Megson heard of their venture and decided to investigate near the town of Odendaalsrus in 1904. He gathered samples of exposed strata near an outcrop, which by then was part of Hendrik Petrus Klopper's farm Aandenk. He too did not succeed in obtaining any interest from companies until October 1932, when he presented his findings to Allan Roberts and Mannie Jacobs. The area needed to be tested by drilling, and the first borehole was started on 5 May 1933. Jacobs managed to interest two men, Fritz Marx and Peter Woolf, in the venture and the Wit Extensions Company was formed later that year. Although the borehole, which by then penetrated more than 1200 metres, yielded 120-inch pennyweights of gold (roughly 480 centimetre grams per ton), it was not enough to garner financial assistance and the operation had to close due to depleted finances. (For gold ores to be payable in South Africa, the grade must typically exceed 960 cengrams – the equivalent of 8 grams per ton over a 120 cm stope width, which after dilution will yield 4g/t in the mill).

However, the discovery of gold-bearing reef in the Klerksdorp area in 1933 by the Anglo American Corporation encouraged geologists and others with vision to see the northwestern Free State as a potential gold field. Prospecting intensified and the first high values of gold were discovered in 1939. By 1940, sufficient work had been done to prove the existence of gold in the area and thirteen mining areas were later demarcated around what would become the town of Welkom.

Development of the settlement

Welkom Central Business District 1950

Welkom officially came into being on 15 April 1947, six years after the first mining lease in the area was awarded to the St Helena Gold Mining Company, and was proclaimed a town on 23 July 1948. On 14 February 1968, after 21 years of existence, Welkom received city status, and celebrated this event with the opening of the Civic Centre by Mrs Martie du Plessis. The construction of this building commenced in 1964.

Apartheid era

During Apartheid in the years of segregation, the townships of Thabong and Bronville were established for black and Coloured people, respectively.

On 8 December 1976, Welkom experienced an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter magnitude scale. The most significant damage caused was the total collapse of a six-storey block of flats about 75 minutes after the event. Widespread damage to many other buildings was experienced throughout the city. Despite extensive damage to surface and underground mining structures, only four deaths occurred.^[3]

During the decline of the Apartheid era, race relations were particularly problematic as many White South Africans felt threatened by the eventuality of a regime change. This was the main cause of the events that transpired on 13 May 1989, when the mayor, a Mr Gus Gouws, was tarred and feathered after officiating at a multiracial wheelchair marathon event. The National Party mayor ran foul of his White constituency when he proposed the opening of a taxi rank in the business district of Welkom.

Aggrieved residents of the city then sought to humiliate him to dissuade him from authorising the erection of the facility, by assaulting him and a security guard, while he was officiating at the event. Four men were arrested and charged with the assault.^[4]

1990–present

On 20 March 1990, Welkom was struck by a multi-vortex tornado which went through the suburbs. This tornado was part of a 240 km long storm front and had a width of up to 1.7 km. This weather event proved to be the most devastating recorded, from the financial and insurance point of view, in South Africa to date, destroying 4,000 homes.^[5][6][7]

On 26 September 1990, Welkom experienced a seismic event with a magnitude of 4.2, which resulted in two deaths and five injuries.^[5]

The mining company Pamodzi Gold applied for bankruptcy in 2009 even though it was sitting atop one of the richest and consistently-producing gold veins in the world. The gold mine, President Steyn, was previously owned by the Thistle Mining Co., up until February 2008, and reported a total sale of 487,069 troy ounces of gold from 2004 to 2006. On 29 October 2007, Thistle Gold Mining entered into a 'Sale of Shares and Claims Agreement' under the South African government's black economic empowerment laws, under which Thistle's direct and indirect interests were sold to Pamodzi Gold for $14-million. In 2010, Harmony Gold subsequently acquired President Steyn from the now liquidated Pamodzi Gold and resumed operations.^[8] In 2023, an explosion at an illegal mine killed about 30 people.

Topography

Koppie Alleen

Koppie Alleen is the only hill near Welkom and therefore is aptly named for its oddity. The terrain elevation above sea level is 1435 metres. The largest water catchment is the Sand River to the south-east of Welkom in Virginia's direction. Large saline pans such as Flamingo Pan and Theronia Pan are situated to the south-west of Welkom. Flamingo Pan is coded as an Important Bird Area (IBA)^[9]

Communities

Streetscape

Welkom is well known for its efficient road traffic design mainly through the use of traffic circles, which has been the basis of worldwide studies. This is encouraged by flow design, the minimum of stop streets and the total absence of traffic lights and parking meters in the Central Business District. There are currently 33 large traffic circles.

Monuments and public art

Welkom has several monuments including:

• Aandenk Monument – This borehole memorial is shaped in the form of a key and symbolises the unlocking of the Free State goldfields.(next to Allanridge)
• Afrikaans Language Monument
• Joanne Pim Monument
• WWII Monument
• Voortrekker Memorial
• Dog Monument
• Old Indaba Bluegum Tree
• MOTH Memorial
• Gold Museum – A complete history of gold and its mining and production was on display. St Helena Gold Mine is not a working mine any more. Until a few years ago It was still possible to visit the mine and its wine cellar at 857m below surface but it does not exist any more.
• Museum of Welkom – The public library houses a display of the discovery of gold in Welkom, the town's history and bird and animal life indigenous to this region.
• Local Apartheid Memorial – commemorating local citizen's contribution to the Struggle in the Apartheid years.

Climate

Welkom normally receives about 401 mm to 550 mm of rain per year, dependent on wet or dry cycles, with most rainfall occurring mainly during mid-summer. It receives the lowest rainfall (0 mm) in July and the highest (70 mm) in January. The monthly distribution of average daily maximum temperatures ranges from 17 °C in June to 29 °C in January. The region is the coldest during July when the mercury drops to 0 °C on average during the night.

Flora and fauna

Flamingos over Lakeview

Welkom is situated on two vegetation units, the Western Free State Clay Grassland and Vaal-Vet Sandy Grassland, these are differentiated by soil types, rainfall and frost.^[12] The dominant grass species are Hyparrhenia hirta, Themeda triandra, Sporobolus pyramidalis, Eragrostis sp, Aristida sp, and other grasses and herbs. Trees and shrubs are infrequent due to heavy frost in the winter months.

The grasslands surrounding Welkom also include small mammal communities of yellow mongoose, ground squirrel, Cape porcupine, African mole-rat, pouched mouse, large-eared mouse, four-stripe grass mouse, and multimammate mouse. The De Rust Private Nature Reserve^[13] is situated about 25 km from Welkom on the Kroonstad road and is registered with the Free State Department of Nature Conservation.

Local geology: gold-bearing reefs

Welkom is located on the south-western corner of the Witwatersrand Basin. This basin situated on the Kaapvaal Craton,^[14] is filled by a 6-kilometre thick succession of sedimentary rocks, which extends laterally for hundreds of kilometres.^[15]

The De Bron Fault

The Free State Goldfields are divided into two sections,^[16] cut by the north–south striking De Bron Fault. This major structure has a vertical displacement of about 1500m as well as a lateral shift of 4 km. A number of other major faults lie parallel to the De Bron Fault. Dips occur mostly towards the east, averaging 30 degrees but this becomes steeper approaching the De Bron Fault. To the east of the fault, a dip occurs towards the west at 20 degrees, although structurally complex dips of up to 40 degrees have also been measured. Between these two blocks, lies the uplifted horst block of the West Rand Group of sediments with no reef preserved.^[17]

The western margin area is bound by synclines and reverse thrusts faults and is structurally complex. Towards the south and east, reefs sub-crop against overlying strata, eventually cutting out against the Karoo to the east of the area. Most of the ore resource tends to be concentrated in reef bands located on one or two distinct unconformities. Mining has taken place as mostly deep-level underground, exploiting the narrow, generally shallow dipping tabular reefs.

Harmony Gold Mine shaft on R30

Mining

Gold and uranium

Harmony Phakisa shaft

Welkom's economy centres on the mining of gold and uranium and is the hub of the Free State Goldfields. Welkom has contributed 21% to the free world's gold sales. The city and immediate surroundings are dominated by the headgears and reduction plants of several gold and uranium mining companies, including St Helena, Unisel, Welkom, Western Holdings, Free State Geduld, President Brand, President Steyn, Erfdeel Dankbaarheid, Phakisa,^[19] and Tshepong.

Recent discoveries

In Sept 2016 Harmony Gold and its partner White Rivers Exploration declared an as to then unknown gold ore body near the current Target shaft. This resource is estimated to have a mine life of about 30 years. ^[20]

Industry

Due to the declining gold price in the nineties, the manufacturing industry was promoted as a further means to support the local economy. Heavy machinery support for mining can be found in the Voorspoed area. Various other maintenance industries and services are well founded in Welkom which include engineering, and mechanical repairs.

Maize production near the R34 leading into Welkom

Welkom produces goods such as steel, lumber, dairy products, and beef.^[22]

The city also hosts several major industries such as Coca-Cola and South African Breweries.

Agriculture

The high water table in the north-western part of the district makes it very suitable for maize production and should remain an important maize producing area. The district is mostly covered by non-arable, moderate potential grazing land as well as marginal potential arable land.^[23] The Welkom region forms part of the Maize Triangle, which stretches over three of South Africa's provinces. The region is also a major producer of sunflowers, poultry and beef cattle.

Retail

Welkom Square on Long Road

• Goldfields Mall
• Amogela Mall (formerly Liberty Centre)
• Boitumelo Mall
• Welkom Square
• Goldfields Casino
• Wernhill Shopping centre (Main shop Checkers (supermarket chain))
• Welkom Shopping Centre (Main shop Pick 'n pay)
• Welkom retail centre (Main shops OK & Shoprite)
• Boxer shopping centre
• Shoprite centre

Motor-sports

Motorcycle racing at Phakisa Freeway

Welkom's most notable sport feature is the multi-million Rand Phakisa Freeway situated between Welkom and Odendaalsrus, which opened in 1999.^[24] Phakisa Freeway is an international standard, multi-purpose motor sport facility. The track features a 4,24 km road course as well as a 2,4 km banked oval track similar to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada, United States.^[24] It is one of the few oval speedways outside of the United States and the only one in Africa.

The circuit hosted MotoGP's South African motorcycle Grand Prix from 1999 to 2004.^[24]

Soccer

Harmony F.C.'s homeground is the Zuka Baloyi Stadium, a multi-sport facility, that is currently mostly used for soccer. Another soccer stadium is Vuyo Charles Stadium which was formerly known as Thabong Stadium.

Rugby

The Griffons Rugby Union^[25] was formed in 1968 when the late Dr Danie Craven, then the President of SA Rugby spread the game to rural areas in South Africa, Welkom was one of four new provinces formed and called North-Free State.

Gliding

Welkom's airport is also used on a regular basis for gliding championships on a National and International basis.

Stadia and other sports facilities

• North West Stadium
• Zuka Baloyi Stadium

Primary education

Thabong Primary

Secondary education

Special needs schools

Campus of the Central University of Technology

• Amari for mentally handicapped
• St Vincenzo School for the Deaf (located at St. Dominic's Catholic Church)
• Orion (Formerly Japie smit)
• Leboneng Special School

Tertiary education

• Welkom Technical College
• Welkom Technological Institute
• Welkom Nursing College
• FET College Goldfields – geared towards employment opportunities^[28]
• Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) satellite campus – is also situated in Welkom. CUT's core competencies are in science, engineering, and technology.^[29]

Transportation

Road

Buiten Street, Welkom

Welkom is connected to Kroonstad to the north-east by the R730 and the R34. It is also connected to Brandfort and Bloemfontein in the south and to Bothaville and Klerksdorp in the north by the R30.

Welkom is connected to Bultfontein to the south-west by the R710 and to Virginia and Winburg in the south-east by the R73.

Health systems

Welkom hosts a number of public and private hospitals as well as several specialised clinics:

• Bongani Regional Hospital (Public)
• Ernest Oppenheimer Hospital (Semi-private) (reopened)^[30]
• Mediclinic Welkom (Private)^[31]
• St Helena Hospital (Private)
• Rand Mutual Care Hospital (New: Opened on 16 April 2016)^[32]

Various hospices also exist.^[33] Thabong and Bronville also host various primary care clinics.

Sportspeople

• Jan Hendrik de Beer (Jannie) – Springbok rugby player
• Wynand Olivier – Springbok rugby player
• Khwezi Mkhafu-rugby player
• Hannes Strydom – Springbok rugby player
• Bradley Moolman – rugby player
• C.J. van der Linde – Springbok rugby player
• Joubert Horn – rugby player
• Jandré Marais – rugby player, who matriculated at Welkom-Gimnasium
• Peet Marais – rugby player, who matriculated at Welkom-Gimnasium
• Dewald Pretorius – rugby player
• Franco Mostert – Springbok rugby player
• Louis Strydom – rugby player
• Whestley Moolman-rugby player
• Inus Kritzinger – rugby player
• Lerato Manzini – professional footballer for Bloemfontein Celtic in the Premier Soccer League
• Mosa Lebusa – professional footballer for Ajax Cape Town in the Premier Soccer League
• Paseka Sekese – professional footballer for Bidvest Wits in the Premier Soccer League
• Gerard Louis Brophy – cricketer
• Brian Mervin McMillan – won South African Cricket Annual Cricketer of the Year awards in 1991 and 1996
• Dean Elgar – Protea cricketer. On 11 March 2017, against New Zealand he became the first South African opener to face 200 or more ball in both innings of a Test.^[36]
• Thandi Tshabalala
• Seabelo Senatla – professional rugby player
• Elinda Vorster (Rademeyer) – South African athlete who competed for South Africa to reach the semi-finals of the Women's 200 metres event at the 1992 Summer Olympics inside the Estadi Olimpic de Montjuic in Barcelona, Spain in August 1992, who matriculated at Welkom-Gimnasium
• Linda Olivier – South African women cricketer and golfer, who matriculated at Welkom-Gimnasium
• Gerrie Sonnekus – Springbok rugby player, who matriculated at Welkom-Gimnasium
• Lukas van Biljon – Springbok rugby player, who matriculated at Welkom-Gimnasium
• Zarck Visser – South African long jumper (Athletics) – silver medal at 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, who matriculated at Welkom-Gimnasium
• Christo Ferreira – Springbok rugby player,^[37] who matriculated at Welkom-Gimnasium
• Jaco van Zyl – South African golfer, who matriculated at Welkom-Gimnasium